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.
Time is Money
akon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Verse 1:
Im gonna give you one minute cuz, you trippin’
Too much time in your hand, you slippin’
Why you focused on all of this dealin’
them ni***s coming in thru the back door, stealin’
Crib on the hill, now that’s good livin’
So much money, gotta stack to the ceiling
And I’m gonna keep doing this forever, god willing
Real ni***s like me don’t catch feelings
Only broke niggas be out there grinin’
Say you gettin money but you ain’t even tippin’
The big booty girl in front of you, dippin’
Fronting like you really doing all that shippin’
Man you gotta be, gotta be kiddin’
Don’t even try cuz my weapon is hidden’
My ni**a Dru ready to do some killin’
I’ma tell you just one time
Give me what’s mine
Cuz I don’t have time to waste
Out here on my grind
Money on my mind
And I won’t stop gettin paid
Living this life of mine
I don’t really know
If it really got what it takes
Hustlin’ is in my blood
It just won’t go away
Chorus:
Time, money (8X)
Ni**a with money
Don’t have no time
Ni**a with time
Don’t have no money
Verse 2:
Kon Live in one year made millions
Everybody got money
Ni**a we chillin’
But ain’t go no time
It’s a bad feelin’
Especially when you want a lil sexual healin’
A girlfriend’s pullin’
A family’s pullin’
In every direction everybody need money
My lifestyle redefine how they all livin’
If I keep it up, I’ll be broke in a minute
My kin folks in the block
And they dealin’
All my goons still off they killin’
Man I be runnin’ got no time to be skippin’
In the song 'Time Is Money', Akon is warning people to not waste his time because time is a valuable commodity that he cannot afford to lose. He tells the listeners that he is always on his grind, constantly hustling to make more money. He mentions that there are people trying to steal his wealth, and talks about how much harder it becomes to maintain a lavish lifestyle once one has made their first million dollars.
Akon believes that he is different from other people in the sense that real people like him don't catch feelings, while only broke people grin like they have money. He communicates that he's not impressed by those who think they're getting money when they aren't even tipping, and he sees through those who front like they're doing all that shipping with a big booty girl in front of them dipping.
The chorus of the song, "Time, money (8x), Ni**a with money, Don’t have no time, Ni**a with time, Don’t have no money" reinforces the central theme of the song that time is money and that one cannot have it both ways, as having time means lacking money, and vice versa.
Line by Line Meaning
Im gonna give you one minute cuz, you trippin’
I will allow you only one minute because you are acting foolishly.
Too much time in your hand, you slippin’
Having too much idle time causes you to lose your focus and slip up.
Why you focused on all of this dealin’
Why are you giving all your attention to illegal activities?
them ni***s coming in thru the back door, stealin’
Some people are sneaking in to steal without being noticed.
Crib on the hill, now that’s good livin’
Living in a lavish home on a hill is considered good living.
Harder to reach when you make your first mil in
It becomes harder to maintain your level of success once you've made your first million dollars.
So much money, gotta stack to the ceiling
Having a lot of money means you have to stack it up to the ceiling to keep it safe.
And I’m gonna keep doing this forever, god willing
I plan to continue making money like this forever, if it is God's will.
Real ni***s like me don’t catch feelings
Authentic people like me don't get emotionally attached to things easily.
Only broke niggas be out there grinin’
Poor people are the only ones who have the luxury of being happy all the time.
Say you gettin money but you ain’t even tippin’
You claim to be making money, but you are not even leaving a small tip.
The big booty girl in front of you, dippin’
There is a woman with a big backside dancing in front of you and you are distracted.
Fronting like you really doing all that shippin’
You are pretending to be involved in a lot of shipping business.
Man you gotta be, gotta be kiddin’
You must be joking or not serious.
Don’t even try cuz my weapon is hidden’
Don't even bother trying because I have a hidden weapon.
My ni**a Dru ready to do some killin’
My friend Dru is prepared to commit murder.
I’ma tell you just one time
I will only tell you once.
Give me what’s mine
Give me what rightfully belongs to me.
Cuz I don’t have time to waste
I don't have any free time to waste.
Out here on my grind
I am working hard to achieve my goals.
Money on my mind
My focus is on making money.
And I won’t stop gettin paid
I will not stop making money.
Living this life of mine
This is the life that I am living.
I don’t really know
I am uncertain.
If it really got what it takes
I am unsure if I have what it takes to keep my lifestyle.
Hustlin’ is in my blood
I have a natural talent for hustling and making money.
It just won’t go away
This talent will always be a part of me.
Ni**a with money
A person with wealth.
Don’t have no time
They have no free time because they are always working to maintain their wealth.
Ni**a with time
A person with free time.
Don’t have no money
They are not wealthy.
Kon Live in one year made millions
I, Akon, made millions in one year.
Everybody got money
Everyone around me has a lot of money as well.
Ni**a we chillin’
We are relaxed and comfortable with our wealth.
But ain’t go no time
However, we have no free time to enjoy our money.
It’s a bad feelin’
This is unpleasant.
Especially when you want a lil sexual healin’
It's especially difficult when you want to have sexual relations but don't have the time.
A girlfriend’s pullin’
My girlfriend is demanding my attention.
A family’s pullin’
My family is demanding my attention.
In every direction everybody need money
Everyone around me needs money.
My lifestyle redefine how they all livin’
My lifestyle has redefined how those around me live their lives.
If I keep it up, I’ll be broke in a minute
If I continue to spend and maintain my lifestyle, I will quickly go broke.
My kin folks in the block
My family members are involved in illegal activities in the neighborhood.
And they dealin’
They are involved in drug dealing.
All my goons still off they killin’
My associates are still committing murders.
Man I be runnin’ got no time to be skippin’
I am always busy running around, and I do not have time to waste.
Contributed by Penelope L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hon a.o Larry
Prolific akon…...cant get enough of his songs.
Quantrell Huff
Yo u fo sho on that
Global Tech 2.0
Proud to be Senegalese as Akon one of the bester singer of this century.
Adrian Swanborg
Still bangin in 2020 🔥🔥
Anasheda
One of the first american song I learnt by heart lol. As a teenager at this time it wasn't easy at all especially when you are french he speaks so fast sometimes x)
ChidiAndy
I pick a lot of value to this song. Lyrics are like gospel to me.
Josie Springfield
Love this song.
Saint Laurent-Johnson
Akon went hard on this one ...Just hearing this in 2020 🦍
Mark S.
Still a banger in 2019
Shark Gk
This is incredibly dope !! Wise !! And.....i don't know what to say !!!! FUCK IT MAN,akon is so badass.extremely soulful song