"Locked Up"
's success provided
Akon
with instant heavyweight clout. Upgraded from writing songs and doing the occasional hook for B-, C-, and D-level artists, he tallied a multi-platinum album, was granted his own boutique label (which was used to spawn
T-Pain
), and became in-demand as an A-list collaborator -- he worked with
Young Jeezy
,
R. Kelly
Gwen Stefani
, and even
Elton John
. His second album,
Konvicted
, isn't much different from the debut (patchiness included), even though it comes from a different perspective. He even addresses his newfound fame, along with the expectations and other forms of grief that come with it, in a vague but very saddened way throughout
"The Rain."
For the most part, though,
offers more ultra-macho
R&B
. The guest spots come from
Eminem
Snoop Dogg
, and
Styles P
, leaving no room for female hooks or verses.
hits on strippers (but does not fall in love with them), smacks behinds, and tends to go with what suits him best: bragging and seducing while delivering like-sounding hooks in his unique voice. Whenever the yearning and heartache is allowed through, he's not persuasive, and he sounds like he still has the club on his mind. ~ Andy Kellman