Mega Music Talent

Posts Tagged ‘rapper’

With his unique blend of West African musical influences, Southern beats and East Coast inflections along with a dazzling presence that attracts those who watch music videos by the singer, Akon has gone from an unknown alleged convict to a music star in just a few short years.

Born to Mor Thiam, a jazz percussionist, and his wife, in St. Louis, Akon was raised in Senegal until the age of seven. At that point, his father returned to the US and brought the family with him. Until he was 15, Akon spent time in both countries.

Despite Akon?s insistence that he has a criminal past where he was involved in drug dealing, car theft and spent several years in prison (where he apparently discovered his musical talents), there is no evidence to support his claims. In fact, it would appear that Akon has a squeaky clean past, according to criminal and court records. However, the artist sticks to his story that he spent time in prison after moving to New Jersey with his family.

In 2004, his solo album debut, Trouble, was released. It prompted several singles, including the hit “Ghetto” which was released by his own record company, Konvict Music. A year later, he turned out the song “Lonely”, which took him to the top five songs on the Billboard Hot 100 list, as well as maxing out the charts in several countries, including the UK and Germany. The young singer was becoming a star.

In 2005, the first of several music videos was nominated for an award, “Locked Up”, which drew people to download music videos by the relatively new music artist. That same year, his manager was shot and killed in New Jersey during an altercation.

Akon began to collaborate on albums and music videos of popular rappers and singers, including Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dog, Eminem and Young Jeezy. He also released his second album, Konvicted, in 2006, and it debuted at the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100, getting off to a great start.

Interesting Akon Trivia
His real name is Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam, though this is usually shortened to Aliaune Badara Thiam or Aliaune Damala Thiam.

Akon is Muslim and because of this, he has never tasted alcohol or tried a cigarette. He is also rumored to have 3 wives, which is allowed by his religion, but the only thing we know for sure is that he admits to having children with three different women.

The singer is surrounded by mystery and he likes it that way. Even his birth date is unverified and in interviews, Akon has refused to clarify, preferring that no one know his true age. The most widely accepted year of birth is 1873, but he has also been said to have been born in 1981.

Akon is the owner of a diamond mine in Africa. Ask him about the infamous “blood diamonds” and he?ll respond that there is no such thing and it was only a movie.

He also runs the Konfidence Foundation, an organization to help underpriveledged children in Africa.
The singer was the first solo artist ever to hold the first AND second spots on the Billboard Hot 100 list and he accomplished this feat not once, but twice.

Akon has made music videos with both Eminem and Gwen Stefani.

His music videos have been nominated 4 times for the MTV Video Music Awards, two of which were solos.

The young singer has taken his unique origins and natural born talent and turned them into something people are clamoring for. His music is already a huge success and his collaborations are taking Akon even higher.

Author Bio: View the largest collection of Akon videos online. Watch music videos of your favorite artists as well as view pictures, songs, artist bio and more!

Category: Entertainment
Keywords: Akon videos,watch music videos,music videos online,music videos

On September 27, 1982, Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He spent his early years growing up in the tough Hollygrove district. He started rapping at a very young age at local block parties, where he was heard by a group signed by Cash Money Records.

Cash Money’s CEO, Brian “Baby” Williams and Ronald “Slim” Williams was giving Wayne some consideration. After Wayne learned the phone number and location of their office, he practically haunted them day and night. He would even leave daily rap messages on their answering machine. They were so impressed with the 12 year olds dedication they decided to give in and sign him, pairing him up with another young rapper, Big Goochie, who they had also just signed.

The duo released an album, “True Story” under the “The B.G.’s” and right from day one his style was a true gangsta rap. He was unlike most young rappers who usually start off with “bubble gum rap,” and do not make the change over until they are well out of their teen years.

Wayne’s mother became worried about her son’s actions and the company he kept when he began wearing gang affiliation clothing. Knowing the street reputation the Williams brothers had, she decided it was best to remove Lil Wayne from the Cash Money Company. In retaliation, he ran away from home for a week and during that time managed to convince his Mom that the records company owners were not to blame for any of his actions or choices.

In 1995, he along with B.G., and two other young rappers, Young Turk and Juvenile, formed the group Hot Boys. The first album, “Get it How you Live” in 1997 was followed up with “Guerilla Warfare” in 1999, shortly before his first solo effort. Wayne’s first solo album was a great success; “Tha Block is Hot” (title track) became a top ten hit.

The second album, “Lights Out” and the third,”500 Degreez”, did not fair as well and lead him to take a brief break from solo efforts to collaborate with others. Also, by this time he was the last of the Hot Boys; the others having gone their own way and retreating from what seemed to be a failing record company.

During the early 2000’s, Lil Wayne was a prolific contributor to others rap lyrics and made numerous guest appearances on other rapper’s recordings. At this time, he also made several mix tapes that received critical acclaim within the music industry. He even offered a few mixes online for free. In 2004 he released a new album, “Tha Carter” which introduced the public to a more defined and crisper performance from the young rapper. The single, “Go D.J.”, hit the top 20, and the album, the top five. In December 2005, he released “Tha Carter II”, which arrived on the charts at number two and produced a hit single, “Fireman.”

“Tha Carter III” was released in June 2008 and sold one million copies within the first week, and another million within the month. Two big hit singles from this album were “Lollipop” and “A Milli.”

Wayne’s style has become refined and improves as time progresses and with his talent for writing lyrics, record sales for him come with great ease. If his work is followed, and especially from such a young age, it may be easy to agree with his self proclaimed statement, that he is “the best rapper alive.”

Author Bio: Searching for music video artists and songs online? Come check out the largest collection of music videos online featuring all of the most popular artists and bands including Eminem, Akon, Lil Wayne music and many others!

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Jay C is a Torquay based rapper and freestyler who has just launched his debut album produced by Relegate Records. Jay had a few minutes to spare out of his hectic and non stop schedule to answer a few questions by Gary Vine which provides a great insight into his aspirations into being a successful and well noticed rapper.

 You’ve been rapping since 15 years old? How did if all start?

I started off just freestyling with a friend shortly after moving back to Ipswich from Devon. I had wrote the odd set of lyrics here and there but i didn’t take it too serious. I went to a house party with my brother where he introduced me to a rapper/producer called Mr Woods who was part of a group called Battle Scars, after about a month I got the opportunity to feature on a few of their tracks and the experience made me start to take witting lyrics a lot more seriously.

What made you decide “Rap” was your type of music?

I went through stages of liking different types of music more than others particularly Indie and Rap. When I was 14 I started taking guitar lessons for about a year but I struggled to get into it. To this day I still listen to some Indie music but as I grew older I started to listento more and more rap, hip hop and R’n’B. So I started to write the odd lyric here and there and the more I started to write it soon became clear that writing lyrics and rap music was the thing I wanted to do.

What’s it like working with Relegate Records?

Demanding (laughing out loud) , but I believe in the work we are trying to achieve. You no the old saying “the more you put in the more you get out” and the progression the label has made within the past year is evident where ever we go in the bay.

Your debut album “Letting Them Know” was release on 24th November 2008. Have you achieved your goals through the launch of your debut album?

My expectations weren’t too high as it’s my first album and the current state of the economy is making it harder for Independent record labels to push their projects forward but I believe that no matter how well you do, you can always do better by pushing yourself that extra mile. We still have plans in action to promote the album but as you may know no one makes it big from their first ever album.

Please provide some more information on how you put the album together?

We weren’t 100% aware at the time we were making an album it just kind of fell together after about 8/9 months of solid recording. After Relegate Records became official we realised that we had to start making some money so we picked the best 10 tracks we had done and went from their.

What is your favourite song on this album?

Mummy’s boy by far! I got a few other’s I really like but Mummy’s boy the realist track I’ve done.

Does any of your music have any reflection on your life?

Apart from Mummy’s boy and playa 4 life (Jay laughs out loud!) no not really, but this is something I have been working on in new material some of which will be released quite soon, so keep an eye on relegaterecords.co.uk for the new singles.

­­­Have you any gigs coming up soon?

Yeah, I have a gig coming up at liquid bar in Paignton on 30th April. I had a gig there in November last year and the night was such a success that the Manager asked the label if I could come back again. I’ve also got a few more gig’s coming up soon but they are yet to be confirmed, I’ll keep everyone informed through the website so keep an eye out.

Do you enjoy the audience atmosphere?

Of course, what true artiste doesn’t like the buzz of a crowd watching you on stage, I’m still growing as an artist so it’s a nice feeling when I see the crowd respond to one of my tunes.

What’s your favourite type of audience? (i.e. pub, club, mini arena, etc)

I’ll get back to you on that one when I’ve performed in a mini arena (Jay laughs)…. so I’d have to say in a club. I do like the atmosphere club crowds bring to the gig but playing in a mini arena is on a different level, I’d love to have the opportunity but we’ll have to see what the future holds.

Every artist whether signed or unsigned have had unexpected encounters on the stage. Can you recall an unexpected encounter on stage that wasn’t suppose to happen?

Yeah, their was a incident at a festival I was performing at last year, where as we were in the middle of the chorus on our main track the needle on the turntable skipped ahead a little and confused the crowd and myself but luckily it didn’t skip to far so I was able to salvage the performance, Touch wood their will be no more in the near future.

Have you got any future album or single releases coming soon?

Like I said earlier I have a few singles coming out in the next month or so and there’s plan’s to bring out another CD around April/May time. I wont be looking to release another album for about a year or so but there will be plenty of fresh new material to look forward to.

Would you like to be profiled as a world class musician?

Who wouldn’t? If I was considered a worldclass musician I’d be grateful that my talent has been recognised to that extent and that my voice has been heard all around the world.

Have you ever considered auditioning for reality programs for shows like X Factor?

I can appreciate the talent of some of the contestants, some of them have amazing voices and without shows like X factor they might never have been heard and given the to shine. But until Simon Cowell comes up with a rap factor I don’t think you’ll be seeing Jay C on an episode of X factor any time soon.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?

I would like to have made considerable amount of progress with my music and hopefully have a good reputation throughout the UK as an established artist. I would like to have performed at some big festivals like Glastonbury, maybe to have collaborated with a big artist or producer and have a single in the charts. And ideally not living with my mum and step dad……

THIS ARTICLE CAN BE REPRODUCED FROM PERMISSION OF GARY VINE. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT MUST BE CONTAINED AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE WHEREEVER IT IS PUBLISHED

This Interview and article was written by Gary Vine of JV Creations. JV Creations also owns the following websites that promotes unsigned artists – www.megamusicvideos.co.uk, www.megamusicdiscovers.com, www.megamusictalent.com and www.megamusicsite.com