Maps of Music

Freedom (2008)

Where the lyrics of Freedom take you, and where it was really made.

The album was first titled Acquitted, but Akon changed the name before release, and the final title became Freedom.

Place unknown

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Freedom: third studio album by Senegalese-American singer-songwriter Akon
Originally titled Acquitted; Akon changed the title before release
Released as a download on 1 December 2008 and in stores on 2 December 2008
Debuted at number 7 on the US Billboard 200, selling about 111,000 copies in its first week
Contains some vulgarities but does not carry the Parental Advisory warning, making it Akon's first album without it

Akon's label Universal Music confirmed the title Freedom after the original name Acquitted
Akon's first solo number one on the Billboard Hot 100 was Don't Matter
Troublemaker is described as a continuation of the theme of Don't Matter
Lead single Right Now (Na Na Na) preceded the album's release

Production began in May 2008 and ended late in the same year
A leaked recording of the Michael Jackson duet Hold My Hand appeared online in July 2008; Akon hoped to include it
The album's track listing was released on 17 October and did not include the Jackson duet
The leaked version of Right Now (Na Na Na) had a verse by Danny Fernandes that did not make the final cut; Akon chose to perform solo
Against the Grain and We Don't Care were originally named Falling in Love and Could You Be the Reason
The UK bonus track Clap Again samples Click Click Click by New Kids on the Block

Akon, born Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam on April 16, 1973 in St. Louis, Missouri, is a Senegalese-American singer, songwriter, record producer, businessman, and philanthropist.
He spent a significant part of his childhood in Senegal and later moved to Union City, New Jersey at age seven.
In 1996 he recorded the single "Operations of Nature", which earned him a deal with Elektra Records, but the deal fell through when the song failed to catch on in the United States.
He came to the attention of SRC Records through producer Jerome "Knobody" Foster after Upfront Megatainment president Devyne Stephens developed him.

His debut album Trouble (2004) became his commercial breakthrough, led by "Locked Up".
The follow-up single "Lonely" (2005) reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts in Australia, the UK and Germany.
His second album Konvicted (2006) debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.
"I Wanna Love You" and "Don't Matter" each gave him a Hot 100 number one, and his guest role on Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape" reached number two.
The album Freedom (2008) spawned the top ten single "Right Now (Na Na Na)".
Akon founded Konvict Muzik in 2004 and KonLive Distribution in 2007, signing acts including Lady Gaga, T-Pain and Kardinal Offishall.
He launched the non-profit Akon Lighting Africa in 2014, which provides electricity in 15 African countries.
His later albums El Negreeto (2019) and Akonda (2019) explored Latin and Afrobeats styles but did not chart.

Metacritic score: 58 out of 100, based on mixed or average reviews
Rolling Stone described the album as melodrama about love and love lost, delivered in a hooting style over synth-swamped beats
Dan LeRoy of The Hartford Courant gave a positive review, praising Akon's gift for hooks
The Boston Globe called it a tuneful, seemingly effortless set of sun-kissed pop
411mania gave the album eight out of ten but found the lyrics basic
Entertainment Weekly gave the album a C−
musicOMH gave the album one star out of five
Blues & Soul writer Pete Lewis wrote that hopes were high for Freedom to eclipse Akon's past international success

Debuted at number 7 on the US Billboard 200, selling 111,000 copies in its first week
As of July 2011, sold 782,000 copies in the US
Right Now (Na Na Na) peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, Akon's 12th top 10 hit on the chart
I'm So Paid, featuring Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy, debuted at number 40 and later peaked at number 31
Beautiful peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100
Troublemaker and Keep You Much Longer peaked at number 97 and number 123 on the Hot 100, based solely on iTunes downloads

The album was first called Acquitted, a name the label later replaced with Freedom.
Freedom has no Parental Advisory label even though it contains some vulgarities, which made it Akon's first album without the warning.
The Michael Jackson duet Hold My Hand leaked online in July 2008 but was not included on the album.
Right Now (Na Na Na) was leaked with a verse by Danny Fernandes that was cut from the final release.
The UK bonus track Clap Again samples Click Click Click by New Kids on the Block.