Akon

“Konvicted”

Universal Records

Grade: C

 

Akon can see it from your shadow and he knows you want to ride in his Lamborghini Gulatto. Who wouldn’t? But watch out because, according to his hit song, he just wants to “smack that.”

Akon’s second album, “Konvicted,” will definitely keep your head bopping with his two hits, “Smack that” and “I just want to love you.”

And to keep the beat rolling, Akon enlists the help of Styles P, Eminem and of course the top dog, Snoop D-O-double G.

He just uses them to break up the sound of his signature whiny sounding voice. Also starring on the album are the chirps of birds added for a unique sound on the song, “The rain,” for the light-hearted thugs, who just seek a different life away from the ghetto.

“Konvicted” has its moments of upbeat tracks, to humor the club crowd, while also satisfying the sensitive crowd.

Track six, “Never took the time,” has a significant beat that will just make you want to snap. “Never…” also helps Akon express his feelings of loss from a relationship.

“You never took the time to know me/You never took the time to understand/Cause loving you was all I had.”

Don’t worry though. Akon quickly bounces back with another upbeat track that hits his African roots. “Mama Africa” works in a Rasta sounding beat to this album as well.

Akon proves himself in control because in this album, not only did he perform the songs, he wrote, arranged and produced all of the tracks on “Konvicted.”

This album sounds like troubles from the ghetto, especially on the 10th track, when his lyrics hit closer to home. Akon explains how tired he is of his gangster life.

“That gangster life ain’t no longer in me/I’m tired for the running … running from the law…/thankful that I didn’t end up in a coffin/something we see too often.”

The last track, “Don’t matter,” takes a turn from being a gangster trying to get out of the ghetto, to being in a relationship that he is happy with.

“Don’t matter” masters the sweet lyrics by spilling the idea of fighting for their love to last no matter what happens.

“Cause we gonna fight, oh yes, we gonna fight/believe we gonna fight/fight for our love yea.”

So if you find yourself craving an album with lyrics straight from the ghetto, and a good mix of love songs, give Akon a chance; after all he just “wants to love you.” But you probably “already know.”

 

— Lydia Earhart, associate editor