Akon
'Konvicted '
Ex-con crooner balances his macho tendencies.
This sophomore disc from the Senegal-born/Atlanta-based singer, songwriter, and producer works like a backpacker's version of a tough-guy hip-hop album. Played-out G-funk braggadocio and bedroom boasting (the hit single "Smack That" featuring Eminem) are undercut by thoughtful songs of remorse and vulnerability ("Tired of Runnin'," written while he served a three-year stint in jail). Akon's warm, nasal voice comes close to floating away in a wash of half-hearted machismo and cloudy thinking, but snatches of melodica, strutting piano, and lightly toasted reggae grooves keep the album firmly rooted.
Now Hear This:
Akon - "Smack That" REAL PLAYER
Akon - "Tired of Runnin'" REAL PLAYER
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