Senegalese-American R&B artist Akon rose to fame with his 2004 LP Trouble, which contained the hit singles 'Locked Up' and 'Lonely'. Before his musical career took off, the artist, songwriter and producer spent much of his youth hopping between Senegal and the US. After permanently relocating to New Jersey, the performer ended up in prison for armed robbery and drug distribution, a time he used to develop his musical ideas and talent. The stint in lock-up resulted in Akon's debut album, Trouble. His music is often described as containing a fusion of styles, with AllMusic.com describing it as a hybrid of "West African-styled vocals with East Coast and Southern-styled beats". In 2006, Akon released his second record, Konvicted, with singles 'Smack That' featuring Eminem (which earned a Grammy nod), 'I Wanna Love You' and 'Don't Matter' topping charts around the globe. Not limiting himself to his own endeavours, Akon has also collaborated with established artists such as Gwen Stefani, Chamillionaire and Young Jeezy, as well as lending his voice to catchy hooks on various singles. Akon is also the founder of record label Kon Live Distribution.