Akon, born Aliaune Thiam, grew up in Senegal before he and his family (including his father, jazz percussionist Momar Thiam) eventually settled in the USA, in the state of New Jersey. There he discovered hip-hop and R&B music as well as crime. He was eventually jailed, but he used the time to work on his musical ideas. Upon release, Akon began writing and recording tracks in...