Akon's successful 2007 capped by a slew of awards - most recently, Billboard Magazine's "Artist of the Year"

SRC/Universal Motown’s Senegalese sensation, Akon, is no longer on a rise to the top; he’s already there. Akon continues to break music industry records having accrued mastertone sales over 11 million this year. Akon’s album Konvicted has now sold more than 5 million copies and has been nominated for four Grammys including “Best Contemporary R&B Album”. Recently, Akon won an American Music Award for “Best Male Soul/R&B Artist” as well as “Best Selling R&B Star in the World” at the World Music Awards.

On the Billboard charts, Akon became the only artist in music history to simultaneously lockdown the #1 and #2 positions on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart twice. Konvicted has yielded some of the most successful songs on the charts for the year to date. The hits "I Wanna Love You", "Don't Matter", and the Grammy-nominated "Smack That" featuring Eminem are everywhere: TV, Radio, the Internet and probably your cell phone. "Smack That" (certified by RIAA triple platinum), "Don't Matter" (double platinum), and "I Wanna Love You" (double platinum), make him the only artist with three tracks from the same album to ever achieve multi-platinum ringtone status.

Akon, who was on hand during the Grammy nomination announcement ceremony, said of his success: "It's truly one of the highlights of my career to receive today's Grammy nominations. It was an honor to be part of the announcement ceremony, and I look forward to Grammy night and celebrating with those who have made music such an inspirational force in all our lives."

It certainly has been a wildly successful ride for Akon over the past two years, culminating with being recognized as this year’s Billboard Magazine "Artist of the Year". Where does one go when they’ve already reached the top? Only time will tell how high Akon can soar.

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