Akon scored big with his debut album Trouble which spawned the huge hits "Locked Up" and "Lonely." In addition to his solo success he has collaborated with artists such as Young Jeezy and Rick Ross. His current single "Smack That" featuring Eminem recently made Billboard history after leaping from # 95 to # 7. Akon's new album Konvicted arrives in stores on November 14.

How did you end up hooking up with Eminem for the "Smack That" song?
Akon-Well the Eminem hookup came through Obie Trice. I was doing some records with Obie Trice. Me and Em knew each other. We spoke a couple of times before but we never really had a chance to work with each other before. This record with Obie opened up the doors for me to actually make it to Detroit and hang out with him.

Are you surprised the song has taken off so fast?
Akon-No. I'm not surprised at all. I kind of expected it. Em's a big artist and I feel like me and him together all we had to do was just do it and put it out.

Was the incident at the video set with Kendra from Girls Next Door blown out of proportion? How do you remember the incident?
Akon-It was blown out of proportion but that's normal. It will get blown. Slim Shady did come out a little bit on that. You got Marshall Mathers and you got Slim Shady. Slim Shady came out the closet for a quick second.

You have such a unique voice. I know everyone probably says "Oh I want Akon on my track," but do you ever have to turn down projects to avoid overexposure?
Akon-I turn down projects all the time but it has nothing to do with being overexposed. I don't believe in overexposure. As long as you are putting out great music people are going to love it. You are only overexposed when the music ain't hot or you keep doing the same thing over and over again.

You've been speaking of your Senegalese roots lately. Have you thought of incorporating this style of music into your current music?
Akon-Yeah definitely. I think its going to eventually happen. I just have to slowly ride it in but we are definitely going to do it.

Akon on Marshall Mathers and his thoughts about overexposure

Your Angie Martinez interview last week has everyone talking about this multi-wives thing. Is there anything you want to clear up about this or it pretty much is what it is?
Akon-At the end of the day it is what it is. That was my personal view. That is the only thing I wanted to clear up because people felt like I was speaking on behalf of all of Africa and all the African men and it wasn't the case. It was just me over there trippin' with Angie. You know how it be, you just open up a line of communication so people can call in and talk about it. But then they took it to a whole 'nother level and it's actually messing up other people's lives and I didn't really want that. You know what I'm sayin?

And its getting to the point where nobody wants to talk about the music. Everyone said, "You have to ask him how many wives he has or if he is going to take more."
Akon-Yeah it really is getting to that point but we are probably going to create a whole 'nother segment and a show around that. We'll get into all of that later.

You said show. Are you planning a TV show?
Akon-I don't know but after that show I have gotten about 15 hits over it so don't be surprised if they come up with the right check and we make it happen.

You know everyone I've interviewed you that has worked with you had such great things to say about you. India.Arie spoke highly of you on the "I Am Not My Hair-Remix." Can you talk about working with India?
Akon-Man, India is so talented I couldn't wait to get with her. Honestly for years, I have been knowing her and we never had a chance to get in the studio and just bang out. This was an opportunity and her album had already closed and Phil was like "Yo you know I'm having trouble with this record would you like to do a remix." I was like "What? Hell yeah!" It all came about and we came together and banged it out. It was almost like the chemistry was instant.

Another artist who spoke highly of you was T-Pain. What was it that you saw in T-Pain that made you want to help him further his career?
Akon-That kid is the most talented person I know literally. He's one of them kinda guys I feel like later I can just go back and relax and just let him takeover the game. He's one of those type of dudes who's so talented as a producer, as a writer, like I have never seen nothing like this myself. A lot of people don't see all that, they see the videos and him performing but the day you get in the studio with this kid and watch him work man you are going to be surprised.

"Locked Up," was like your first huge hit. I'm just going off of things I've read. I read you really were locked up once am I right?
Akon-Um huh. That's when I wrote the song.

Now you are like this huge star. When you were locked up did you ever dream of this?
Akon-No, not at all. I kinda planned to come out and get into the music heavy but I never expected it to be this big. I just expected it to keep me above water to where I could open up doors and do other things.

I read about Konlive Records releasing an album from Chilli of TLC. What was it you saw in her that made you want to help her jumpstart her solo career?
Akon-Well I always felt like she would be a perfect solo artist. Normally in every group, especially back in the day every guy I knew was in love with Chilli. She always had a nice voice and she always had a story but it was just never told. I feel like this is the perfect time to pull her story out and incorporate it into this album. There are a lot of things about her that people don't know and would be shocked to even know about.

So you will you be primarily bringing out established artists or do you plan to bring out new artists as well?
Akon-Definitely more new artists. I'm into breaking new artists. I'm a breaker.

Speaking of being a breaker, why is it important for you to break new artists into the industry?
Akon-It's very important because when you don't break new artists the music starts to circulate and make a 360 you get to hear the same thing over and over. Nothing new is ever created. The music starts to get boring. There are a lot of talented kids that can definitely help change the game. They just don't have the shot or the avenues to go about it.

Do you ever have a chance to get on your Myspace profile and read the comments?
Akon-I read and I try to answer as many of them as I can, but there are so many of them.

I just subscribed to your blog today.
Akon-Its like crazy over 2 million plays.

I read you have plans for a movie that is based on your life. Is that something that is still in the writing stages?
Akon-Yep. Actually, I'm closing it out now. We are going to start casting in February and it's called the Illegal Alien.

How are you received when you do go back home to Africa?
Akon-Oh it's ridiculous. I mean it's crazy. It's like the love there is really indescribable. You got to live to be there just to know.

How long have you been over here in the states?
Akon-About twelve years.

Do you think you are settled here permanently or do you think you ever plan to move back to Africa?
Akon-I still live at home. Every summer I go back. This is where I'm based when I work. But you know how we do. We work and send money home. Once I retire I'm going home for good.

Can you tell me about this diamond company that you started?
Akon-Yeah we got a diamond mine in Africa where I'm supplying a lot of the jewelers here in the U.S. It's a good business but a lot of people aren't educated in diamonds as much. But I'm pretty much here to make some good money off of it and to turn some of these rappers on to it and the quality of the diamonds so they don't get cheated.

Akon on Africa

What can you tell me about your new album?
Akon-The album will be out November the 14th and its called Konvicted. Its like a step up from Trouble. Its still pretty much got the same format I didn't change. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Its definitely more catered to what people like to hear me do. Now that I'm out and I've been featured on certain records I see the effect on certain records that it has on people so it helped me to gear this album to where I needed it to be as far as an international type of album where it gets domestic, it gets Europe, its gets the hood, it gets international, gotta get the West Indies.

You've been so busy when did you have time to record the album?
Akon-When I'm on the road I recorded. When I'm on the road I'm producing with other people. I'm doing records on my own. I'm always in the studio if its not for me its for other people.


For more about Akon visit http://www.myspace.com/akon