Akon is the stage name of Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam (/ekn/; born April 16, 1973), a Senegalese-American singer, record producer, and businessman. He gained notoriety in 2004 after the release of “Locked Up,” the lead single from his debut album Trouble (2004), which featured Styles P, and “Lonely,” the second single.

Full bio on Wikipedia.