Backstage w/ Akon!
Akon speaks to Aries from UrbanBridgez.com on his new release, T-Pain being more successful than him, the worst part about his success and more!
Akon: It's the new album Aries (laughs), just playing. But it's crazy!!! It was so much fun recording this album. I had the freedom really to do just what I wanted, that's why I called it "Freedom." I did things I always wanted to do like with the European/International club sound. It's like the fans have already adapted to the Konvict sound, so this time around I really wanted to push the envelop a bit.
UrbanBridgez.com: "I'm So Paid" is blowing up, with a title like that are you ever worried when writing, that you won't reach the fans who can't identify with the subject matter of the song?
Akon: Not at all. Everyone puts out music to reach their fanbase. I feel with mine there are people who can relate to the song(s) and of course some that can't. At the end of the day, if they're a fan of mine, they will understand and get into it. I'm always trying to grow with my music, so my fans should grow with me. I feel if they can't get down with it then they wasn't a real fan to begin with.
UrbanBridgez.com: Go Go Dancer is an interesting title, tell me about that song?
Akon: It's actually a song I share with DJ Drama. It's for the strip clubs (laughs). It's the strip-club anthem for 2009. You know every year we at Konvict have to put out a song for the strip-clubs. Weather it be me or Pain, it's a tradition.
UrbanBridgez.com: There was a rumor that Michael Jackson was going to be featured, but his name doesn't appear on the tracklisting. Are you still scheduled to record with him for his new project?
Akon: Yeah we were going to put the song I recorded with him on the album, but it got leaked online. So it wasn't an event anymore. So we're going to do something else for my next album or we might do it for his new album.
UrbanBridgez.com: You and T-Pain - one of your artist for some who forget that, have basically taken over the game right now. Did you ever imagine 3 years ago you guys would have this much success already under your belts?
Akon: That was really the goal. To make hot music that would appeal to the masses. I always set out to have my artists be bigger than me. So I can just sit back in Miami and get fat as a reward (laughs). So with Pain it was evident that he was a big star. He has done so much already and had a lot of success outside of Konvict as well.
UrbanBridgez.com: What's been the best and worst parts about your success?
Akon: The best is to get the chance to travel, just to really escape at times. Do different things you may not get to do and visit different locations you might not be able to afford to go on the regular. You get educated on different things in life. And of course the financial benefit. The Negative side to that , is the lack of privacy you get with being successful. People have the tendency to misjudge you and never even met you. So they have no idea who you really are, but they think they know.
UrbanBridgez.com: We spoke to Kardinal recently and of course he gave you mad props for putting him on, what was it about him that made you want to sign him?
Akon: I wanted to sign Kardinal because when I heard him, he really has a style of his own. Like in the beginning stages of Hip-Hop where the artists were really different and very creative, he brings me back to that. He had a lot of fame in Canada and I just wanted to make it worldwide and to help him get more exposure.
UrbanBridgez.com: Tell us about some of your up-coming production projects coming up in the near future?
Akon: Man, I have no idea even where to start on that one (laughs). If somebody has something new coming out soon or next year, we're somewhere on it (laughs).
UrbanBridgez.com: Who are some artists you would like to work with, that you haven't had the chance as of yet?
Akon: Actually there are only two, Jay-Z and Beyonce.' I can't name anybody else. I've worked with everybody else.
UrbanBridgez.com: Will you tour for this album?
Akon: Absolutely! We're on a tour now and once this one ends we're going to start setting up for the Freedom tour.
UrbanBridgez.com: Outside of music, what's next for you?
Akon: I got two clothing lines coming. The first is Konvict, we're launching that one over the holiday season. And then we got Aliaune, that we're going to launch in the Spring of 2009.
UrbanBridgez.com: Any last words for your fans?
Akon: Just really to thank them for the support they've given us at Konvict, from day one! We plan on growing larger and it's great we got real fans!!!
* Pleasure P (Backstage)
