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Akon Biography
Birth Name:
Alioune Badara Thiam
Birth Place:
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Profession
Hip-hop and R&B artist, record producer
Fast Facts
- His parents made sure he and his siblings were all born United States citizens, but he was raised in Dakar, Senegal
- Met Wyclef Jean of the Fugees while working at a Jersey City barber shop during high school; appeared on the Fugees' 1996 album The Score
- Served three years in prison for car theft
- Released debut album, Trouble, in 2004
- Founded the Konfidence Foundation, which works to improve the lives of children in Senegal
- Has two clothing lines (Alianune and Konvict Clothing), his own production company (Konvict Muzik) and a record label (Kon Live Records)
Relationships
- Mor Thiam -- Father
- Kiné Thiam -- Mother