Akon (Freedom)

[Slim Zaddy]

Released: December 2, 2008 (2008-12-02)
Recorded 2007 — 2008
Genre: Hip hop, Pop, Dance-pop
Length: 48:50
Label :Konvict Muzik / Universal Motown
Producer: Akon (exec.), Giorgio Tuinfort, Jaylien 2010, RedOne, T-Pain, Timothy Walls

overview:
Freedom is the third studio album by singer, Akon. The album was originally named Acquitted. It was released on December 2, 2008, and as a digital download on December 1 It is the first album by Akon not to carry the Parental Advisory sticker, although there is still some profanity in the album.

recording of the album:
Production on the album began in late 2007 and ended in late summer 2008. Originally the album was to be called Acquitted, but was later confirmed to be Freedom by Akon's label, Universal Music. In July, a leaked recording of Akon's duet with Michael Jackson titled "Hold My Hand" was released to the internet and at first showings of the song was supposedly taken out by Akon's music label. The song was originally posted as an Akon demo with only Akon performing the song. The leaked song was rumored to be featured on both his and Michael's own upcoming album. In an interview with MTV, Akon was hopeful to include the song on the album. However, on October 17, Akon's label released information on the tracklisting and the album does not feature the duet with Jackson.
The UK Bonus Track, "Clap Again" samples "Click Click Click" by New Kids on the Block.


credit:
Kory Aaron : Assistant
Dave Benck : Assistant
Leslie Brathwaite : Mixing
Shanti Das : Marketing
Declan Gaffney : Assistant
Nate Hill Assistant
Claude Kelly Vocals (bckgr), : Vocal Arrangement
Joe Koubek : Assistant
Jason "Chyld" Kpana A&R, : Marketing
Chris Kraus : Assistant
Anthony Mandler : Photography
Kevin Mills : Assistant
Glenn Pittman : Assistant
Trent Privat : Assistant
Frank Romano : Guitar
Eddy Schreyer : Mastering
Nico Solis : Engineer
Joe Spix Art Direction, : Design
Tashia Stafford A&R
Devyne Stephens : Creative Director
Aliaune : Programming, Producer, Executive Producer, A&R
Dave & Ian Thomas : Stylist
Giorgio Tuinfort Keyboards, : Programming, Producer
Javier Valverde : Engineer

Singles
The first single released from the album, "Right Now (Na Na Na)," which peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 was his 12th top 10 hit on the chart.
The second single is "I'm So Paid", featuring Lil Wayne & Young Jeezy. The single made a "Hot Shot Debut" at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and fell off the charts after a few weeks, but then re-entered and peaked at #31.
The album's third single, "Beautiful" debuted and peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Beautiful" has been getting much radio airplay since it debuted on the Billboard 100.
The songs "Troublemaker" featuring Sweet Rush and "Keep You Much Longer" peaked at #97 and #123 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100 based solely on iTunes downloads following the album's release
without single releases.

music videos: 1."Right Now (Na Na Na)"
2."I'm So Paid"
3."Beautiful"


Songs List:
1.Right Now (Na Na Na)"
2.Beautiful" (featuring Colby O'Donis & Kardinal Offishall)
3.Keep You Much Longer"
4.Troublemaker" (featuring Sweet Rush)
5.We Don't Care"
6."I'm So Paid" (featuring Young Jeezy & Lil Wayne)
7."Holla Holla" (featuring T-Pain)
8."Against the Grain" (featuring Ray Lavender)
9."Be with You"
10."Sunny Day" (featuring Wyclef Jean)
11."Birthmark"
12."Over the Edge"
13."Freedom"

Chart (2008) Peak postion
U.S. Billboard 200 : 7
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums : 3
Canadian Albums Chart : 4
Greek Albums Chart : 27
UK Albums Chart : 21
Australian Albums Chart : 23


My Review
Akon spun off two number one pop hits and one number two from Konvicted, so he couldn't be blamed for working the same tricks on his third album, yet Freedom is a major change of pace — the kind of drastic switch-up that normally happens after reaching a creative and commercial dead-end. Hip-hop and R&B are all but scrapped entirely. Akon sounds more comfortable than expected, and he reduces the lechery in favor of longing ("I wanna make up right now") and awe ("When I see you, I run out of words to say"). At times, the tensionless backdrops don't inspire Akon to do much with his pen; the chorus of "Beautiful" is basically "You're so beautiful, so damn beautiful," while falling for a stripper in "Against the Grain" is conveyed with "The way she drop down won't allow me to close my drawers." Even so, there's much more charm here than expected. further more i expect him to be on the same track , beacuse actually these songs what make him famous , but i think that in the next album he is going to change his style a little bit.