He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of the singles "Locked Up" and "Lonely", from his debut album "Trouble". His second album, "Konvicted", earned him a Grammy Award nomination for the single Smack That featuring Eminem. His latest album, "Freedom", was released in 2008. Akon often sings hooks for other artists and is currently accredited with over 200 guest appearances and 32 Billboard Hot 100 songs.
He is the first solo artist to accomplish the feat of holding both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice. He has also founded two record labels, Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution and has a clothing label, Konvict clothing
Akon is a Muslim and has many charities of his own.
Akon's father is the Senagalese drummer Mor Thiam.
Akon: Gangsta Bop
akon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Go gangsta – ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay
Go gangsta, keep boppin' (Block Boy up!)
Rock with me, let's get this bitch poppin' (Upfront!)
Go gangsta, keep boppin' (Geah!)
Like back when a nigga was clockin'
See, nowadays it seems like e'rybody wanna be killas
You die quicker, paramedics drive back slow to the hospital
You get pronounced dead at 4, to the hospital
Stop frontin' when you know you won't pull nothin'
First nigga to retreat when the tools bustin'
Playing with death is bad for your health
All your homeboys gone, you the last one left
Now, they hearts beatin', but these niggas be scared
The real ones are all locked up or dead
Nowadays you can't find a good connect
But if you do, you might be the feds, so...
I don't know you, you don't know me
You don't know the history I got on these streets
Only if you see what my eyes have seen
Then you'll understand why I'm surrounded by G's
If you owe me, and we got beef
I recommend you reach for your heat and don't freeze
Pause for a minute, guaranteed you gon' bleed
'Cause that's how we was raised growing up in these streets
Go gangsta, keep boppin'
Rock with me, let's get this bitch poppin'
Go gangsta, keep boppin'
Like back when a nigga was clockin'
See, it's hard to be good, but easy to do evil
And I ain't really into meeting with new people
Just put the money in the bag and I'll leave you
The weed, coke, Lambo or Evisu
You make a hundred dollars, to the streets you made a G
When you coppin' O's, they swearing you move ki's
Feds getting close and the rats seeing cheese
And they tryin' to find them birds
Not the ones that sleep in trees
We got that bird, we got that blue
You want short skirts? We got that too
Whatever you need, my nigga, show me the cheese
And baby, you can believe that we can make that brew
I don't know you, you don't know me
You don't know the history I got on these streets
Only if you see what my eyes have seen
Then you'll understand why I'm surrounded by G's
If you owe me, and we got beef
I recommend you reach for your heat and don't freeze
Pause for a minute, guaranteed you gon' bleed
'Cause that's how we was raised growing up in these streets
Go gangsta, keep boppin'
Rock with me, let's get this bitch poppin'
Go gangsta, keep boppin'
Like back when a nigga was clockin'
Streets been watchin' and they don't blink
Sidewalk got ears, the pavement don't sleep
The fittest will survive, the weak just don't eat
E'rybody in between just gettin' a rap sheet
The streets been watchin' and they don't blink
Sidewalk got ears, the pavement don't sleep
The fittest will survive, the weak just don't eat
E'rybody in between just gettin' a rap sheet
I don't know you, you don't know me
You don't know the history I got on these streets
Only if you see what my eyes have seen
Then you'll understand why I'm surrounded by G's
If you owe me, and we got beef
I recommend you reach for your heat and don't freeze
Pause for a minute, guaranteed you gon' bleed
'Cause that's how we was raised growing up in these streets
Go gangsta, keep boppin'
Rock with me, let's get this bitch poppin'
Go gangsta, keep boppin'
Like back when a nigga was clockin'
Go gangsta, keep boppin'
Rock with me, let's get this bitch poppin'
Go gangsta, keep boppin'
Like back when a nigga was clockin'
See, it's hard to be good, but easy to do evil
And I ain't really into meeting with new people
See, it's hard to be good, but easy to do evil
And I ain't really into meeting with new people
See, it's hard to be good, but easy to do evil
And I ain't really into meeting with new people
See, it's hard to be good...
The song “Gangsta Bop” by Akon is all about the streets and the principles that govern them. The lyrics take a critical view of the trend of young people wanting to be killers and live life in the fast lane. Akon points out the importance of living and behaving like a “real one” ("the last one left"), being fearless and strong in the face of danger, and having a high tolerance for risk because in this world, only the fittest survive. The lyrics also elucidate the harsh reality of life on the street, where you can't trust anyone and you always have to be on your guard because everyone has their own agenda. The song advocates for living by a code of honor and being dependable, even if it's in the streets.
The lyrics of this song reveal a lot about Akon's life. It is said that he had a hard life growing up, and he is known for having gone to jail many times. His experiences in the prison system might have influenced the tone of the song. The song represents the street culture and delivers the message that being tough-minded, smart, and brave is the key to surviving on the streets.
Line by Line Meaning
Konvict, Konvict ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay
The song is a rallying call for gangsters to come together and be proud of their violent lifestyle
Go gangsta – ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay
The song is urging gangsters to embrace their violent tendencies and continue living life on the edge
Go gangsta, keep boppin' (Block Boy up!)
The song is encouraging gangsters to stay committed to their violent lifestyle and to claim their territory in the streets
Rock with me, let's get this bitch poppin' (Upfront!)
The song is encouraging gangsters to join forces and create chaos in the streets
Like back when a nigga was clockin'
The song is attempting to inject a sense of nostalgia for the golden age of gangsters, when violence was viewed as glamorous and exciting
See, nowadays it seems like e'rybody wanna be killas
People nowadays are trying to emulate the lifestyle of gangsters even though they don't have what it takes
Gorillas getting high off their weed and liquor
People who think they are gangsters are just getting wasted and high, without really committing to the lifestyle
You die quicker, paramedics drive back slow to the hospital
When you live the life of a gangster, you are more likely to die violently, and the emergency services may not even rush to your aid
You get pronounced dead at 4, to the hospital
Gangsters are more likely to die at a young age, and the authorities don't really care
Stop frontin' when you know you won't pull nothin'
Don't pretend to be tough when you know you don't have what it takes to be a real gangster
First nigga to retreat when the tools bustin'
When the bullets start flying, the first person to run away is usually the one who talks the most trash
Playing with death is bad for your health
Being a gangster is a dangerous game, and the consequences can be severe
All your homeboys gone, you the last one left
Living the gangster lifestyle may seem exciting, but it often leads to the death or incarceration of your closest friends, and you are left alone
Nowadays you can't find a good connect
It's hard to find a reliable source of drugs or weapons these days, because everyone is trying to make a quick buck
But if you do, you might be the feds, so…
Even if you do find a reliable source of drugs or weapons, you can never be sure if it's a trap set up by the authorities
I don't know you, you don't know me
The song acknowledges that the gangster lifestyle is based on secrecy and mistrust
You don't know the history I got on these streets
The song suggests that true gangsters have a long and bloody history in the streets, and newcomers should respect that
Only if you see what my eyes have seen
To truly understand the lifestyle of a gangster, you have to witness the violence and death firsthand
Then you'll understand why I'm surrounded by G's
Being a gangster is often a matter of survival, and you need to surround yourself with like-minded people to survive
If you owe me, and we got beef
Being a gangster also means being involved in territorial disputes and settling scores with rival gangs or individuals
I recommend you reach for your heat and don't freeze
If you owe a gangster money or have a dispute with them, you should be prepared to defend yourself with a weapon
‘Cause that's how we was raised growing up in these streets
The song suggests that being a gangster is not a choice, but rather a result of growing up in poverty and violence
Streets been watchin' and they don't blink
In the world of gangsters, everyone is being watched, and there is no room for mistakes
Sidewalk got ears, the pavement don't sleep
Everything that happens in the streets is recorded, and there is no privacy
The fittest will survive, the weak just don't eat
Being a gangster is a survival of the fittest game, and the weak are quickly weeded out
E'rybody in between just gettin' a rap sheet
Those who are not tough enough to be a real gangster often end up with a criminal record or in jail
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TROELS MOELLER NIELSEN, RUNE RASK, ALIAUNE THIAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind