Akon
1996–2005: Discovery and Trouble
When still in high school, he became part of the Refugee Camp, the extended musical family of the Fugees. In 1996, he recorded a single, "Operations of Nature", that earned him a deal with Elektra Records—but when the song failed to catch on in the United States, the record deal went by the wayside as well. "That was the turning point for my music, especially the music career. That's when I lost all hope, and I was like, 'It's not really for me.' That's when I became a misfit."
1996–2005: Discovery and Trouble
Akon's solo debut album, Trouble), was released on June 29, 2004. It spawned the singles "Locked Up)", "Lonely)", "Belly Dancer (Bananza))", "Pot of Gold)" and "Ghetto)". "Locked Up" reached the number 8 position in the US and number 5 in the UK. "Ghetto" became a radio hit when it was remixed by DJ Green Lantern to include verses from rappers 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. The album is a hybrid of Akon's silky, West African-styled vocals mixed with East Coast and Southern beats. Most of Akon's songs begin with the sound of the clank of a jail cell's door with him uttering the word "Konvict".
1996–2005: Discovery and Trouble
In 2006, Akon and Young Jeezy suggested plans for a collaborative album.
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