To make sure his sci-fi thriller, Ra.One gets the right kind of opening at the box office this October, Shah Rukh Khan is going all out. He is planning a multi-country tour in September, which will conclude in the U.S. towards the end of the month.

R & B star, Akon, has sung the "Chammak Challo" song in Ra.One, and this is expected to be part of the tour, while the gorgeous Kareena Kapoor performs to it.

The official confirmation of Akon will depend on his upcoming knee surgery. If he goes under the knife before July, he will recover in time for the tour in September. However, if not, then there is a chance that all bets may be off. So until we find out, we are keeping our fingers crossed!

- source

Send Akon Ringtone to Cell Phone

Shah Rukh's next home production, Ra.One has been creating a lot of buzz since the movie went on floors last year.

As the audience is eagerly waiting to catch this ambitious flick, a track from the movie has been leaked before the audio release. But it's not just any track, it's the much talked about item number titled, "Wanna Be My Chammak Challo" composed by international singer, Akon!

This is a first in Bollywood, the fact that this popular number is already available on-line, has left the producers concerned. Having said this it could have easily been a publicity stunt to find out the audiences reaction.

Well it's definitely worked; we love the rough cut version and can’t wait to hear the original, at the same time we’re amazed at how well Akon has sung the Hindi vocals.

Now, we wait to see whether our very own, "Chammak Chalo", Kareena Kapoor will be able to do justice to the item number choreographed by, Ganesh Acharya. We believe the soundtrack is different to the previous popular items numbers, "Munni Badnam Hui" and "Shelia Ki Jawani", all the more reason to love this track. Listen to the leaked track here !

- source

Send Akon Ringtone to Cell Phone

Senegalese singing sensation and Grammy nominee Akon kept the Memorial Day Weekend party going with a high-energy performance at Chateau Nightclub & Gardens at the Paris on Saturday night. Akon arrived on the red carpet about 1 a.m. wearing a black leather Gucci jacket, a black T-shirt and black leather-like denim.

After the red carpet, Akon headed to the new nightclub and performed some of his hits, including "I'm So Paid" and his No. 1 smash "Smack That." The crowd went crazy when he walked around the club greetings fans and taking photographs during his performance. Thanks to David Becker for his photo gallery.

Desperate Housewives star Josh Henderson, NFL star Adrian Peterson and his girlfriend Jasmine Toi and NBA stars Kenyon Martin and Matt Barnes were spotted in the VIP section singing and dancing along to Akon's set. Afterward, Akon took over Chateau's VIP area with a large entourage, and the group enjoyed Moet champagne and dance all night long.

Also at Chateau: UFC fighter Thiago Alves for his after-fight party. Alves and friends sipped on Grey Goose until the early morning hours. (Incidentally, Rick Story defeating Alves unanimously earlier in the evening at UFC 130 at MGM Grand Garden Arena.)

While at the Paris, Akon stopped at Sugar Factory and enjoyed a Couture Pop while stocking up on Now 'n' Laters, Jolly Ranchers and Lemonheads. He was overheard saying "my Vegas trip is made" before heading upstairs to perform at Chateau.

- source

Send Akon Ringtone to Cell Phone

Akon's been pretty busy lately--touring all over the world (he was in India, Oregon and good old Cali), starting two labels (Konvict Muzic and Kon Live Distribution), collaborating with everyone from Snoop Dogg to Dr. Dre and prepping for his new album in the fall. The Grammy-nominated artist isn't too busy to check in at Sutra on Friday night, however.

1.) He's releasing his fourth album, Stadium, on September 13. Die-hard Konvict fans have been waiting for this--the drop date was pushed back several times. But this time it's for real!

2.) He's a hitmaker. He found Lady Gaga and T-Pain. He's produced tracks for everyone from Lady Gaga to Colby O'Donis and Leona Lewis. Then, last year, Akon signed Jeffree Star, the OC superstar known for his hit song, "Plastic Surgery Slumber Party" which talks about nose jobs, sexy parties, and fake eyelashes. In an interview with Boss Lady from DrJays.com, Akon stated: "to me, he's like the male version of Gaga. In the aspect of, you have to see it to understand it."



3.) He makes a whole lotta dolla bills: Senegalese-American Akon, born Aliaune Badara Akon Thiam, grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008, according to Forbes magazine.)

4.) He wants to star in Bollywood films! According to Zimbio.com, Akon wants to work in the Bollywood film industry and has even created a soundtrack in the works for the Bollywood film, Ra One, featuring the "King Khan" (Shahrukh Khan) set to release on October 26, 2011.

5.) He considers Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop" his inspiration. Akon worked rather closely with Jackson and highly respects and admires his music and talent. When the news of Jackson's death hit Akon, he couldn't believe it.

- source

Send Akon Ringtone to Cell Phone

In the midst of a tour with longtime friend Usher, Senegalese-American R&B singer/songwriter Akon is gearing up for the September release of his new album, "Stadium."

"It's a high-energy record [with] party songs, feel-good music," Akon told SoundSpike. "But I got mids, highs. I took it everywhere but I made sure that every song was international, that it can pretty much gravitate and relate to all audiences."

Akon is playing four new songs while on the trek with Usher, songs he feels fit perfectly within the set.

Born Aliaune Badara Akon Thiam in St. Louis but raised in Senegal, Akon rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up," the first single from his debut album, "Trouble." His sophomore effort, "Konvicted," spawned the Eminem collaboration "Smack That," which earned him one of his six Grammy nominations. He has since founded two record labels, Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution.

He is also a stellar producer who has turned the knobs for artists such as Lady Gaga, Colby O'Donis and Leona Lewis. Akon is credited with giving Lady Gaga and T-Pain their chances at success.

Akon spoke to SoundSpike about "Stadium," his favorite collaborations and his brotherhood with Usher.

SoundSpike: So how long have you been working on "Stadium"?

Akon: That's the thing. With my album, there's no specific time. I'm working on new music every day. It's just a matter of how it feels at the time when it's time to put it out. I'm always working on new music. I don't even know when I started. I might have started that new record back in 2004. Every album there are songs that may fit a particular concept that didn't necessarily fit the last album's concept. I got so much material, when I come up with a concept I just pretty much rally the songs that fit that concept. For the songs I haven't had yet, those are the ones that I create at that moment.

Is that how you determine if you'll keep the song or offer it to another artist?

It's weird, because you never really know. When I write it I just try to write a hit record, or something that feels to me like it could be a smash. I hold on to it, and when I'm in the studio with other artist and they're planting music, I may play some music and they may hear something [and say] "Oh my God. I love that record so much. What are you doing with it?" I'd be like, "If you like it, you can take it."

It's that easy?

It's that easy. That's what happened with "Hold My Hand" by Michael Jackson. I played him that record and he fell so in love with it. He said, "I have to have that record. What is it going to take?" I said, "Mike, all it's going to take is for you to sing it. That's it."

Was he your favorite person to work with?

That was the most amazing experience. Him hands down and Lionel Richie. I had a great time working with Lionel as well. Between Mike and Lionel, those are my two best experiences.

Because I'm originally from Detroit, I have to ask how it was to work with Eminem.

I don't know how he slipped out of my greatest experiences. Yo, Em was another one. He's so funny. He's a character. You have so much fun in the studio with him. I was surprised to find out how professional he was in the studio. It's funny because when you look at him, depending on the song, he sings serious, but you know he's the clown that he is at the same time. He's very hilarious and makes you laugh a lot. He literally has a regimen that he follows, and rules that he follows. I never worked with someone in the studio that actually treated the studio like a 9 to 5. He comes in on time every day at 8 o'clock and leaves at a certain time in the evening. He doesn't go over that time. Then he actually takes his lunch breaks the same time everyone else takes their lunch breaks. That was kind of wild to me because I never seen anyone operate like that and [be] that disciplined. When I'm in the studio, I go in at midnight and don't leave there until the following day at 10 p.m. I don't leave until the song is finished and completed. He takes time out of his day to actually allocate time for his personal life. For us, it's kind of hard. Because we're so creative, we just don't do it. Maybe it's because he's so comfortable and he has so much money he can do that. At the time I was like, "Listen, man I gotta get it." [Laughs] I've nearly spent nights in that bad boy, man, by the time he got back the next morning I was still in there.

You've been nominated for multiple awards, including Grammys. Are awards important to you?

Absolutely not. Me and awards, it's cool to be acknowledged but I'd rather have acknowledgment from the fans. That's the hardcore and original. Those are the ones that count; the acknowledgments from the fans are the ones that count. The award shows are cool but it doesn't grab me as much as the concerts where you have thousands and thousands of people coming to see and praising the work that you're doing. Thanking you for bring that experience to their lives. It's different. I never really cared too much about award shows too much.

So you're touring with Usher. How long have you two known each other?

Man, since the beginning of his career -- way before the fame. Me and this guy go way back. I don't think it was a big issue coming on this tour as a special guest. He doesn't feel threatened me being on the tour with him. That's the beauty of it. The fact that he welcomed me, "Yo, come on this tour with me, man. What's you doing around this time?" At the time, it was just me producing and writing. [He said] "You should take time off and come tour with me in the States." I was like, "Why not? Let's do it. I got an album coming out. I can use it as a tool to promote my album." It all works. We put it together and made it happen.

- source

Send Akon Ringtone to Cell Phone