Jump to content

Konvicted

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Konvicted
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 14, 2006
RecordedMarch–August 31, 2006
StudioWhite Room Studios, Detroit, Michigan
Genre
Length48:05
Label
Producer
Akon chronology
Trouble
(2004)
Konvicted
(2006)
Freedom
(2008)
Singles from Konvicted
  1. "Smack That"
    Released: September 26, 2006
  2. "I Wanna Love You"
    Released: October 5, 2006
  3. "Don't Matter"
    Released: January 18, 2007
  4. "Mama Africa"
    Released: May 15, 2007
  5. "Sorry, Blame It on Me"
    Released: July 17, 2007
  6. "Never Took The Time"
    Released: October 16, 2007
  7. "I Can't Wait"
    Released: March 31, 2008

Konvicted is the second studio album by Senegalese-American singer-songwriter Akon. It was released on November 14, 2006. The album features collaborations with Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Styles P and T-Pain.

Konvicted debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, selling 284,000 copies in its first week. It was later certified 6× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), also resulting Akon's best selling album worldwide. The album was nominated for three Grammy Awards in two categories, Best Contemporary R&B Album and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

Background

[edit]
Akon produced most tracks on Konvicted

The album's title refers to Akon supposedly spending three years in prison from 1999 to 2002 for being part of an auto-theft ring.[3]

Akon discussed the making of the album in a 2022 track-by-track video. Talking about its music he said: “When I first started in the music business I started as a producer. But as a producer I was also a ghost producer. Konvicted was a way of merging all of those sounds in one, because I grew up listening to everything and anybody, but also creating sounds for a lot of producers”.[4] The singer said that the album's lyrics were based on his personal life's experiences.[4]

Music and lyrics

[edit]

Konvicted musically mixes R&B,[1] hip hop and reggae.[2] According to AllMusic, its lyrical production mostly "offers more ultra-macho R&B", while still delivering introspective content.[5] The Guardian noted that Akon in the album portrays a more hip-hop persona unlike his R&B contemporaries, usually conformed in more romantic productions.[6] Akon on Konvicted delivers for the most part his signature "warm, nasal" vocal performances.[2]

Release and singles

[edit]

The album was accompanied by several different bonus tracks depending on territory. In the UK, the track "Gringo" was issued. "Gringo" also became a bonus track for Target customers in the US. In Japan, the UK B-Side "Struggle Everyday" became the final track on the album. "Struggle Everyday" also became a bonus track for Circuit City customers in the US. All digital versions of the album come accompanied by a remix of "I Wanna Love You", featuring Snoop Dogg and Eminem.

Walmart customers in the US were treated to four exclusive bonus tracks, including unreleased tracks "Fair to You" and "Still Alone", plus Walmart Live Soundcheck versions of "Mama Africa" and "I Wanna Love You". The Platinum Edition of the album, issued in 2007, came complete with the new single "Sorry Blame It On Me", a new track entitled "Rush", and a remix of "Don't Matter". Some editions of the album also came packaged with a bonus DVD, containing a thirty-minute documentary and three music videos. "Smack That", "I Wanna Love You" and "Don't Matter" were certified 3× platinum by RIAA. Also "Never Took the Time" was released as promotional single on October 16, 2007.[7]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
DJBooth.net[14]
Entertainment WeeklyB[8]
The Guardian[6]
HipHopDX[9]
Robert Christgau(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)[10]
Rolling Stone[11]
Spin(6/10)[2]
Sputnikmusic[12]
USA Today[13]

The Guardian praised Akon's vocal performances on Konvicted: “His voice is wonderful, an instrument of silky versatility; it's arresting to hear tales of strippers, jail and drug dealing, interspersed with the occasional bout of chest-beating angst, sung in such a seductive style.” Spin commented that the album “works like a backpacker’s version of a tough-guy hip-hop album”.[2] Robert Christgau wrote that it “answers the burning question of whether R. Kelly's priorities would be improved by hard time more ambiguously than one would hope”. Rolling Stone talking about its lyrics, said that “while crooners like Usher and Ne-Yo sing to the ladies, Akon sings for the guys”.[11]

Chart performance

[edit]

Konvicted debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, selling over 284,000 copies that week.[15] The album was able to stay within the top twenty for 28 consecutive weeks, but eventually started to drop slowly. On November 19, 2007, the RIAA certified Konvicted 3× platinum status with 3 million units sold in the United States. In 2007, the album became the second best selling record of the year in the U.S., behind Daughtry by Daughtry.[16]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Shake Down"
  • Akon
  • Giorgio Tuinfort
3:52
2."Blown Away" (featuring Styles P)
  • Giorgio Tuinfort
  • Akon
3:29
3."Smack That" (featuring Eminem)
Eminem3:33
4."I Wanna Love You" (also known as "I Wanna Fuck You"; featuring Snoop Dogg)Akon4:07
5."The Rain"
  • Akon
  • Dwight "Skrapp" Reynolds
  • Theron Thomas
  • Timothy Thomas
  • S. Crocker
Akon3:27
6."Never Took the Time"
  • Akon
  • Keon Bryce
  • Steve Skinner
Akon3:57
7."Mama Africa"
  • Akon
  • Hakim Abdulsamad
  • Dalton Brownie
  • Bobby Dixon
  • Everold Dwyer
  • Paul Elton
  • Bruce Gowdy
  • Tilmann Otto
  • Dave Richards
Akon4:26
8."I Can't Wait" (featuring T-Pain)Akon, T-Pain3:46
9."Gangsta Bop"
4:06
10."Tired of Runnin'"
  • Akon
  • H. Banks
  • C. Hampton
  • R. Jackson
Akon4:33
11."Once in a While"
  • Akon
  • Brian "Benny Demus" Boulai
  • Skip Prokop
  • Benny-D
  • Akon
3:57
12."Don't Matter"
Akon4:53
Total length:48:05
Konvicted: Platinum Edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Sorry, Blame It on Me"
  • Akon
  • Clinton Sparks
  • S. Patrone
Clinton Sparks4:56
14."Rush" (featuring Kardinal Offishall)
  • Akon
  • Jason Harrow
  • Andrew Joel Thompson
Akon4:14
15."Don't Matter" (Calypso Remix)
  • Akon
  • Bob Marley
  • A. Lawson
Akon5:37
16."Gringo"AkonAkon4:30
17."I Wanna Love You" (clean version; featuring Snoop Dogg)Akon4:07
Total length:62:52
UK bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Gringo"AkonAkon4:30
14."I Wanna Love You" (clean version; featuring Snoop Dogg)
  • Akon
  • Lil Jon
4:07
Circuit City and Japanese bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."Struggle Everyday"4:16
Digital bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."I Wanna Love You" (remix; featuring Snoop Dogg and Tego Calderón)3:56
Walmart bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Fair to You"3:21
14."Still Alone"2:46
15."Mama Africa" (Walmart Soundcheck version – live)4:45
16."I Wanna Love You" (Walmart Soundcheck version – live)4:37
Deluxe edition bonus DVD
No.TitleLength
1."The Journey" (documentary) 
2."Smack That" (music video) 
3."I Wanna Love You" (music video) 
4."Don't Matter" (music video) 

Personnel

[edit]
  • Akon – production, executive producer
  • Devyne Stephens – executive producer, creative direction
  • Eddy Schreyer – mastering
  • Joe Spix – art direction, art design
  • Jonathan Mannion – photography
  • Fiskani – wardrobe stylist
  • Cragg Brown – coordinator

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[47] Platinum 70,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[48] Platinum 60,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[49] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[50] 2× Platinum 40,000
France (SNEP)[51] Gold 75,000*
Ireland (IRMA)[52] Platinum 15,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[53] Gold 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[54] 2× Platinum 30,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[55] Gold 10,000*
Russia (NFPF)[56] Platinum 20,000*
Singapore (RIAS)[57] Gold 5,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[58] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[59] 2× Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[60] 6× Platinum 6,000,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]

Note: All citations to magazine articles lead to a website where scans of these magazines can be viewed free of charge

  1. ^ a b "Akon - Konvicted". The Guardian. November 17, 2006. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e "SPIN". Spin.
  3. ^ "Akon's History Of Prison And Arrests Revealed As A Fake Marketing Tool". HuffPost. April 24, 2008.
  4. ^ a b https://www.audiofrica.com/track/m1X8ztHvp1bGSRm%3Flang%3Dpersian&ved=2ahUKEwjc2LOZibGJAxWsyAIHHboGMeYQFnoECBgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw30rsAM6kjE9zMZV3mOGpLG
  5. ^ a b AllMusic review
  6. ^ a b Macpherson, Alex (17 November 2006). "CD: Akon, Konvicted". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
  7. ^ "Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". FMQB. Archived from the original on November 1, 2009. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  8. ^ "Konvicted". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2013-11-10. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
  9. ^ "Akon - Konvicted". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
  10. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: akon". www.robertchristgau.com.
  11. ^ a b "Konvicted". Rolling Stone. 27 November 2006.
  12. ^ "Akon - Konvicted (album review ) - Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com.
  13. ^ "USA Today review". Archived from the original on December 1, 2006.
  14. ^ "Akon- Konvicted - Album Review, Stream - Hip Hop Albums - DJBooth". DJBooth. Archived from the original on 2007-04-03. Retrieved 2007-05-28.
  15. ^ "The Game Wins No. 1 On The Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  16. ^ "'Daughtry' Named Billboard Top Seller in '07". Entertainment Weekly. December 14, 2007. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  17. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Akon – Konvicted". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  18. ^ "ARIA Urban Album Chart - Week Commencing 25th August 2008" (PDF). The ARIA Report (965): 19. August 25, 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 21, 2008. Retrieved September 20, 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Ultratop.be – Akon – Konvicted" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  20. ^ "Ultratop.be – Akon – Konvicted" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  21. ^ "Akon Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  22. ^ "Czech Albums Chart". Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved March 2, 2007.
  23. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Akon – Konvicted". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  24. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Akon – Konvicted" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  25. ^ "Lescharts.com – Akon – Konvicted". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  26. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Akon – Konvicted" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  27. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Akon". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  28. ^ "コンヴィクテッド" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  29. ^ "Charts.nz – Akon – Konvicted". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  30. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Akon – Konvicted". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  32. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Akon – Konvicted". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  33. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Akon – Konvicted". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  34. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  35. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  36. ^ "Akon Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  37. ^ "Akon Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  38. ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2006" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  39. ^ "2006 UK Albums Chart" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  40. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2007". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  41. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2007". Ultratop. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  42. ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2007" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  43. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 2007". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  44. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2007". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  45. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  46. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  47. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  48. ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Akon – Konvicted" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  49. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Akon – Konvicted". Music Canada. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  50. ^ "Danish album certifications – Akon – Konvicted". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  51. ^ "French album certifications – Akon – Konvicted" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  52. ^ "The Irish Charts - 2007 Certification Awards - Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  53. ^ "Japanese album certifications – Akon – Konvicted" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved June 11, 2020. Select 2011年5月 on the drop-down menu
  54. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Akon – Konvicted". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  55. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2007 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  56. ^ "Russian album certifications – Akon – Konvicted" (in Russian). National Federation of Phonogram Producers (NFPF). Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  57. ^ "Singapore album certifications – Akon – Konvicted". Recording Industry Association Singapore. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  58. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Konvicted')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  59. ^ "British album certifications – Akon – Konvicted". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  60. ^ "American album certifications – Akon – Konvicted". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 20, 2022.