I Liked…
By Mitch Berg
…the story of R’nB crooner Akon
Compared to most of hip-hop’s leading figures past and present–50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Diddy, Tupac Shakur, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G.–Akon, 35, seems to have logged more time behind bars and, consequently, gained a better understanding of the average convict’s plight (both in and out of custody) than any of his musical peers. The New York Times has referred to him as the “prison-obsessed R&B singer” who “wants it known that crooners can evoke prison life just as effectively as rappers.” In fact, the singer not only named his company Konvict Music, but he settled on “Konvicted” for the title of his second album, which sold nearly three million copies last year.
…the first time I heard it…
As it turns out, however, “Kontrived” might have been a more accurate choice.
Akon’s ad nauseum claims about his criminal career and resulting prison time have been, to an overwhelming extent, exaggerated, embellished, or wholly fabricated, an investigation by The Smoking Gun has revealed.
…when it was called CB4.
Mitch out.
