KON BACK ON TOP

NEW YORK - (Business Wire) Upfront/Konvict/SRC/ Universal
Motown multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer, Akon burst out of the starting gates with the winningly melodic and compulsively danceable single “Right Now (Na Na Na).” The song is sparking up the charts in a record-setting pace that’s familiar to Akon’s millions of fans worldwide.

“Right Now (Na Na Na)” is the lead track from Akon’s 3^rd upcoming album FREEDOM. The CD is scheduled to be in stores November 25, 2008. The infectious song is the # 1 Most Added at Rhythm Crossover radio stations in its first week of release. The digital single immediately moves into the top 10 of iTunes as the most-downloaded Top Songs. FREEDOM will feature collaborations with Hip- Hop’s “man of the hour” Lil Wayne (“I’m So Paid”) and Akon’s platinum artist T-Pain (“Holla Holla”).

Akon broke out on the music scene in 2004 with the platinum album TROUBLE that featured singles, “Locked Up” and “Lonely.” He returned in 2006 with the triple-platinum-certified KONVICTED CD. The Senegalese native broke chart history in 2007 as the first artist to simultaneously hold the #1 (“I Wanna Love You”) and #2 (“Smack “That”) positions on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart twice. He went on to become Billboard Magazine’s Top Artist of 2007, the # 2 Hot 100 Producer of the Year, and # 2 Hot 100 Songwriter of the year.

Akon won the 2007 American Music Award for Best Male Soul/R&B artist and was honored three times at the World Music Awards. He has achieved gold and platinum certifications in over a dozen countries.

The 5x Grammy nominee’s life story has also become one of the most inspirational music sagas in recent memory, turning his life around after a troubled youth by pursuing a career in music, notching millions in albums sales since his seminal debut album Trouble.

On September 27, 2008 Akon will be on hand at the Think Pink Rock Concert event to support efforts in raising funds to benefit Memorial Sloane Kettering in NY, The Women's Center for Breast Care at Boca Raton Community Hospital in FL, among other organizations.