European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 18, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 12 scene s tars and stripes sunday March left 2007 u c i d x u d to o Eres the Washington Post i inherited that old african Folkton Rittinger Type of voice says Akon the senegalese american whose blend of hiphop and pop has made his latest cd Kong acted a top seller and put his voice on 4 million cell phone ring tones Akon is lord of the ringtone and More Akon Akon Akon Hes everywhere that distinctive otherworldly voice of his spilling out of countless cars and nightclubs and House parties near you the senegalese american Singer has three songs in crushingly heavy rotation across the radio air Waves stateside and Hes become ubiquitous on to even starring in a Veri Zon wireless spot which makes sense when you consider that Hes sold nearly 4 million somewhat Ribald ring tones since september making him the new Boot Call King so pervasive this Akon so salacious too on songs such As smack that yes of Hajj and so Busy when he turns up in the hotel lobby Well past the appointed hour he apologizes blaming the delay on the demands of heading up a burgeoning business Empire which includes a clothing line three record labels and a Diamond wholesaler its no longer enough to be a Mere pop Star so Akon is becoming a Brand Hes also working on a foundation to build schools and hospitals in Africa there Are myriad promotional responsibilities As Well when they have me they cram so much stuff into so Little time he says of his business associates and music Indus try minders theres Only so much one Man can do in so Busy my head hurts just thinking about it he yawns but its really a Blessing to have everything happening Akon has just returned from a publicity push through Europe where he says it was freezing so he decides to sit by the Pool under the midday Sun the 33yearold Singer is one of the music Industry hottest properties a hiphop Star with Street credibility major crossover Appeal and a strange Silky voice that sounds sort of artificial and Slippery yet somehow warm like a Friendly ghost in the machine its memo Rable and wholly mysterious and natural he says Akons latest album convicted have tumbled by More than 25 percent Over the past two years according to Nielsen sound scan and its becoming increasingly rare for Urban albums to achieve sustained Success yet convicted is emerging As a potential blockbuster a fixture in the top 10 that Doest appear to be disappearing anytime soon we could play him All year Long says Peter Baron vice president of Label relations music and Talent for mtg networks Baron says there Are two maybe three More big hits on convict Pursuit of winding grinding ers featuring an unprintable title and a guest Turnm Raper s Dogg the track reached no 2 in billboards hot 100 and now comes Akons latest tender if defiant love song Doit Ter he also wrote produced and san on Gwen Stefanis me Sweet its Akons world and youre Iuar humming along in it there just Arent that Many peal male pop stars Baron tins one or them and Akon is its Akons moment right now the just something about him he a different sound a different look a differ ent vibe Hes doing something else is doing blending pop with hiphop beats and adding an and african influences it Aeq Sunj that Hes great looking very Anco very likable its a magical Comaj nation says Steve Rifkind who Signey to his Label Street records corf matter How bad the record s right this second people still Wenj to hear great music so far 1 6 million people Pur chased convicted according by sound scan the album is also a online among illegal file said hit maker is grinning gig gling because of his High Jas it turns out he Speaks not unlike so nos Only it sounds As nes been sucking on helium be laughs its All somewhat Given the glowering look Hes a yearn on the convicted cover was shot in a courtroom theres a Sid profile Mug shot inside the Book let As Well the photographs  references to criminal past he says he was in Georgia on charges that include grand theft Auto he Sang about the in locked up the hit from his 2004 debut troubled but now he seems Sweet angelic no need to act hard despite the references in Konvic Jwj a criminal lifestyle you would Wenj to smile Akon says who wants get out or that kind of Lite and then stay that dont make sense in blessed i Jont have nothing to prove to nobody what Ever you expect of me from my throw it out the window cause youre never going to see that person a an it want until 2004 that found Success after locked lip be came a smash trouble went sofa Tanum and everybody flipped Over thai voice its so unique says Lisa pro Gram director for pm satellite its Akons moment right now theres just something about him he has a different sound a different look a different vibe Hes doing something nobody else is doing blending pop melodies with hiphop beats and adding Caribbean and african influences it Doest Hurt that Hes great looking very stylish and very likable its a magical combination Peter Baron vice president of Label relations music and Talent for mtg networks arrived in mid november and it outsold most of the More famous entries in the crowded Holiday season Field the jays the John legends the didds the tiaras Akon shrugs if you make hot music your record is going to do what it do not necessarily rap and sales de which has already produced three top 5 singles smack that a dirty duet with Eminem went to no 1 and earned a grammy nomination for Best collaboration it got spanked in the voting by the Justin Timberlake i duet my then came i Wanna love you a lascivious song about the hot hiphop and Channel the by you went to West Africa to you might find some people wh0 a ounce similar to him but not Here says Akon i inherited that Fra can folkloric Singer Type of voice and Ive incorporated it into today Urdan music it sounds like something Brand new a lot of people think my is processed until they come to a show and see me sing Hes a master  producing writing and singing one nooks on other Peoples records vibes Caramanica Calls it vertical integration modern music Biz style says the strategy will ensure Akon longevity maybe not in a pop Star Way but hell probably never want for work most certainly not now its so crazy Akon says lung eng poolside his handlers hovering impatiently everything piling up top of each other were just trying Orga Nize All of it and get everything done