How do you go from spending 3 years behind bars as a convicted prisoner to becoming a Multi-Platinum Recording Artist? Ask Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam, better known as Acon or Akon. The Senegalese-American singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and actor rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first single from his debut album, Trouble. He has since founded two successful record labels, Konvict Muzik and KonLive Distribution. The labels served as a stepping stone for many soon-to-be successful acts, such as Lady Gaga, T-Pain, R. City, Kardinall Offishall, and Red Café. His second album, Konvicted received three nominations for the Grammy Awards in two categories, Best Contemporary R&B Album for Konvicted album and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Smack That" and "I Wanna Love You". He is the first solo artist to hold both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice. Akon has had four songs certified as 3× platinum, three songs certified as 2× platinum, more than ten songs certified as 1× platinum and more than ten songs certified as gold in digital sales. To learn more and watch this episode, kindly subscribe to our YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/6kRd5DJrvec. Please leave your comments in the post and share us with all the amazing women and smart men in your life. And please hit the #BELL to be notified of all our upcoming episodes. Thank you!
