Akon, who first gained promience in the hip-hop community for his Summer of 2004 smash “Locked Up,” may have never been “locked up” at all. The Smoking Gun claims Akon lied about having a lengthy rap sheet in an effort to gain “street cred” in the music industry.
TSG reports:
Police, court, and corrections records reveal that the entertainer has created a fictionalized backstory that serves as the narrative anchor for his recorded tales of isolation, violence, woe, and regret. Akon has overdubbed his biography with the kind of grit and menace that he apparently believes music consumers desire from their hip-hop stars.
While the performer’s rap sheet does include a half-dozen arrests, Akon has only been convicted of one felony, for gun possession. That 1998 New Jersey case ended with a guilty plea, for which the singer was sentenced to three years probation. Another 1998 bust, this one in suburban Atlanta, has been seized upon by Akon and transformed into the big case that purportedly sent him to prison (thanks to his snitching cohorts) for three fight-filled years. In reality, Akon was arrested for possession of a single stolen BMW and held in the DeKalb County jail for several months before prosecutors dropped all charges against him.
So there was no conviction. There was no prison term between 1999 and 2002. And he was never “facing 75 years,” as the singer claimed in one videotaped interview.
Akon’s invented tales appear to be part of a cynical marketing plan, but one that has met with remarkable success. Few press interviews conclude without Akon being asked about his criminal exploits and his prison days.
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3 responses so far ↓
Mike Belgrove // Apr 17, 2008 at 11:29 am
I’ve always been very vocal in my hate for Akon. I think he’s a clown. From darn near raping 14 year old girls to picking up and throwing people off the stage at his shows, hes just a douche bag. I took a little bit of time out and wrote about Akon today over at Highbrid Nation and I hope that the uncovering of his true past is a message to artists and labels that “keeping it real” doesn’t mean making up some stuff.
JENNIFER // Apr 17, 2008 at 10:52 pm
I HATE THAT UGLY ASS AFRICAN BOOTY SCRATCHER, HE IS SO FUCKING UGLY, HE DISGUST ME AND HE NEED TO GO THE FUCK AWAY, HE IS A LIAR, HE CAN’T SING, HE IS A FAKE ASS BITCH, HE DIDN’T EVEN GO INSIDE THE NICKERSON GARDENS PROJECTS WHEN HE DAI THAT SONG WITH G MALONE, SCARY ASS BITCH ASS NIGGA, OHHHHHH HE MAKES ME SICK, NIGGA LOOK LIKE THE HYIENAS OFF OF THE LION KING, PLEASE GO AWAY, YOU UGLY PIECE OF SHIT.
jan // Apr 17, 2008 at 11:01 pm
LOT’S OF RAPPERS FAKE THEIR REP HE’S NOT THE ONLY ONE PLUS HE LOOKS GOOD AND CHOCOLATE TO ME.
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