Akon Readies Third Album For November, Signs British Rapper
Published: Wednesday - October 1, 2008
Words by Allen Starbury
Akon (Photo: SRC)
Akon is set to release his third album in November, his label announced this week. It's titled Freedom.
The first single from the upcoming album will be "Right Now (Na Na Na)" and is slated to hit radio soon.
While guests are yet to be confirmed, rumored collaborators include Lil Wayne, T-Pain, 50 Cent, and possibly Michael Jackson.
Back in July, songwriter Claude Kelly revealed that the leaked track, "Hold My Hand" by Akon featuring Michael Jackson, would be in contention to be the first single. However, with the announcement of the official single, it's unknown if the track will appear on the album.
The new album will be Akon's first single 2006's Konvicted, which was certified platinum.
It is slated to hit stores November 25.
Other than the project, Akon also continues to sign acts to his Kon Live label. His latest acquisition is a British hip-hop artist named Sway.
Sway is a star in the UK. In 2005, he beat out the likes of 50 Cent and The Game to win the hip-hop award at the Mobos, and he was named best UK hip-hop act at the BET Awards in the US in 2006.
According to the BBC, Sway met Akon after the singer heard Sway rapping over one of his tracks.
"I've just been around [him] and learning from the way they work," he said, adding that he was also collaborating with Pharrell Williams. "They really like what I'm doing. What they've offered me is a platform to blow up in America."
Akon describes the British rapper as "a true legend in his own creation."
"I've never seen an artist attack every issue and make it so relevant to his surroundings the way that Sway does," he told the BBC. "He will truly be an icon for all UK rappers some day."
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