AKONAlicia Roache, Staff Reporter
R&B SINGER Akon will attempt to stand out among the giants of 'yard' in the section dedicated to 'abroad' on Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest in mid-July.
Akon will unleash the full dose of his musical treatment at Sumfest this year. He will be one of the acts on Friday's International Night One.
"Every time I perform it's different. It depends on the crowd and the energy at that particular time," he says in relation to his planned performance at Sumfest this year.
The connection with Jamaican and Caribbean people is noted by Akon, who was born in Senegal and grew up in the United States. "They are my people," he says of Jamaican and Caribbean people. "I am 100 per cent African and we share the same struggles."
Indeed, shared pain is one of the most noted facets of Akon's music. The single Locked Up, a break-out hit from his debut album Trouble, has inspired many to part ways with US$13.98 (J$853) of their money.
The debut single has pulled stellar numbers around the world, becoming a top five single in the United Kingdom, garnering the number three spot in France as well as topping the charts in other territories throughout Europe. It has also made a monumental splash here in Jamaica, with consistent airplay and a slew of remixes and samples from local acts.
"That's a blessing to me, when another artiste takes your music and can put their own spin on it," he says in response to the query about the sampling of his music by artistes such as Vybz Kartel.
The impact of the personal nature of his music does not escape Akon. From the soulful, sombre Ghetto to the stirring, pleading Locked Up, the personal nature of Akon's music is undeniable.
It is the direction in which Akon wants his music to continue to progress. "I want my music to touch people," he said. His sophomore album is already completed. "It's the same album," he says of the subject of the album in comparison to the first. "The concept of the album is still about my experiences," he says.
Though he was uncertain of the response to his revelations, he admits to no longer feeling vulnerable in exposing his feelings and everyday trials to the public. "In the beginning I kinda felt like that because that's where I was," he says, Locked Up having special meaning to his stint in jail.
And the reputation of the Refugee Camp in producing noted music makers (a la The Fugees) has preceded Akon, a former member of the outfit. Akon got none of the acclaim with the group's fame, but has since staked his claim on music. However, he has recently done a collaboration with Pras, a former member of The Fugees.
Akon's musical influence is as multifaceted as his multihyphenated R&B-hip-hop-pop sound. His father, legendary percussionist and jazz musician Mor Thiam (and reputedly the 'unrivalled' practitioner on the Djembe, a traditional African drum) the infectious and gritty beats of hip hop and now, the pulsating, energetic dubs of dancehall music are among his many influences. "I love Sizzla, Vybz Kartel, I love Beenie Man, Bounty and Capleton," he says. The influences have led to a collaboration with Beenie Man.
And Akon likes to collaborate. The charismatic performer has collaborated with a diverse range of artistes, including Baby Bash, Jesse McCartney, Brian McKnight, Styles P and Bobby Vinton, whose Mr. Lonely inspired Akon's current hit Lonely.
Akon believes that some collaborations would help local artistes propel their music much further. "I know many artistes don't want to do collaborations because they think it will water down the music or whatever, but I think collaborations are a good way to get more mainstream attention," he says. "Music is music and those guys are really huge right now."
Nonetheless, he acknowledges the impact that dancehall has had and still has on hip hop.
"Jamaican music has a lot of influence on hip hop, even in the music videos and in the clubs," he says, this even though there are not many big record labels that handle the genre.
This, he believes, is the next step in extending the reach of Jamaican music further.
