Historical Figure
Aliaune Thiam Akon
b. 1973
Senegalese-American singer (born 1973)
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Biography
Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam, is a Senegalese-American singer, songwriter, record producer, businessman and philanthropist. An influential figure in world music, he rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of his single "Locked Up". Styled in hip-hop, it preceded the release of his debut studio album Trouble (2004), which became his commercial breakthrough and spawned the R&B-styled follow-up, "Lonely", the following year.
Timeline
The story of Aliaune Thiam Akon, told in moments.
Born Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam in St. Louis, Missouri, to Senegalese parents. His father, Mor Thiam, is a well-known jazz percussionist. Spent part of his childhood in Dakar before returning to New Jersey.
Releases "Locked Up" from his debut album Trouble. The single goes platinum. He claims he spent years in prison before music, though journalists later dispute the length and nature of his time behind bars.
"Smack That" featuring Eminem reaches No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. His label Konvict Muzik signs Lady Gaga before anyone else will touch her demos.
Launches Akon Lighting Africa, a project to bring solar power to 600 million Africans without electricity. By 2016 the initiative claims to have provided solar solutions in 18 countries.
Announces plans to build Akon City, a $6 billion futuristic city in Senegal powered by a cryptocurrency called Akoin. Construction reportedly begins in 2021. Progress remains unclear.
Artifacts (11)
Mr. Stewart [and the rest of the cast] perform as pleasantly as possible.
anapolis 500. The film was a critical and commercial failure, although Frank Nugent of The New York Times stated that "Mr. Stewart [and the rest of the cast] perform as pleasantly as...
Mr. James Stewart's chauffeur... comes on for three minutes and walks off to a r...
mick – appeared as a chauffeur in the comedy Goodbye Again, in which he had a walk-on line. The New Yorker commented, "Mr. James Stewart's chauffeur... comes on for three minutes and walks off to a...
Throwing a $250 banjo out of the window at the concierge is constructive abuse a...
mericans, where he was required to throw a banjo out of the window. Brooks Atkinson of The New York Times wrote, "Throwing a $250 banjo out of the window at the concierge is constructive abuse and...
the chief significance of [the film] in the progress of the cinema industry is l...
and received mostly positive reviews, leading Stewart to be noticed by critics and MGM executives. Time stated that "the chief significance of [the film] in the progress of the cinema industry is...
singing and dancing will (fortunately) never win him a song-and-dance-man classi...
orn to Dance with Eleanor Powell. His performance in the latter was not well-received: The New York Times stated that his "singing and dancing will (fortunately) never win him a song-and-dance-man...
has one grand scene in which he demonstrates most effectively that he is somethi...
Man, features a shattering emotional climax rendered by Stewart. Kate Cameron of the New York Daily News wrote that he "has one grand scene in which he demonstrates most effectively that he is...
the ending leaves us with the conviction that James Stewart is a sincere and lik...
box-office success and earned Stewart the best reviews of his career up to that point. The New York Times wrote "the ending leaves us with the conviction that James Stewart is a sincere and likable...
[Stewart] takes first place among Hollywood actors...Now he is mature and gives ...
ical arena. It garnered critical praise and became the third-highest-grossing film of the year. The Nation stated "[Stewart] takes first place among Hollywood actors...Now he is mature and gives a...
Stewart...contributes most of the comedy to the show...In addition, he contribut...
gest box-office successes of the year and received widespread critical acclaim. The New York Herald Tribune stated that "Stewart...contributes most of the comedy to the show...In addition, he...
James Stewart, who had just turned in the top performance of his cinematurity as...
aloon girl who falls in love with him. It was critically and commercially successful. TIME magazine wrote, "James Stewart, who had just turned in the top performance of his cinematurity as Jefferson...
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