One of the most critically acclaimed R&B artists in the world, Akon’s crooning vocals continue to rule the airwaves. His music is infectious and his life story fascinating. The Senegalese singer has created a stir in the hip hop world with his unique blend of reggae, R&B and African-inspired rhythms. Making himself comfortable at the top of the Billboard charts, Akon has worked with a number of music A-listers by the likes of Eminem (on his hit single ‘Smack That'), Snoop Dogg ('I Want to Love You') and recently even Michael Jackson the King of Pop himself.

Can you tell us a little about your childhood? As a jazz musician did your father encourage you to get into the music business?

Well actually my father encourage not to be a musician and I understand because at the time, I didn’t want to do music either, it happens later. I got in to a lot of trouble when I was young; music wasn’t in the plan but because of my criminal background, music was the only back up for me.

What is one of the craziest things you’ve ever done?

It was probably last year when I threw a man off the stage, although it was arranged, didn’t think about how the outside people would perceive the situation. It caused me lot of problems, a lot of money, and I learn that arranged or no arranged, people don’t throw people off the stage. To me it was all entertainment, a part of the show, but then you really don’t know when it’s going to backfire at you. So that’s probably the craziest things I have done, even though it was a joke, but it was a crazy joke.

What do you love most about your hometown Senegal?

I have my family there in Senegal, I mean its home, you know? My plan is to originally retire by 2015 and move back there for good.

Being in the spotlight, a role model for many young teens, have you tried to adjust your beliefs or your lifestyle, or are you the same man?

See, the problem with the kids, when you tell them not to do it, they’ll do it.
I’m just going to say, this is me, this is what I’ve done, this was the punishment do you want to be in that same position. And I think with age everybody changes, you grow up, you learn. You experiences things, you know what to do, you know what not to do, and I think it’s unfair for people to look at the past because nobody lives in the past, we all live in the future.

Where do you get inspiration for your songs? Do you draw on your own life situations, and I wonder which song that you’ve written is your most favorite? Why?

I started writing songs when I was locked up but they don’t affect my opinions today though. My most recent favorite track that I’ve written would be, ‘Sorry Blame It on Me,” When I was writing this song, there was a lot of extra stuff going on, and this song was suppose to be in the new album but I felt like it was the right time to just add this song in this album instead.

What is on your ipod right now?

Oh I don’t have an iPod [laughs]

Your collaboration with Michael Jackson was impressive, is he one of your icons? Who’s next? 

Michael Jackson is one of my icons and I actually have a list of the people I want to work with. You can call it ‘the most wanted list.’ When I worked with Michael Jackson I thought, “I’m going to retire after this,” but of course that never happens. There’s no body else that I want to collaborate with anymore, so you can say that I’m done with the ‘wanted’ list.

Who are your role models?

I got to say, my dad is my role model, he’s been a good role model up to this point and he’s gotten me pretty far. Everyday he educates me and guides me so I don’t think I can ever have a better role model.

I understand you also own a diamond and mining Supply Company, what inspired you to enter this line of business?

Money [laughs]. Well it was actually an opportunity I bumped into, I met an old friend in South Africa that was actually doing that, so we had a talk. See, there were a lot of conflicts about blood diamonds, and I don’t want to get tangled up in it, so we had to come up with a campaign that would actually benefit Africa. There are so many resources in Africa and they are not benefiting from any of it, so we wanted to make sure that the percentages of the diamonds sold would go back to rebuilding Africa.

Other than the diamond and mining business, what other lines of products are planning to explore in the future?

We have a lot of plans for the products line, next would be the watches, and the movie is now the next step.

Yes, I can already see the movies happening for you, Illegal Alien is one of yours too, but what’s next?

Actually, my upcoming film is in production right now, it’s called ‘Cocaine Cowboys,’ it is also based on a true story. It’s a gangster movie with a message because the only things kids want to watch these days are gangster movies! You lure them to watch this gangster movie but there’s going to be a message at the end of the movie, and hopefully, we will try to get them to think the opposite directions.