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.
Ghetto Story
akon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And hooked up wit some Puerto Ricans up in Jersey
We use to be call laa baw and pot see
Had a lot after sometin after union cityyyy
In a couple of projects in NYC
[Cham]
I remember those days when Hell was my home
An mi never like bathe and my hair never comb
When Mama gone a work me go street go roam
I remember when Danny dem tek me snow cone
An mek him likkle bredda dem kick up Jerome
I remember when we visit dem wid pure big stone
An the boy Danny pop out something weh full chrome
[Akon]
But dats no betta than to play around me
And knew I kept the AK displayed around me
And I moved out to da eight to find more cheese
And I found out Cars make more dan Weeed
[Cham]
I remember when we run, Fatta get him knee blown
An mi best friend Richie get, two inna him dome
I remember so the avenue tun inna warzone
An, Mickey madda fly him out, cau she get a loan
(Whatt) But, Mickey go to foreign and go tun Al Capone
Mek whole heap a money and sen in our own
Now a we a lock the city and, that is well known
Yesterday Mickey call me pan mi phone
Mi say Mickey.....
[Chorus]
[Cham]
Wi get di ting dem
Dem outta luck now
Mi squeeze seven and the whole a dem a duck now (This a Survial Story)
Wi have whole heap a extra clip cau we nuh bruk now (True Ghetto Story)
Rah...Rah..Rah...Rah
[Akon]
(Said this my story)
[Cham]
Wi get di ting dem, So dem haffi rate wi (Akon Story)
Cau we a tek it to them wicked of lately (This is my story)
And now the whole community a live greatly (Real ghetto Story)
Rah...Rah..Rah...Rah
Hey..
[Verse 2]
I remember bout '80, Jamaica explode
When a Trinity and Tony Hewitt dem a run road
That a long before Laing dem and even Bigga Ford
When Adams dem a Corporal nuh know the road code
I remember when we rob the chiney shop down the road
An rumour have it sey the chiney man have a sword
But we did have a one pop wey make outta board
So you know the next day mama pot Overlooaad
[Akon]
How could that beeeee
Shop shops in the city call me the relieve
Never thought of fleeee
Some hotter po po styll caught up wit mee
But then I got locked up
Then while I was boxed out
Broke us some locked out
Then they let me out but
Two Years later my brother skrew got shot up
And got the whole block royal like now wat
Rahhhhh
[Cham]
Jamaica get screw, tru greed an glutton
Politics manipulate and press yutes button
But we rich now ,so dem caan tell man notin
Cuz a we a mek Mama a nyaam Fish an Mutton..Ehhhh
Ova dehso mek mi tell unnu some'in...
Tru mi dey a foreign now a guy kill me cousin
An mi here sey TD deh dey but him sey he wasnt
Anytime mi fly down him a get bout dozen....Cause......
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
I remember those days when Hell was my home
When Me and Mama bed was a big piece a foam
An mi never like bathe and my hair never comb
When Mama gone a work me go street go roam
I remember when Danny dem tek me snow cone
An mek him likkle bredda dem kick up Jerome
I remember when we visit dem wid pure big stone
An the boy Danny pop out something weh full chrome
I remember when we run, Fatta get him knee blown
An mi best friend Richie get, two inna him dome
I remember so the avenue tun inna warzone
An ,Mickey madda fly him out, cau she get a loan
But, Mickey go to foreign and go tun Al Capone
Mek whole heap a money and sen in our own
Now a we a lock the city and, that is well known
Yesterday Mickey call me pan mi phone
Mi say Mickey.....
The lyrics to Akon's song "Ghetto Story" are a collaboration with Jamaican artist Cham and tell the story of their experiences growing up in poverty-stricken neighborhoods. The song begins with Akon reminiscing about moving to Jersey and connecting with Puerto Ricans. He then speaks about his transition to making money through illegal means and leaving with his gun. Cham's verse takes listeners back to the time when he was homeless with his mother and wandered the streets. He speaks about his memories of crime, including stealing a snow cone and being involved in violent situations. The chorus emphasizes the idea that they have survived their experiences and are now respected by their community.
The lyrics are vivid and paint a picture of what life is like in an urban ghetto. The song highlights the harsh reality that those living in these neighborhoods face, including violence, poverty, and limited opportunities. Through this song, Akon and Cham convey the message that despite the difficulties, they have managed to overcome their past and are now living fruitful lives. "Ghetto Story" serves as an important reminder that people can make it out of tough situations and succeed.
Line by Line Meaning
Found my way up to da top like it wasn't nothing
I overcame obstacles and made it to the top effortlessly
And hooked up wit some Puerto Ricans up in Jersey
I met some Puerto Ricans in Jersey and formed a connection with them
We use to be call laa baw and pot see
We used to be referred to as 'laa baw' and 'pot see'
Had a lot after sometin after union cityyyy
We had a lot of something after Union City
In a couple of projects in NYC
We lived in a few complexes in New York City
I remember those days when Hell was my home
I recall the days I lived in a place that felt like hell
When Me and Mama bed was a big piece a foam
My mother and I slept on a large piece of foam
An mi never like bathe and my hair never comb
I avoided bathing and never combed my hair
When Mama gone a work me go street go roam
When my mother was at work, I wandered the streets
I remember when Danny dem tek me snow cone
I remember when Danny bought me a snow cone
An mek him likkle bredda dem kick up Jerome
His younger brother kicked Jerome for fun
But dats no betta than to play around me
Messing with me was not a better option
And knew I kept the AK displayed around me
Everyone knew I had my displayed AK-47 around me
And I moved out to da eight to find more cheese
I moved out to district 8 to obtain more money
And I found out Cars make more dan Weeed
I discovered that the car industry is more profitable than the drug trade
Mi squeeze seven and the whole a dem a duck now (This a Survial Story)
I fired seven shots and everyone ducked (This is a story of survival)
Wi have whole heap a extra clip cau we nuh bruk now (True Ghetto Story)
We have plenty of extra ammunition because we don't want to be caught without (This is a true ghetto story)
Cau we a tek it to them wicked of lately (This is my story)
We have been retaliating against the wicked lately (This is my story)
I remember bout '80, Jamaica explode
I recall the 1980 Jamaican political tensions
When a Trinity and Tony Hewitt dem a run road
Trinity and Tony Hewitt were running the streets at the time
That a long before Laing dem and even Bigga Ford
That was way before Laing and even Bigga Ford were on the scene
When Adams dem a Corporal nuh know the road code
When Adams, who was a corporal, didn't know the road code
Politics manipulate and press yutes button
Politics manipulate and trigger the youth
But we rich now, so dem caan tell man notin
But now we are wealthy and they can't tell us anything
Mi say Mickey.....
I said to Mickey...
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALICIA J AUGELLO-COOK, DAMEON BECKETT, DAVE KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bronenh
Great song! heard it on the radio and i feel this tune!
Sean Oziegbe
This is the best version ever
ysrszs101
im feeling this tune, akon singing the truth he should sing more songs like this, like akon-ghetto and this :)
FinalHurricane
You know Akon was really feeling this song cause he didn't shout his name in the beginnin
TK Alphonzo
My favorite remix to that song... Hands down‼💯
will kap
nice song, love it
Nick Belezos
Havn't heard this in years, this was my first dancehall song!!
Anthony Taylor
Akon killed this shytt!!!!! 2019 🔥🔥 🔥🔥 🔥🔥 🔥
Showah Rage
love this!!
Vicky Vicky
Akon line just killed 2019 we there