This second album from Akon is a genre-bending collection of R&B and Hip Hop tracks and lots of ballads. Singing with passion and "konviction", he returns with that unmistakable accent and international musical flavor that propelled his debut album to multi-platinum status.

The first single "Smack That" is an infectiously catchy dance track, and having a re-energized Eminem as a guest artiste won't hurt it's chances at all. The second single "I Wanna Love You" (or the version with the more explicit title) features Snoop Dogg, where Snoop is ready for a little action, and Akon is looking for a relationship, just like his pal T-Pain.

However, if R&B ballads are more your thing, there are some excellent ones on this album, such as "The Rain", "Never Took the Time" (one of the best tracks on the album), the reggae-beat "Mama Africa", "I Can't Wait", and the retro-soul track "Tired of Runnin'"

For mid-tempo fans there's the down to earth "Gangsta Bop", "Blown Away" (featuring Styles P.) and the bonus track "Gringo". If its dance tracks you're after, you'll also like "Shake Down", but this being a more introspective album there's not much room for dancing.

This album contains explicit lyrics, and the unfortunate thing is that the profanity doesn't complement an otherwise very good album. A good buy for someone who likes R & B ballads and doesn't give a #### about profanity.


Amanda Richards, November 14, 2006

Man, Akon is everywhere these days. With good reason. He's the perfect blend of thuggery and smooth vocals, a singer with street cred. I enjoyed his first album immensely (Pot of Gold was my favorite track) and this second effort is more of the same...a good thing in this case!

In "The Rain," Akon asks "How am I gonna back my first album up?" Well, he took the same formula and honed it to near-perfection. The first two singles, "I wanna love you" and "Smack that" are doing very well on airplay and digital download. There is no way to definitively classify the album, as there are songs for all moods and people. There are club hits such as the aforementioned singles, there are street songs (Gangsta bop, Blown away), love/hate songs (Never took the time, Don't matter) and feel-good music (Mama Africa).

All in all, I'm extremely satisfied with this album and a budding Konvict fan. Well-done, Akon.

Senegalese-American Akon (Actually born in St. Louis) came from nowhere 2 years ago and scored Multi Platinum with his debut"Trouble" and had many single hits like prison anthem "Locked Up" love song cover "Lonely" and "Ghetto". Eventually Akon appeared on loads of other artists albums and almost became an established artist all of sudden. Akon most significant quality is his versability as a musician. He got a very un-orthodox voice that is easy to notice and he's both a rapper and a singer(perhaps he should stick to singing?) and he came out as a man with a troubled past just like 50 Cent, The Game and others. Akon spent time in prison which many of his songs are also about. Thus, Akon was interesting enough 2 years ago even if he's album "Trouble" was only decent. Now, 2 years later we all got higher expectations of Akon, he's appeared on countless of other albums and even produced songs on his own. So what is the verdict?

"Konvicted" that further deals with his time in prison (Shake Down) and macho thug life (Blown Away, Smack That, Gangsta Bop) and from time to time some love songs also (where Akon is best) but the album seems to pick up where "Trouble" left off. There are no major surprises, Akon do what he can to not dissapear and he gets help from the likes of Master P, Eminem and Snoop Dogg in form of guest appearances. None of the appearances are anyting special though and I'm a little surprised that no female artist is feautured. The Snoop duet "I Wanna Love You" is called "I Wanna F*ck You" on the explicit version and is embarrasing lyrically, although Snoop's lyrics are the same on both versions. "The Rain" seems to deal with how it is to be a celebrity and is ok, however like I said before, Akon shines most on love-ballads without guests where he sings and not raps. "Never Took the Time" is great and defenitely my favorite here. "Tired Of Running" where Akon confesses he's tired of Gangsta Life is also a good slow tempo. "Once in A While" with Kanye West esque speed up hook is also a great song and sounds like "Lonely Part 2". Ditto with "Don't Matter" which is simular. The song "Mama Africa" is quite unique with an African feeling, a song where Akon pay tribute to his African Roots (and other black folks too).

Overall, Akon picks up where his last album left, but it seems like Akon hasn't yet realized where his gift is and which direction he should chose. I really like Akon and I think with the right producers and guidance he could become a top notch artist. The problem is this, Akon should stick to singing and stick to mid-tempo or love-songs. He's a good singer and his very unique voice is always welcomed. It's all those thug-like, Prison themes and party songs that makes this album weaker. I also think that none of the guest-artist improved this album one bit. The good songs are good, but the bad songs are bad here, hence It's a typical 3 star album. If you liked his last album you will get more of the same and probably enjoy it but if you just like me knew the quality that this man and wanted an major improvement you will be a little dissapointed. The album is not bad though.

This recording is really mediocre, and I think that I know why. It took all the following (listed below) to produce this. You know the old saying about too many cooks spoiling the soup? Well, that is certainly true for music.

Just as a way of contrast, it took six people to create the Beatles masterpiece Rubber Soul, the beginning of the Beatles' mature phase as musical artists - John, Paul, George, and Ringo, plus a keyboardist and producer George Martin. It took five or six people, as well as a few hundred dollars, to create the 1st Ramones LP, a record that changed music as we know it. It only took seven people, including LL Cool J himself, to produce his great record Mama Said Knock You Out. All of these are great recordings, in sharp contrast to Akon's piece of musical mediocrity.

Again, this is the list of the way too many cooks on this sour tasting broth. You know that you are in trouble when the producers and engineers way outnumber the musicians.

Here they are.

Hakim Abdulsamad Programming, Vocals (bckgr), Producer, Engineer
Kori Anders Mixing Assistant
Cory Boyd Bass
Leslie Brathwaite Mixing
Kirke Bray Engineer
Keon Bryce Producer
Miguel Bustamante Assistant Engineer
Michael Butler Drums
Tony Compana Engineer
Benny- D. Programming, Producer
Rick DeVarona Assistant Engineer
Eminem Programming, Producer, Mixing
Erin Holten Assistant Engineer
Alex Lafer Assistant Engineer
Marc Lee Engineer
Tony Love Guitar
Rask Producer
Luis Resto Keyboards
Dwight Reynolds "Skrapp" Programming, Producer, Engineer
Eddy Schreyer Mastering
Steve Skinner Engineer
Rob Skipworth Assistant Engineer
Mike Sroka Engineer
Devyne Stephens Executive Producer, A&R, Creative Design
Tony Terrebonne Engineer
Aliaune "Akon" Thiam Arranger, Programming, Producer, Engineer, Executive Producer, Mixing, A&R
L.S. Troo Programming, Producer
Giorgio Tuinfort Keyboards, Programming, Producer

AFTER THE 1ST PLAY, I NEVER LISTENED TO THIS CD AGAIN. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE ALRIGHT, BUT HIS VOICE IS JUST TOO FREAKING ANNOYING TO ME. THE ONLY SONG I LIKE IS I WANNA F**K U, THAT'S IT, MAYBE ANOTHER SONG, DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS, HIS VOICE JUST KINDA TUNED ME OUT AND THE BEATS ARE TERRIBLE, NOTHING REALLY CATCHY. AFTER I LISTENED, ALL I THOUGHT OF WAS WHO I COULD GIVE IT TO, BUT NOBODY WANTED IT. BUT IF U ENJOY NOSTRIL SINGING, COP IT!, HELL I'LL GIVE IT TO YA FOR FREE