Konvicted

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Professional reviews
Konvicted

Studio album by Akon
Released	November 14, 2006 (U.S.)
Recorded	Late 2006
Genre	R&B, hip-hop
Length	52:36
Label	Konvict Muzik/Upfront/SRC/Universal Motown
All Music Guide [1] Rolling Stone [2] Allhiphop.com [3]
Akon chronology
Trouble (2004)	Konvicted (2006)

Konvicted is the sophomore album by hip hop and R&B singer Akon. It was released November 14, 2006. Artists that are featured on the album are Eminem, Styles P, and Snoop Dogg.

1 Story of Konvicted
2 Track listing
3 Samples
4 Credits
5 Reception
6 Charts

[edit] Story of Konvicted

Although the hit single Locked Up earned him street credibility, the artist’s multifaceted sensibilities are evident on his second album. Akon produced and wrote all but one song on Konvicted. The album features tracks recorded with Eminem (the first single, Smack That), Snoop Dogg (the second single, I Wanna Love You) and Styles P. (who laced Akon’s debut hit single, “Locked Up”). Konvicted balances streetwise swagger, studio originality and common sense to create one of the most honest releases of 2006.

"Smack That,” is a deliriously energetic song that has all the ingredients of a masterful club banger and features the aggressive rhymes of eight-mile wordsmith Eminem. Having met Em soon after working with Obie Trice on “Snitch” (the song, which was used on the hit series CSI; an episode Akon also appeared in), the two became fast friends. “I knew I wanted Eminem to be on the track, but he is very careful about appearing on too many other people’s songs. When he called and said he was ready to go into the studio, I knew it was a blessing. I was on the first flight to Detroit,” says Akon

Another stand-out song on Konvicted is the anti-gangsta track “Tired of Runnin’.” Recalling the sincerity of soul legend Curtis Mayfield’s timeless Super Fly soundtrack, Akon neo-blues recalls the struggle of stepping away from the game, when he sings, “I’m tired of running from the law.” Ironically, the melodic piece was written while Akon was still doing jail time. “This is a song you can feel, because it’s that real,” Akon shares. “And, I meant every word of it.”

Working in the tradition of pioneer R. Kelly, Akon moves deftly from hard-knock stories to the dance-floor to inspirational ballads; the verses are full of nimble sing-rapping…with Akon multi-tracking his voice to sing his own backing vocals.” “The song “Gangsta Bop” on Konvicted is a track that could definitely be in a movie,” says Akon. With its cinematic appeal and blaxploitation thrills, “Gangsta Bop” is captivating. “My goal is not to glorify street life, but gangstas are people too. They have families and children, and I’m trying to shed some light on that. I can’t tell people what not to do, but I can be a role model.” Akon also teams up with his homeboy T-Pain on the breezy “I Can’t Wait,” the singer has crafted a finger snapping funky love song that blends jazz and big beats.

Still, while Akon’s lyrics are tight, he proves to be innovative on a production level as well. Unafraid of lacing pop music elements like live piano and the zigzag of violins, the haunting ballad “Never Took the Time” is a winner. “When I’m composing songs, I try to be more to the left musically,” Akon reveals. “There is a love and passion I have for trying to create different sounds. In music right now, it’s up to the producers to push for diverse styles.” Another poppy love song is Don't Matter, which sounds a lot like R. Kelly's Ignition.

Working out of his own Koncast Studios in Atlanta, perhaps the crowning jewel on Konvicted is the powerful “Mama Africa.” A percussion heavy anthem “dedicated to his homeland,” Akon’s lyrics are on point as he discusses various issues from slavery to skin color. “One of my goals with the song 'Africa' is to make people more aware of the continent.”

[edit] Track listing

Shake Down
Blown Away (ft. Styles P.)
Smack That (ft. Eminem)
I Wanna Love You (ft. Snoop Dogg) (Clean Version)
The Rain
Never Took the Time
Mama Africa
I Can't Wait (ft. T-Pain)
Gangsta Bop (produced by Troo.L.S. & Rune Rask)
Tired of Runnin'
Once in a While
Don't Matter
Gringo (Bonus track)

A Limited Edition version of the album was released in CD/DVD form.

[edit] Samples

Mama Africa samples Gentleman's Dem Gone
Tired Of Running samples Bobby Bland's (If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right
Once In A While samples 3 Dog Night's I'd Be So Happy

[edit] Credits

Executive Producer: Devyne Stephens and Akon
A&R Direction: Devyne Stephens and Akon
A&R Administration: Tashia Stafford and Jason "Chyld" Kpana
Creative Direction: Devyne Stephens
Mastered: Eddy Schreyer
Marketing: Elise Wright and Jason "Chyld" Kpana
Art Direction & Design: Joe Spix
Photographer: Jonathan Mannion
Wardrobe Stylist: Fiskani
Legal: Sandra L. Brown

[edit] Reception

The album debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 with a first week sales of 284,000 copies, also at number two on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. It had an awesome debut compared to his first album which did not even debut in the top 15. His first album peaked at number 18 going platinum. The album is on its way to being certified gold and should sell well over 500,000 copies in that matter of two more weeks (or less). In the second week it fell from 2-8 with a 42% sales decrease.

The album debuted at number 22 on the UK Albums Chart which was far off of his debut Trouble which debuted at the top off the chart. The single Smack That peaked at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart which leaves the question of why it did so disapointinly. Although it did not impress as much in the UK it did well enough in the U.S. for satisfaction.

The first single off the album was Smack That which featured Eminem. The song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single I Wanna Love You featured Snoop Dogg and spawned Akon his first number 1 single on the Hot 100. Both singles celebrated at the top of the charts. Smack that hit number 1 in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and France.

[edit] Charts

Chart (2006)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	2
U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	2
UK Albums Chart	22
Canadian Album Chart	4
Australian ARIA top 50 Albums	44
Euro Top 200 Albums	11
United World Chart	2