Akon

By Souleo When you're blessed with as much as success and opportunity as Akon it is part of your duty to give back. Akon is holding up his end of that deal through his nonprofit organization, Konfidence Foundation. The Konfidence Foundation is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the conditions in Africa and providing underprivileged youth with access to learning and recreational environments equipped with modern technology, educational materials, recreational resources, and health and wellness services.

At the heart of the foundation is empowering the community of Africa to advance. In this open letter Akon reflects on how his own journey to empowerment inspired his foundation.

Open Letter:

When I first came up and started doing music it was just a hobby for me. I just wanted to be rich. I didn't care how and I was going to do whatever it took to live that kind of lifestyle. I was getting into a lot of trouble but I felt like the trouble was worth it because I was getting a lot of money. When you have power you're naturally confident because you have the power. A lot of times people feel like money can bring you that power. So when you're out there hustling for that money you're only doing it so you can buy the power to gain the confidence. But I didn't realize I was taking every step forward towards never seeing daylight again if I continued under that route.

But I think it was supposed to happen for me this way because I learned the more I listen, the more things are happening. That's when the confidence level actually came up because I was getting more educated to what was needed. I just started to realize that you'd be surprised at how much you can accomplish, if you just allow yourself to be educated. That's why one of our main initiatives with the Konfidence Foundation is education. We're building schools to give the kids a better environment to be able to learn. We also started to create a medical system as well. We're taking old beat up hospitals and refurbishing them with the necessary medical equipment to be able to facilitate the sick and the wounded. The Konfidence Foundation has really been on a level to where our main initiative is to make sure we have a healthy environment in the schools and the hospitals for the children growing up.

For more information please visit:

http://konfidence.org/konf/

Check out Akon's single feat. Keri Hilson "Oh Africa," here:

By Souleo When you want to look sophisticated, effortless and slim all at the same time then black is the color of choice. Akon knows this perfectly well as evidenced by his all black fall look. With his ability to go from crisp tailored suits to fashionable urban street wear, Akon has a style that's hot for any season.

Start off rocking black in these relaxed fit Cavi jeans with faux leather trim:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/bottoms/cavi-the-party-jean--sizes-34-44-/C10089082?color=Black

Continue piling on the black with this Essentials thermal v-neck top that will keep you warm as fall gives way to winter:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/tops/essentials-thermal-v-neck-top--sizes-m-4x-/11073?color=Black

To top it all off throw on this Rocawear jacket:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/outerwear/rocawear-roc-n--jacket--sizes-l-3x-/1055R?color=Black

And strap yourself into this comfortable Fila footwear:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/footwear/fila-strap-sneaker--sizes-7-13-/IVF091LS?color=Black

By Souleo It's a rare thing to get a celebrity who isn't afraid to give their honest opinion on hot topics. Thankfully, Akon is one of those rarities. On day three of his Takeover, Akon is sounding off on artists who call themselves the next Michael Jackson and letting you know which artist really has next, plus he's offering his two cents on the Lady Gaga copycats and revealing how he's made peace with the murder trial results for his formerly signed deceased artist, Dolla.

On artists comparing themselves to Michael Jackson:

Half of them might say it but they really don't believe it. It's more of motivating themselves to be just as great as him. Now there is one particular artist that has the potential to one day become that if he focuses so much more on his artistry and I think that's Chris Brown.

Of course, you have to be able to focus and you have live it every day and every minute of the hour for that to happen. Michael never thought about nothing else but his creativity and every day he was thinking about how he can be better. So you can't settle unless your satisfied with what it is you're getting. Some people settle for whatever the record company wants them to do or they settle to please someone else. Mike never did that. If he wasn't personally happy with it he wasn't doing it. I think in order to become that it has to be your vision and your motivation towards yourself.

On Lady Gaga copycats:

I never think 'Oh these guys are biting,' or trying to take her style. I look at it as a form of appreciation that they don't even realize. When Michael Jackson came out with "Thriller," everybody in the world was wearing his jackets because we loved it. You're only going to emulate things that you love or you admire. Her mindset and creativity is so much bigger and this is just a piece of what that is. She's about to graduate into something completely different. Honestly, I don't think they're going to be able to keep up.

On the acquittal of Aubrey Louis Berry for the murder of Dolla:

I wasn't personally there when it happened. I know for a fact that there were a lot of problems between the two of them and I feel like there was a better way to deal with the issue. As far as him being acquitted, I always leave things like that in the hands of God. I may have an opinion that Dolla had no right to be taken out that way and dude was completely wrong and he had no right to be acquitted. But God saw differently. It goes to show no matter how much I would've felt about it it's not going to make him any more guilty or any more innocent. It's not going to make the judge overturn his decision. I put it in God's hands and if this is the outcome of what's meant to be then I just have to live with it.

By Souleo It's safe to say that you don't get to the top like Akon, without some help along the way. On day two of his Takeover Akon is getting personal and reflecting upon the angels in his life. Get touched by an angel as Akon talks how his mother has saved him from bad relationships, how his father guided him during his troubled youth and how one angel gave him the chance to become a star.

My mother:

She saved me by making sure I was with the right mates. Any woman I've ever dated, I always kindly introduced them to my mom because she has a great instinct of what kind of women they are. For me if they're beautiful with a nice body they're in, but she always meets them for a quick second. Off the moment she meets them she can tell me whether or not this girl needs to stick around for me.

My father:

My pops is one of those guardian angels. He saved my life in many ways through his advice because he's been through a lot. He went through a lot of struggles. It was a lot of times that I was tempted to do some stupid things just to kind of get money and try to prove to him that I'm a man. But he kind of guided me and gave me advice to make sure I understood what life was about. It's not always about getting rich fast. Some things are worth working for because they last longer.

Music Mogul, Devyne Stephens:

He was actually the guy that gave me the opportunity to be in the music industry. Throughout all the troubles I've been through; through out all the dumb decisions, hustling' and me getting locked up he was always there to bond me out. He always believed in me and said 'You might not take this seriously but I'm not gonna stop until you take this music seriously and make it a prime or focal point in your career.' I'm thankful that he stood behind me long enough for me to realize the kind of talent that I did have to be in this business and do what I do, because it allowed me to branch myself off and be who I am today. To this day I thank him everyday for just believing in me more than I believed in myself.

Check out Akon's single, "Angels," performed live here:

By Souleo Music is no longer just about the right image, lyric, melody and production. In today's game you've also got to have the business savvy mindset to make an impact. Within the span of six short years since rising to prominence in 2004 with the hit single "Locked Up," Akon has proven to be one of the top masters in the game. Not only has he managed to establish a catalogue of hits ("Smack That," "I Wanna Love You") but he's made himself an empire with his own record label, Kon Live Distribution, endless production credits, non-profit efforts, and oh, yeah he's partially responsible for bringing Lady Gaga to the forefront of the music industry.

To celebrate the forthcoming release of his new album, Stadium Akon partnered with JimmyJazz.com and Souleo Enterprises, LLC for The Takeover. Check in all this week for exclusive coverage of Akon where he talks how he's been saved from some of life's major pitfalls, his personal journey of empowerment, and his raw opinion on everything from celebrities calling themselves the next Michael Jackson to the murder trial of his deceased artist, Dolla.

Akon starts opening up with our staple, The Questions where we learned what he likes hot and sweaty, what he still hasn't forgiven himself for in life, how to get on his bad side and more.

The one thing in my home to remind me of Senegal is...a wooden goat head mask.

The one habit I have from childhood that I've yet to outgrow is...blowing kisses at women.

I had to learn this lesson the hard way...don't be so quick to sign anything.

I get cranky when...the weather is bad-cloudy or rainy.

My own remedy for when I'm sick is...to just sweat. I always find some activity whether it's sports or sex.

You would never guess this about me...that I'm a great chef. I'm great with African dishes but I love to cook lasagna.

The one thing that's hard to forgive myself for is...tossing the kid off stage in Poughkeepsie. I think about that everyday.

The one thing I'm still working on in my love life is...resisting temptation.

Sex is always better when...it's hot and sweaty.

The one person I want to collaborate with is...U2.

For more information please visit:

www.akononline.com

By Souleo. She taught us all how to "Whine Up," and we all know how "Unstoppable" she is since she can "Run the Show," but now she is ready to "Push, Push," it to the limit of catchy dance floor anthems with her forthcoming album, Inside Out.  We are talking about none other than singer-songwriter, Kat Deluna.

We got inside out with Kat as she talked skydiving, her dream of marriage, educating men on women and more.

Stop the hype: Stop talking and make it happen.  Do it!

I wish I could: Go skydiving but I won't.

Currently crazy about: Butterflies and gardenias.  I don't know why.  I have brought like so many!

I dance in my underwear to: "Poison" by Bell Biv DeVoe.

Favorite brand or designer: Yves St. Laurent and Chanel.  I think Chanel is very classic.  When I wear it I feel like a young lady.  In Yves St. Laurent I feel like a definite diva pop star.  I like YSL's trends and how over the years they have changed their style while keeping their signature look.

If I were the opposite sex: I would definitely make a gentlemen's club and talk weekly with guys in the neighborhood about how to treat women, talk to women and understand them.

Five years from now: I will be married, on my yacht in St. Tropez and coming off of my second world tour.

The one thing I'll never say never to: Living it up, always!

For more information on Kat please visit:

www.katdeluna.com

Follow Kat on Twitter: @katdeluna

Check out her hit single, "Push, Push," ft. Akon: