Akon

b. Aliaune Thiam, 14 October 1981, Dakar, Senegal. The son of jazz percussionist Mor Thiam, Akon spent his early years in the west African country of Senegal before his family returned to the USA and settled in New Jersey. His parents relocated to Atlanta while he was still at high school, leaving the youngster to make the most of his freedom by running into trouble with the law.A custodial sentence followed but the time inside was instrumental in turning Thiam's life around. When he was released he emulated his father by throwing himself into music. His home-taped demo impressed major label SRC/Universal and Thiam was offered a recording contract.