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.
Blown Away
akon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This shit is crazy
Crazy
It's one of those things, man
You gotta experience to know what I'm talkin' about
Ha ha
Akon
The tough stay tough
Styles P
Up front
Let's go
Konvict
We in too deep to turn back now, D
Sure is
Watch yourself
Before you get
Blown away
You know where I come from
The place where your fate is a mic
Or a bull, or a dum dum
A jail cell, a pine box
And brothers is dumb young
Young boys
Still bustin' guns for the slum
That they come from
Cops is the only ones they gon' run from
That's it
They puttin' they hood up
But nine out of ten of us ain't got good luck
You gon' ride on a man and catch twenty-five
Or get hit and get sent to the other side
You lose both sides of the coin
So me, I play the hood, baby
Not in the
Mama got a little church I could join
But I didn't go yet
Man got a mosque I could join
But I didn't go yet
Cool with the devil on my back
I'm in cold sweats
'Bout to do some dirt
In some dirty black old sweats
If you known, you should've shown the way
Most of the hood 'bout to get blown away
'Cause I was raised up to show no fear
Cowardly hearts'll never last long here
If you ain't man enough to make shit clear
Guaranteed you'll get blown away
'Cause I done seen the block break down tears
And I done seen the cops break my peers
Tryin' to hold on to a couple more years
Tryin' not to get blown away
See, I ain't never shot nobody
But I'm known for fightin'
So when I strike, man
You'll think you been struck by lightning
Shouldn't have to prove myself by killin' a nigga
Even a child could take a life by pullin' the trigga
Retaliation only takes anger mixed with passion
So you target in the distance and keep on blastin'
They say guns don't kill people, people do
So when you're hit, man
You feel that shit the evils do
Can't see myself get beat down
My eyes swollen
Mom's cryin', they don't know what happened
My pride's stolen
If I ain't got my heat, then I got a blade
That hit ya off
Keep my eye out for jakes
Ears to the streets
Other eye out for snakes
And these scandalous freaks
If we ain't on good terms
Don't bother to speak
Don't smile and try to spark a convo with me
Same thing'll make ya laugh will make ya cry
And while this nigga quiet nigga, he'll take ya life
Hate for it to be the world's sacrifice
If somebody else could travel
Through the tunnel of life
'Cause I'm that type of guy I'll be there
When you're ridin'
But I'll stay to myself
So if you see me out there
With a bear we fightin'
Then, nigga, go help the bear
Akon's "Blown Away" is a vivid portrayal of life in the ghetto. The song's verses set the scene for a violent and desperate world, where the only way to make it is through strength and courage. The chorus warns the listener to watch themselves before they get "blown away," using this phrase to symbolize the many ways one can be taken out in the hood.
The first verse introduces Akon's background, explaining that he comes from a place where the "place where your face is a mic or a bull or a dum dum." He goes on to describe the "young boys still bustin' guns for the slum that they come from," highlighting the violence that is ever-present in the neighborhood. However, Akon doesn't shy away from the realities of this world, admitting that he's "cool with the devil on [his] back" and that he's "about to do some dirt in some dirty black old sweats."
Styles P takes over for the second verse, offering his own thoughts on life in the hood. He explains that he's been "raised up to show no fear" and that those with "cowardly hearts'll never last long here." He talks about the cops breaking up his peers and how he's been "trying to hold on to a couple more years" but ultimately knows that anyone who's not "man enough to make shit clear" will be "guaranteed to get blown away."
Overall, "Blown Away" is a raw and honest account of life in the ghetto. It doesn't shy away from the violence, despair, and hopelessness that pervade this world but also offers glimpses of strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
This shit is crazy
The situation is wild
It's one of those things, man
It's hard to explain without experiencing it
You gotta experience to know what I'm talkin' about
It's something that can't be fully understood without going through it
It's where the goin' get rough
It's when things get tough
The tough stay tough
Those who are strong and resilient find a way to persevere
Up front
Let's get started
We in too deep to turn back now, D
We are too far in to give up or quit
Watch yourself
Be cautious
Before you get
So you don't end up
Blown away
Getting killed or losing everything you have
You know where I come from
I come from a tough environment
The place where your fate is a mic
A place where your future is decided by your rap career
Or a bull, or a dum dum
Or by getting killed or making mistakes
A jail cell, a pine box
Or ending up in prison or dead
And brothers is dumb young
And young men make foolish decisions
Young boys
Teenagers
Still bustin' guns for the slum
Using guns to protect or gain power in their neighborhood
That they come from
The neighborhood they grew up in
Cops is the only ones they gon' run from
They are only scared of the police
They puttin' they hood up
They are proudly representing their neighborhood
But nine out of ten of us ain't got good luck
Most people in my community don't succeed
You gon' ride on a man and catch twenty-five
If you commit a crime, you might get 25 years in prison
Or get hit and get sent to the other side
Or get killed and go to the afterlife
You lose both sides of the coin
There is no winning outcome from these situations
So me, I play the hood, baby
I try to survive in my neighborhood
Not in the
But not necessarily by
Mama got a little church I could join
I could choose to go to church
But I didn't go yet
But I haven't taken that step yet
Man got a mosque I could join
I could choose to follow Islam
Cool with the devil on my back
I am comfortable taking risks
I'm in cold sweats
I am nervous and fearful
'Bout to do some dirt
I am about to commit a crime
In some dirty black old sweats
I am dressed in dark and dirty clothing to avoid being seen
If you known, you should've shown the way
If someone has shown they know how to succeed, they should have helped others achieve success
Most of the hood 'bout to get blown away
Many people in my community are at risk of dying or failing
'Cause I was raised up to show no fear
I grew up being taught to be brave
Cowardly hearts'll never last long here
Those who are afraid won't survive in my environment
If you ain't man enough to make shit clear
If you don't have the courage to speak your mind
Guaranteed you'll get blown away
You are likely to fail
'Cause I done seen the block break down tears
I have witnessed the community suffer
And I done seen the cops break my peers
I have seen the police target and harm my friends
Tryin' to hold on to a couple more years
Trying to avoid getting arrested or killed
Tryin' not to get blown away
Trying to stay alive and avoid failure
See, I ain't never shot nobody
I have never killed someone
But I'm known for fightin'
But I have a reputation for being tough
So when I strike, man
When I get into a physical altercation
You'll think you been struck by lightning
It will be intense and unexpected
Shouldn't have to prove myself by killin' a nigga
I shouldn't have to kill someone to earn respect
Even a child could take a life by pullin' the trigga
Anyone can kill with a gun, including children
Retaliation only takes anger mixed with passion
Acting out of rage and anger leads to retaliation
So you target in the distance and keep on blastin'
You keep shooting at your enemy from afar
They say guns don't kill people, people do
People are responsible for how they use guns
So when you're hit, man
When you get shot
You feel that shit the evils do
You feel the pain and suffering caused by violence
Can't see myself get beat down
I can't bear the thought of being physically overpowered
My eyes swollen
My eyes are swollen from getting punched
Mom's cryin', they don't know what happened
My mother is upset and confused about the situation
My pride's stolen
I feel embarrassed and ashamed
If I ain't got my heat, then I got a blade
If I don't have a gun, I will use a knife
That hit ya off
That will do damage
Keep my eye out for jakes
I'm wary of police officers
Ears to the streets
I pay attention to the rumors and news in the neighborhood
Other eye out for snakes
I'm also watching out for people who might betray me
And these scandalous freaks
And people who are untrustworthy or dangerous
If we ain't on good terms
If we don't have a good relationship
Don't bother to speak
Don't try to talk to me
Don't smile and try to spark a convo with me
Don't try to start a friendly conversation with me
Same thing'll make ya laugh will make ya cry
The same people or events that bring happiness can also bring pain
And while this nigga quiet nigga, he'll take ya life
Somebody who seems peaceful and quiet could still be dangerous
Hate for it to be the world's sacrifice
It would be unfortunate for someone to have to die for the benefit of others
If somebody else could travel
If someone else could go through this instead of me
Through the tunnel of life
Through the difficult experiences of life
'Cause I'm that type of guy I'll be there
I will support you
When you're ridin'
When you are going through tough times
But I'll stay to myself
But I will keep to myself
So if you see me out there
So if you see me around
With a bear we fightin'
Fighting a bear (metaphorically or literally)
Then, nigga, go help the bear
You're on your own if you get into a fight with me and a bear
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Aliaune Thiam, David Styles, Giorgio Hesdey Tuinfort
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind