News featuring Akon

Thursday 30th May

• “Rebuilding Africa: Ozwald Boateng takes on biggest design project yet”

  Savile Row tailor enlists the help of Africa's wealthiest business leaders to help overhaul the continent's creaking infrastructure

  "Wake up, everybody, no more sleeping in bed!" The soulful acoustics of Grammy-award-winning R&B singer John Legend may be unfamiliar to the large group of African bankers watching him sing, but the message is loud and clear: "No more time for thinking; time for thinking ahead."

  Read the complete article at www.guardian.co.uk

Monday 20th May

• “Akon Ordered To Pay Child Support”

  A judge has ordered R&B star Akon to hand over $5,000 (£3,200) in monthly child support payments for two of his kids.The Smack That hitmaker filed...

  Read the complete article at www.contactmusic.com

Tuesday 23rd April

• “David Guetta, Ne-Yo & Akon’s “Play Hard” Video: Watch The Weird, Weird Clip”

  Look: A new video from David Guetta, Ne-Yo and Akon isn’t something any of us are going to get particularly excited about, especially in 2013, and their single together — “Play Hard” (the emphasis is firmly there, not so much on the working hard part) — is exactly the type of pedestrian club-pop you’d expect, the effective sampling of ... More »

  Read the complete article at idolator.com

Sunday 24th March

• “Snoop Lion Shares Tracklisting and Cover Art for 'Reincarnated'”

  We've been waiting a long time for Reincarnated, the debut album from Snoop Dogg's new reggae persona Snoop Lion. We know it'll drop on April 23 via VICE Music/RCA Records, and now the album's got a tracklisting and album cover. In addition to previously announced collaborations with the likes of Drake, T.I., Akon, Rita Ora and Chris Brown, the Reincarnated tracklisting reveals confirmed appearances from Angela Hunte, Mr. Vegas, Busta Rhymes and even Miley Cyrus. The album art, on the other hand, sees Snoop looking dead serious as he blows smoke in black and white....Read More

  Read the complete article at exclaim.ca

Wednesday 13th March

• “Congo's hidden cultural hub”

  Goma might be considered a war zone by the rest of the world, but local musicians and artists know it a capital of culture

  Situated on a lake shore, the foot of an active volcano (actually, two volcanoes), the border with Rwanda and on the southern edge of North Kivu province, the city of Goma (map) has had more than its share of disasters, notably the Rwanda genocide (1994), the eruption of Nyiragongo (2002), the eastern Congo wars (1996-2003) and most recently the advance of the M23 rebels, whose headquarters are a stone's throw from the provincial capital. In November they launched an attack on Goma, taking over the city without much resistance from the army.

  Read the complete article at www.guardian.co.uk

Saturday 2nd March

• “Snoop Lion Details Album Features, Release Date”

  Snoop Lion, the reggae alter ego of Snoop Dogg, has shared more details from his forthcoming album Reincarnated. It's out April 23 (yes, the week of 4/20) via Berhane Sound System, Mad Decent, VICE Music, and RCA Records.

  Though artwork and tracklist are still forthcoming, a press release confirms that the Major Lazer-produced LP will feature Drake, T.I., Busta Rhymes, Akon, Chris Brown, and others.

  Read the complete article at pitchfork.com

Friday 1st March

• “Snoop Lion Sets Release Date for 'Reincarnated,' Gets Drake, T.I., Chris Brown to Guest”

  Rapper gone reggae artist Snoop Lion has been hinting at the arrival of his Reincarnated album for a while now, but has finally set an official due date of April 23 through VICE Music/RCA Records. As previously reported, the set was executive produced by Major Lazer's Diplo. While a tracklisting has yet to arrive, the album apparently has guest appearances from the likes of Drake, T.I., Akon, Rita Ora and Chris Brown. Snoop Lion had previously teased the set with "Lighters Up," featuring Mavado and Popcaan, and "La La La." Snoop's daughter Cori B is also set to appear on the next...Read More

  Read the complete article at exclaim.ca

Monday 21st January

• “Africa albums to watch out for in 2013”

  Thirteen artists we're looking forward to hearing from this year

  So 2012, amazing year that it was, is firmly behind us. We turn our attention now to the next 12 months in which we hope to hear from the following artists, some debutantes, others old favourites, and all African descended.

  Read the complete article at www.guardian.co.uk

Wednesday 9th January

• “Liberian street hit stirs the political pot”

  Musicians hope the runaway success of the Pot Boiling Remix will revive an ailing industry and send a message to politicians

  When I came back to Liberia last August, there was a strange silence. No sign of Hipco, the country's unique musical style with its vernacular speech and political messages. Sure, there were echoes of Ghana-imported Azonto and US standards such as Akon and R Kelly, and (thanks to a song with Nigerian superstars P Square) Rick Ross. But nothing like Junior Freeman and African Soldier's Da My Area, the song that took over the Liberian airwaves the previous year.

  Read the complete article at www.guardian.co.uk

Friday 30th November

• “Cassie's constant disappearing acts”

  It's six years since the distinctive R&B diva's last album, with its follow-up slated and shelved twice

  In 2006, you couldn't go to a club without hearing Cassie's late-night R&B anthem Me & U dripping from the speakers. Its neat, minimal refrain, and Cassie's icy, Janet Jackson-esque delivery were fresh, hypnotic and alarmingly sexy. The song reached No 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and stayed in the Top 40 for nearly five months. R&B had found itself a new star.

  Read the complete article at www.guardian.co.uk