Freedom (Akon album)

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Freedom
Studio album by Akon
Released December 2, 2008 (2008-12-02)[1]
Recorded 2007–2008
Genre R&B, pop, dance, hip hop[2]
Length 48:50
Label Konvict Muzik / Universal Motown
Producer Akon (exec.), Noel "Detail" Fisher Giorgio Tuinfort, Jaylien 2010, RedOne, T-Pain, Timothy Walls
Akon chronology
Konvicted
(2006)		 Freedom
(2008)		 Stadium
(2011)
Singles from Freedom
  1. "Right Now (Na Na Na)"
    Released: September 23, 2008
  2. "I'm So Paid"
    Released: November 4, 2008
  3. "Beautiful"
    Released: January 6, 2009
  4. "We Don't Care"
    Released: July 4, 2009

Freedom is the third studio album by hip hop and R&B Senegalese-American singer and rapper Akon.[3] The album was originally named Acquitted, however Akon changed it before it was released.[4] It was released as a download on December 1, 2008, and in stores December 2, 2008. Although there are some vulgarities on Freedom, it does not carry the Parental Advisory warning, making it Akon's first album not to do so.

Contents

Recording

Production on the album began in late 2007 and ended in late summer 2008. Originally the album was to be called Acquitted, but was later confirmed to be Freedom by Akon's label, Universal Music. In July, a leaked recording of Akon's duet with Michael Jackson titled "Hold My Hand" was released to the Internet and at first showings of the song was supposedly taken out by Akon's music label. The song was originally posted as an Akon demo with only Akon performing the song. The leaked song was rumored to be featured on both his and Jackson's own upcoming album.[5] In an interview with MTV, Akon was hopeful to include the song on the album. However, on October 17, Akon's label released information on the track listing and the album does not feature the duet with Jackson.[6] The UK bonus track, "Clap Again" samples "Click Click Click" by New Kids on the Block. The leaked version of the lead single "Right Now (Na Na Na)" included verse from rhythm and blues artist Danny Fernandes but never made the final cut; Akon decided to go solo. The tracks "Against the Grain" and "We Don't Care" were originally named "Falling in Love" and "Could You Be the Reason" respectively. "Troublemaker" seems to be a continuation of Akon's first solo #1 Billboard Hot 100 single "Don't Matter", with the lyrics suggesting that it is, as he says "Similar to the words it don't matter, but this time they wanna see us together, look at us now."

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3/5 stars [7]
Now 2/5 stars[8]
Billboard (positive)[9]
Blender 2.5/5 stars[10]
The Boston Globe (positive)[11]
Robert Christgau (3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)[12]
Entertainment Weekly (C-)[13]
The Guardian 3/5 stars[14]
The New York Times (positive)[15]
Rolling Stone 3/5 stars[16]

Freedom garnered mixed reviews by critics. Rolling Stone described Akon's third studio album as "melodrama about love and love lost delivered in a hooting style over synth-swamped beats." Dan Leroy of courant.com gave a positive review to the album, "Akon's undeniable gift for hooks makes this an easy listen, and the ex-con posturing isn't missed." Entertainment Weekly gave the album 40/100, stating "Akon's philosophy of liberty also includes the freedom to reuse nearly identical hooks for 13 songs straight." MusicOHM.com stated "Unfortunately, all this really means is an extra emphasis on weirdly pitched keyboard riffs and slightly dated sounding beats." and also states "The album opens with its two best songs, which is never a good idea when there are twelve still to get through." The New York Times critic Jon Caraminca described the track Holla Holla, featuring T-Pain, "is the first of theirs (song) in which the student clearly bests the mentor." Meanwhile, following the album's UK release, noted R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning Blues & Soul stated: "With his new album's typically-expansive moods ranging from banging ghetto jams like 'I'm So Paid' and sexual, T-Pain-featuring 'Holla Holla', to uplifting universal anthems like the autobiographical title-track and reggae-infused 'Sunny Day', hopes are high this time round for 'Freedom' to even eclipse Akon's already-amazing past international success."[17]

Singles

The first single released from the album, "Right Now (Na Na Na)", which peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 was Akon's 12th top 10 hit on the chart. The second single is "I'm So Paid", featuring Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy. The single made a "Hot Shot Debut" at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and fell off the charts after a few weeks, but then re-entered and peaked at #31. "Beautiful", the third single, debuted and peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Beautiful" has been getting much radio airplay since it debuted on the Billboard 100. The fourth single from the album was "We Don't Care", The music video surfaced online on June 16.[18][19] The songs "Troublemaker" featuring Sweet Rush and "Keep You Much Longer" peaked at #97 and #123 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100 based solely on iTunes downloads following the album's release without single releases.

Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Right Now (Na Na Na)"   Aliaune "Akon" Thiam, Giorgio Tuinfort Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort* 4:01
2. "Beautiful" (featuring Colby O'Donis & Kardinal Offishall) Akon, J. Wesley, Colby O'Donis Colón, Jason Harrow Akon, Jaylien 2010* 5:13
3. "Keep You Much Longer"   Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort, Mark "Exit" Goodchild Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort* 4:21
4. "Troublemaker" (featuring Sweet Rush) Akon, Timothy "K-Figz" Walls Akon, Timothy "K-Figz" Walls* 3:57
5. "We Don't Care"   Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort, Claude Kelly Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort* 4:16
6. "I'm So Paid" (featuring Lil Wayne & Young Jeezy) Akon, Noel Fisher, Dwayne Carter Jr., Jay Jenkins Akon, Noel "Detail" Fisher* 4:24
7. "Holla Holla" (featuring T-Pain) Akon, T-Pain, Frank Romano, David "Preach" Balfour Akon, T-Pain*, Frank Romano^ 3:00
8. "Against the Grain" (featuring Ray Lavender) Akon, RedOne, E. Lavender Akon, RedOne* 4:04
9. "Be with You"   Akon, Hakim Abdulsamad Akon, Hakim Abdulsamad* 3:51
10. "Sunny Day" (featuring Wyclef Jean) Akon, RedOne, Neluset Jean Akon, RedOne*, Lamont "LoGiC" Coleman^ 5:13
11. "Birthmark"   Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort, Noel Fisher Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort*, Noel "Deatil" Fisher^ 4:23
12. "Over the Edge"   Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort, Claude Kelly Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort* 4:27
13. "Freedom"   Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort, Noel Fisher Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort* 4:14
  • (*) as co-producer.
  • (^) as additional producer.

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position
Australian Urban Albums Chart[citation needed] 3
Australian Albums Chart[citation needed] 20
Belgian Albums Charts (Flanders)[citation needed] 12
Canadian Albums Chart[citation needed] 4
Greek Albums Chart[citation needed] 27
Polish Albums Charts[22] 31
UK Albums Chart[citation needed] 6
UK R&B Albums Chart[citation needed] 1
U.S. Billboard 200[citation needed] 7
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[citation needed] 3

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[23] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[24] Platinum 80,000^
GCC (IFPI Middle East)[25] 2× Platinum 12,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] Platinum 300,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Chart precession and succession

Preceded by
I Am... Sasha Fierce by Beyoncé
Just Go by Lionel Richie		 UK R&B Chart number-one album
March 15, 2009 – March 22, 2009
March 29, 2009[27]		 Succeeded by
Just Go by Lionel Richie
R.O.O.T.S. by Flo Rida

References

  1. ^ "Akon'S Angel Available Now!". Akononline.com. http://www.akononline.com/. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  2. ^ Kellman, Andy. "allmusic ((( Freedom > Overview )))". Allmusic. Macrovision Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1449058. Retrieved 2009-10-21. 
  3. ^ Akon's official site. Accessed September 21, 2008.
  4. ^ Akon Hoping For Michael Jackson Collaboration On Forthcoming LP, Acquitted. Mtv.com.
  5. ^ Michael Jackson Cameo Shocks Akon Songwriter
  6. ^ "Akon's new album "Freedom" tracklisting is out!!!". Universal Music. http://www.universalmusic.com/artist-news/akons-new-album-freedom-tracklisting-is-out. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  7. ^ "Allmusic review". http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1449058. 
  8. ^ "NOW review". http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/discs.cfm?content=166358. 
  9. ^ "Billboard review". http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/reviews-album/freedom-1003917348.story. 
  10. ^ "Blender review". http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=5408. 
  11. ^ "The Boston Globe review". December 1, 2008. http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2008/12/01/akon_spreads_love_on_freedom/. 
  12. ^ "Robert Christgaureview". http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Akon. 
  13. ^ "Entertainment Weekly review". http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20242964,00.html. 
  14. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (November 28, 2008). "The Guardian review". London. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/28/akon-freedom. 
  15. ^ "The New York Times review". December 1, 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/arts/music/01choi.html?_r=1. 
  16. ^ "Rolling Stone review". http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/akon/albums/album/24024283/review/24196347/freedom. 
  17. ^ Akon interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' December 2008
  18. ^ "Radio 1 - Playlist". BBC. 2011-02-16. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/playlist/. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  19. ^ "Playlist - Home". Playlist.totalkiss.com. http://playlist.totalkiss.com/. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  20. ^ "Freedom - Brazilian Edition - Saraiva.com.br". Livrariasaraiva.com.br. http://www.livrariasaraiva.com.br/produto/2658218/freedom-brazilian-edition/?ID=BB43AFDC7DA04110E3B1D0642. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  21. ^ a b "Freedom-Asian Tour Edition: Akon: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002RWX4N4. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
  22. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLIS - Official Retail Sales Chart" (in Polish). OLiS. http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?idlisty=492&lang=. Retrieved 2011-09-20. 
  23. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2009Albums.htm. Retrieved February 23, 2011. 
  24. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Akon – Freedom". Music Canada. http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=Freedom&sa=Akon&smt=0. Retrieved February 23, 2011. 
  25. ^ "IFPI Middle East Awards – 2010". IFPI Middle East. http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/mid_east_2010.html. Retrieved July 3, 2011. 
  26. ^ "British album certifications – Akon – Freedom". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx. Retrieved July 3, 2011.  Enter Freedom in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go
  27. ^ "Radio 1 - The Official Chart with Reggie Yates - UK Top 40 RNB Albums". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/rnbalbums.shtml. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 
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