Today's Pick

Akon is back! Five years after the release of his last album "Freedom," the Konvict singer makes his long-awaited return with with a brand new visual for his most recent uptempo cut, "So Blue," a track that fits the bill and is set to appear on his upcoming long-awaited fourth studio album, "Stadium," which appears the 40-year-old pop artist is getting the vibes back to his hit-making days. The new video feels like a short film and has Akon at the center of the action, saving the female lead.
Akon first came onto the music scene back in 2003 with his hit, "Locked up," and he has become a force in the music industry with his unique, sexy and smooth vocal range. Akon's latest hit is another example of how this R&B singer cannot go wrong when it comes to music. Akon has not tried to push his musical sound forward at all but success would indicate that Akon should just do more of the same when it comes to his music. After all, Akon has a simple formula when it comes to success; find a song that will show off his style as a musician and flash his beautiful eyes to the camera.
Akon can churn out a potential hit single without any issues. "So Blue," a smooth song that has a catchy hook and chorus, is driven by some nice, laid back keys and strings that makes for a nice combination for his vocals to rest upon. Akon takes to the track effortlessly, floating upon the melody and rattling drums and showcasing his sounds. Here, we see Akon sing about a woman who's being mistreated by her significant other. "How he end up with a girl like you/ You're too fine to be looking so blue," he sings over emotional chords and pop percussion. "So Blue" finds the singer/songwriter supplying us with something smooth and new, riding the pop and R&B line nicely.
Akon shows loads of bravery in the video. While the drama is the crux of the clip, we find the Konvict Music crooner pacing around a room by himself and singing. After he sees a woman (Nia Long) being mistreated by her man (Tiny Lester) and ends up setting her own room on fire and bashes a lamp on Lister's head in hopes to escape, he comes to her rescue. He follows her through a ransacked building, while she leaves clues along the way for the singer to hopefully rescue her. As a fire rips through the bedroom, the charming hero sweeps her up and into safety. And the two live happily ever after - naturally. Watch Akon save the day and get the girl.

After multiple previews, David Guetta finally unleashed the official visuals for his old co-horts Akon and Ne-Yo-assisted new dance track, "Play Hard," the third single from the re-release of 45-year-old French DJ and record producer's fifth studio album, "Nothing but the Beat 2.0," out now on iTunes. The wacky and tacky video, on the other hand, alternates between inexplicable weirdness and poking fun at racial stereotypes — once some people might find offensive!
The chorus melody of the song, "Play Hard," for a soon to be summer club classic is all about working and playing hard, heavily incorporates the classic sample from Alice Deejay and DJ Jurgen's 1999 Eurodance hit "Better Off Alone." The iconic beat track's message is simple: First you work hard, then you play hard, and after that you start all over again - it's the circle of life!
With an arsenal of cataloged wildin out, club tunes it should come as no surprise that French producer has opted to "Play Hard" on his latest fresh dance tune. Joining Guetta on his electro-heavy jam are hitmakers - American R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo and American-Senegalese singer/rapper Akon, who both provide the vocal backing for the record, which also takes advantage of a few audio techniques. Both artists also previously collaborated with Guetta on tracks from his "One Love" album - Ne-Yo on "Choose" and Akon on "Sexy Chick." Guetta also produced Akon's 2010 single "Angel."
Pop and Latin American culture meet in Guetta's latest visual ride. The French DJ/producer gets a taste of life in Mexico as he takes a trip down south with Ne-Yo and Akon. The fun-filled clip includes from rodeo's to Ne-Yo eating pancakes to Guetta getting his body inked before hitting a classic rodeo show. Instead of bull riding, the three international stars round up to judge a good old dance competition. The clip has just about everything going on in it. However, the barrage of attention-grabbing visuals won't distract you from the infectious beat, which is really all that matters.

Taking some time away from cleaning baby Bash's poop as a new daddy, Wiz Khalifa is back to his rapper day job in the video for "Let It Go," featuring Akon, is the third single from Khalifa's latest fourth studio album, "O.N.I.F.C," and one of a few (rare) signs in the album that the 25-year-old Pittsburgh rapper thought of more than weed and money. The highly cinematic visuals, which includes a motivational storyline and put Khalifa and Akon in the roll of narrators as a boxing drama unfolds.
Khalifa chronicles his own life, rapping about what he aimed to do with Hip Hop music success and trends he's given to the culture. He made clear that he has re-prioritized his life somewhat, thanks to a small but notable change to his lyrics: "I just had a kid / now homie, I'm the man." Khalifa also vows to "make sure my family gon' eat" - words that he's also taken to heart, given his grind these days. Khalifa performed with Akon on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" just 24 hours after he dropped his music video for “Let It Go."
In "Let It Go," Khalifa and Akon introduce a young lady boxer who's training hard at home while going to night school and working a crappy job at a gentleman's club. And speaking of manners, one night a "gentleman" gets a little too fresh, causing our girl to fight back and almost knock that guy unconscious. Luckily, she leaves before things get too out of control. After an unhelpful chat with her boyfriend, she takes full control of her life by going full throttle on her boxer training at the gym. And to think she's got Khalifa and Akon as her (rooftop) guardian angels!
Over sweeping, atmospheric production, Khalifa rhymes about achieving success despite any detractors along the way. Visually, the narrative from Ryan Hope-directed video is also ironically a motivational picture with various story lines playing throughout the film. The rappers take a backseat from the spotlight to tells the story of a female boxer trying to get her life together and make it to the top, but struggling because her boyfriend isn't supportive and killing her whole vibe. The hook of "Let It Go," is a musical delivery that reminds people to let go of the things holding us back in life. Whether it be a person or a task that we can achieve by staying focused, the duo are reminding listeners to 'do better' as we know.

The video for Michael Jackson's posthumous stirring ballad single "Hold My Hand" has finally hit airwaves, is heavy on moody lighting, fairly light of images of MJ. "Hold My Hand," recorded by Michael Jackson with the help of Senegelese rapper Akon, is the first of what is sure to be a Tupak-level quantity of post-mortem music from the deceased pop star. The record debuted as the first single from the late great King of Pop's upcoming 10-unheard-song posthumous CD, "Michael," the first album released under a seven-year, come out on December 14.
"Hold My Hand" is a Jackson's classic love ballads, which is a heart-stirring call to unity with a touch of a Caribbean lilt. It sways along with its gentle piano line, and is punctuated by light synthesizer effects as the inspirational verses blossom into the track's singalong chorus. The from-beyond-the-grave duet with Akon was recorded in 2007 and, as a message on Jackson's site points out, "a handwritten note from Jackson belonging to his estate indicated his desire that 'Hold My Hand' be the first single on his next project." After an unfinished version leaked in 2008, Akon recently went back into the studio to complete production on the track. While the "Thriller" singer dominates the first verse, the remaining three quarters of the anthemic song are carried by Akon.
The legacy of Jackson is celebrated by his fans in this Akon-featuring music video directed by veteran video helmer Mark Pellington, who said in a statement, "The video is a tribute to all that Michael stands for -- life, in all its permutations...love, and its power. A video of memory, healing and joy." The clip opens with a crowd of people standing in front of a large airplane hangar and unleashing a flood of white balloons as they say "Thank you, Michael" and "We love you, Michael," while a gigantic image of the singer in silhouette appears on the side of the structure. As Jackson begins to sing the first verse, we see a variety of different hands — old, young, holding babies, reaching up to the sky, down into a bathtub... all intended to pull heartstrings and stir emotion.
But while Akon does play a major role in the crisply shot video, the visual product is undoubtedly a tribute to the King of Pop, who passed away in June 2009. Instead of the eye-popping special effects and intricate choreography of the past, the "Hold My Hand" video goes for a simpler, more predictable sentimentality. Without Jackson around anymore to call the shots and push the video envelope, it also signals a quiet, uneventful end to a career of constant reinvention and visual ambition via music video. Michael Jackson left behind a huge catalog of unreleased music, some completely mixed and some diamonds in the rough. So you can expect to be hearing new Michael Jackson music for years to come.

A music video aimed to support the revamped version of Shuggie Otis' 1977 song "Strawberry Letter 23" has been debuted. The Dayo-directed video features Quincy Jones sharing screen with his collaborator Akon, who going to a fantastical world and meeting his beautiful secret admirer.
Legendary producer Quincy Jones is the all-time most nominated Grammy artist with a total of 77 nominations and 28 winning Grammys. He says, "If there are any common denominators, they are spirit and musicality. I go for the music that gives me goose bumps, music that touches my heart and my soul." Jones has pulled together today's musical elite for his latest compilation album "Q: Soul Bossa Nostra," a celebration of Jones' legendary talent and infinite stamp on musical history. In honor of Jones's achievements, today's music stars will cover some of his biggest produced hits. The album will feature Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Trey Songz, Tyrese, Ludacris, and more!
Seven years in the making, Q's remix album "Soul Bossa Nostra" is scheduled to release this summer. As the first single off the record, Jones to remake a great song from his catalog: the trippy, soulful 70’s gem "Strawberry Letter 23." Written by the great Shuggie Otis and made famous on a Jones-produced album by the Brothers Johnson, the song was inspired by the strawberry-scented paper Otis' girlfriend would use to write letters to him. As a tribute, Akon's music video opens with him holding an envelope and a note that reads, "I've been listening to this song all day."
"The concept of the video is almost like the concept of the new song," Akon told MTV. "It's about receiving a letter, but the letter is scented in a strawberry scent, and it happens to be the 22nd letter or 23rd letter. In the video, I'm receiving it from this beautiful admirer. I go through this fantasy world, this garden, and I'm following her through it. I actually get to meet her." Akon was quoted as saying, "When Quincy called and told me about this album, I said you have to let me do 'Strawberry Letter 23' and the funny thing is that's the song he was thinking about already. We brought a new modern feel to this classic and I think everyone's going to really enjoy it." And Jones couldn't agree more. The producer stated, "It is [opaque]. Its imagery... abstract imagery. It was abstract back then. [Akon] did it. Talk about impeccable taste. That's why it's the first single."

Much attention has been paid to artists doing charity work for Haiti — as it should be — but the Grammy nominees, Senagal-born rapper Akon and American singer Keri Hilson go in front of the lens to shoot the music video for their charity single "Oh Africa" and has been premiered on last Sunday night in coincidence with the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards with proceeds going to benefit underprivileged African youth in the motherland, including Akon's Konfidence Foundation. The track has been available for download on iTunes immediately after Grammy Awards ceremony.
"Oh Africa" is recorded for new Pepsi football TV commercial for the brand's worldwide campaign "Refresh Your World," which is based on enabling youth to make a positive change in the world. The Gil Green directed clip featuring Akon's performance with his collaborator Hilson, unite on wax for the third time, follows "Change Me" and "Mic Check," go colorful with African paint theme, it showcases vibrantly-colored African visuals with the South African Soweto Gospel Choir on vocals with 16 aspiring young musicians from around the world who won the chance to appear.
The bright, multi-colored video also features football players who make cameo appearances in the music video for "Oh Africa." It's a pairing that would strike fear into the hearts of the most solid Premier League back four. Liverpool hitman Fernando Torres and Chelsea forward Didier Drogba have teamed up - off the football pitch - to help raise money for underprivileged African youths.
"The whole aura of it is so fun, the color, the painting and the drums," R&B star Akon commented on the video shoot. "It brings out all the cultural parts of Africa you can ever think of and it doesn't even seem like a video, it seems more like a work of art that just happens to be a video. I hope you enjoy the look behind the scenes." Akon has also been known to extend his generosity to his fellow artists. Predictably, the song is heavy on treacle without saying much, but that doesn't prevent this from becoming sort of uplifting.

Freedom is the third studio album by singer, Akon. The album was originally named Acquitted, however Akon changed it due to its negative connotation. Freedom is the first album by Akon not to carry the Parental Advisory warning, although there is still profanity in the album. The album debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, selling 110,000 copies its first week. It currently sold about 600,000 copies in the U.S.
Let's enjoy two of my favorite songs in this album now. Please click on each title to listen. "Freedom" and "Beautiful" (featuring with Colby O'Donis & Kardinal Offishall.)
The video for "Beautiful" is the 3rd official single from album "Freedom", and that he "wants the best music video" for the song. The video was premiered on Yahoo! Music on February 24.