OK so everyone knows that Akon is a Senegalese-American R&B artist whose biggest hit was ‘Smack That’, but here’s 10 Things you Might Not Have Known about Aliaune Badara Akon Thiam:

1. Akon is the son of jazz percussionist Mor Thiam, who is renowned for playing the Djembe, a traditional African drum.
2. Akon’s favourite records growing up between Dakar, Senegal and the US were Black Uhuru, Bob Marley and Tracey Chapman. 
3.  Akon is 5’ 11” (1.81m) tall, making him taller than Eminem, but shorter than Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, Flo Rida and 50 Cent, who all top the 6 foot mark.
4. His  single ‘Smack That’, a collaboration with Eminem, hit number one in 5 countries and set a then Billboard Hot 100 record for a chart jump; leaping 88 places from 95 to 7 in September 2006.
5.  Along with Obie Trice, Akon appeared on a 2006 episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, singing his song ‘Snitch’.
6. Akon has collaborated with a huge range of artists, including Lady Gaga, Leona Lewis, Whitney Houston, Gwen Stefani, Chamillionaire and most impressively, Michael Jackson, recording Jackson’s last known song, ‘Hold My Hand’.
7. In 2007 Akon launched his fashion line, Konvict Clothing, selling urban street wear including denim jeans, hoodies, t-shirts and hats. There is also an upscale version, Aliaune, selling slightly less urban goods, such as blazers.
8.  Akon owns a diamond mine in South Africa, which is run on the principle of being an ethical beacon to other less reputable mines in the country.
9. In a 2007 interview, Akon admitted to owning over 4000 pairs of sneakers. Presumably that collection has expanded somewhat in the intervening three years too.
10.  Akon has won four World Music Awards, a Billboard Music Award and an American Music Award, as well as receiving 5 Grammy nominations and 4 MTV Video Music Awards nominations.
    
    

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