"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga

"Poker Face" is an electropop song by American dance-pop singer-songwriter Lady Gaga from her debut album, The Fame. Produced by RedOne, it was released as the album's second single in late 2008 in some markets and early 2009 in the rest of the world. The song is an uptempo dance song following the foot-steps of her previous single "Just Dance" but has a darker musical tone. The main idea behind the song is Gaga's personal experience with bisexuality while lyrically it is about sex and gambling and dedicated by Gaga to her friends who gamble.

"Poker Face" has been well-received by the critics with most of them appreciating the robotic hook and the chorus. The song has attained worldwide success, topping the charts in more than seventeen countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and many European countries. The music video portrays Gaga singing the song in various costumes and playing strip poker in a mansion. The song has been performed on a number of live appearances by Gaga including the eighth season of American Idol and her first headlining Fame Ball tour where alternate variations of the track has been performed, including a piano version which she played while wearing a dress made of bubbles, and an electronic version.

"Poker Face" is written by RedOne and Gaga while the music has been produced by RedOne. Gaga stated in an interview that "Poker Face" was written by her as a pop song and was a tribute to her rock 'n roll boyfriends. She also stated that the main idea behind the song was sex and gambling.[3] In an interview with UK's Daily Star, Gaga noted of the song, "It's about a lot of different things. I gamble but I’ve also dated a lot of guys who are really into sex and booze and gambling, so I wanted to write a record my boyfriends would like too."

During her Fame Ball tour performance at Palm Springs on Saturday 11th of April, Gaga explained to the crowd the true meaning behind the term "Poker Face" used in the song. She suggested that the song dealt about her personal experience with bisexuality. The idea behind the song was to be with a man but fantasizing about a woman, hence the man in the song needs to read her "Poker Face" to understand what is going through her mind.

"Poker Face" is an uptempo dance-pop song, and follows the footsteps of the previous single "Just Dance". Whereas "Just Dance" was predominately electropop, "Poker Face" carries a dark sound with clear vocals on the chorus and a pop hook while combining the synths from "Just Dance" and the more dance oriented beat of next single "LoveGame". The composition also carries the pleather-and-sequins vibe of the downtown underground New York scene. The song is set in Common time with a moderate tempo of 120 beats per minute. The song is written in the key of A minor. The song begins with a medium tempo followed by electronic chord arrangement and the "Mum-mum-mum-maa" hook. The chords follow in this order, Am---E---G♭---Am---E-G♭. This is followed by the sound of dance music, produced by a powerful beat from the instruments and a stuttering hook following the chorus. Gaga's vocal range spans from G3 to C5, and has the similar dance-pop tempo in it.

Lyrically, "Poker Face" is all about sexual innuendo and teasing. The chorus repeats two alternating lyrics. After the hook "Can't read my Poker Face" the backup singer (Space Cowboy) says "She's got me like nobody". Gaga explained in an interview with Daily Star that the line carries a bit of an undertone of confusion about love and sex. According to the BBC, the "Mum-mum-mum-mah" hook used in the song is sampled from Boney M's 1977 hit "Ma Baker."

Here is the full lyrics:

Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah

I wanna hold em' like they do in Texas Plays
Fold em' let em' hit me raise it baby stay with me (I love it)
Luck and intuition play the cards with Spades to start
And after he's been hooked I'll play the one that's on his heart

Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh,
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got

Can't read my,
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
Can't read my
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

I wanna roll with him a hard pair we will be
A little gambling is fun when you're with me (I love it)
Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun
And baby when it's love if it's not rough it isn't fun, fun
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh,
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got

Can't read my,
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
Can't read my
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

I won't tell you that I love you
Kiss or hug you
Cause I'm bluffin' with my muffin
I'm not lying I'm just stunnin' with my love-glue-gunning
Just like a chick in the casino
Take your bank before I pay you out
I promise this, promise this
Check this hand cause I'm marvelous

Can't read my,
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
Can't read my
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

Can't read my,
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
Can't read my
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

Can't read my,
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
Can't read my
Can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
[End of lyrics]

In the U.S., the single entered the Billboard Hot 100 at ninety-two and reached number six for the issue dated March 7, 2009. The next week the song climbed another three places to reach a peak of three for the issue dated March 14, 2009 where it stayed for two additional weeks. However, on the issue dated April 4, 2009, the song reached a new peak of two being the weeks greatest airplay gainer and topped the chart the following week. "Poker Face" became Gaga's second consecutive number one on the Hot 100, marking the first time an artist has had their first two charting singles hit number one on the Hot 100 since Christina Aguilera did so with "Genie In a Bottle" and "What a Girl Wants" in 1999-2000.[24] The song debuted on the Pop 100 at number sixty-one and ultimately topped the chart. The song also peaked on both the Hot Dance Airplay and Hot Dance Club Play charts. "Poker Face" became the first single since Madonna's 2006 single "Sorry", to top all the three Dance charts in a single week including the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.

"Poker Face" entered the Australian ARIA Charts at number twenty-six on the issue date of October 10, 2008 and in its seventh week peaked at number one, replacing "Sex on Fire" by the Kings of Leon. The single decented from the peak spot in its eleventh week by Wes Carr's single "You" but again hit the top spot the following week. "Poker Face" has sold over 210,000 copies in Australia, earning three-times platinum certification by the Australian Recording Industry Association.

In Canada, the song debuted at number forty-one on the Canadian Hot 100 for the issue of September 6, 2008. On the chart dated December 13, 2008, "Poker Face" ascended to number one and then spent nine non-consecutive weeks at the top. In New Zealand, "Poker Face" debuted at number twenty-one on October 6, 2008. In its sixth week, it topped the chart spending ten consecutive weeks at number one and was replaced by Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours". "Poker Face" was certified two times platinum after twenty-seven weeks on the chart, selling over 30,000 copies according to the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.

"Poker Face" debuted at number thirty on the UK Singles Chart from downloads alone on January 18, 2009, the first week Gaga's album was released. On the issue dated March 22, 2009, "Poker Face" climbed to number one replacing the Comic Relief single, "Islands in the Stream" by Ruth Jones and Rob Brydon, thus giving Gaga her second consecutive UK number one single. On the issue dated April 12, 2009, after spending three consecutive weeks at the charts summit, "Poker Face" was knocked off the top spot by "I'm Not Alone" by Calvin Harris, with "Poker Face" falling to number two. In Italy the song debuted at number ninetenn and climbed to nine which has been its peak as of now. The song has also reached the peak in a number of European countries including Austria, Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. The single also peaked on the Billboard Eurochart Hot 100 singles chart for the issue dated March 7, 2009.

αCharts.us says that. "The song Poker Face by Lady Gaga has been listed for 356 weeks in 21 different charts. Its first appearance was week 36/2008 in the Canada Singles Top 100 and the last appearance was week 17/2009 in the Australia Singles Top 50, Bulgaria Singles Top 40, Canada Singles Top 100, Finland Singles Top 20, Germany Singles Top 100, New Zealand Top 40, Norway Singles Top 20, Swiss Singles Top 100, UK Singles Top 75, US Singles Top 100, World Singles Top 40 and Portugal Singles Top 50. Its peak position was number 1, on the Australia Singles Top 50, Austria Singles Top 75, Belgium Singles Top 50, Bulgaria Singles Top 40, Canada Singles Top 100, Denmark Singles Top 40, Dutch Top 40, Finland Singles Top 20, France Singles Top 100, Germany Singles Top 100, Ireland Singles Top 50, New Zealand Top 40, Norway Singles Top 20, Sweden Singles Top 60, Swiss Singles Top 100, UK Singles Top 75, US Airplay Top 100, US Singles Top 100 and World Singles Top 40, it stayed there for 100 weeks. Its highest entry was number 2 in the France Singles Top 100 and Germany Singles Top 100. Below you'll find the exact numbers and statistics."

Check the listing of song in different charts here.

The music video for "Poker Face" was directed by Ray Kay and was aided by Anthony Mandler. Premiering on October 22, 2008, The video is set by a pool, as well as in a mansion. The video begins with Lady Gaga emerging out of the pool wearing a shiny masquerade mask and a black full body leotard, with two Great Danes beside her. She throws the mask aside and the song begins with a facial shot of Gaga singing it. Gaga wears a metallic sticker on her left cheek in this shot. Featured in the video are scenes of Gaga in a mansion and dancing poolside with her dancers in a turquoise leotard. Gaga attends a wild party where every man and woman tries their luck on a stripped poker game. The party gets wilder when all the party's guests strip down to their underwear, dance around, and share kisses with each other. The video also features two harlequin Great Danes and several white mannequins on her swimming pool deck who are supposedly playing her servants. During the musical interlude before the "I won't tell you that I love you" hook, Gaga is shown in her trademark "Pop Music Will Never Be Low Brow" sunglasses while sitting beside the pool. The video ends with the head shot of Gaga singing the Mum-mum-mum-ma hook.

Gaga explained in the nineteenth episode of her "Transmision Gagavision" series, the main idea behind the music video of "Poker Face". She said that "I knew I wanted it to be sexy, so I thought no pants, because that's sexy, [...]And I knew I wanted it to be futuristic, so I thought shoulder pads, because that's my thing." The music video premiered on MTV UK on February 17, 2009. In some versions of the song, the words "muffin" (being a slang term for the woman's vagina), "Russian Roulette," and "gun" are censored out (bleeped) by the mum-mum-mum-ma hook.

"Halo" by Beyoncé Knowles

"Halo" is a song by American R&B singer Beyoncé. It was written by Ryan Tedder and Evan Bogart for her third studio album, I Am… Sasha Fierce. In the United States, the song was released on January 20, 2009 as the album's fourth single.

The song "Halo", written by Ryan Tedder and Evan "Kidd" Bogart, was originally offered to British singer Leona Lewis, but Lewis did not have the time to record it in the time that Tedder wanted it released.

The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on the issue dated February 7, 2009, at number 93 and so far peaked at number 18, becoming Beyoncé's 12th Top 20 single on the Hot 100 as a solo artist, and her 17th overall.

On the Canadian Hot 100, the song debuted at 92 and so far peaked at number 7.

On February 2, 2009, "Halo" debuted at number 40 on the Official New Zealand RIANZ Top 40 Chart, becoming her 15th top 40 hit there. The following week the song jumped 34 places to number 6, then jumping to number three in its third week. The song has since peaked at number 2, making it Knowles' third consecutive number 2 single behind "If I Were A Boy" and "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)". The song was certified Gold after seven weeks, selling over 7,500 copies. On February 7, "Halo" became the most added song to Australian radio in the week of its release. "Halo" debuted at number twenty-nine on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart and has since peaked at number 3 making it a bigger hit than "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" there.

On March 7, 2009, the song made its debut on UK Singles Charts at number 40 on downloads alone, 5 weeks before its official release. The following week the song went up twenty places to number 20 and rose another eleven places to number 9, the week after it rose to number 4 with a futher 2 more weeks until release.

World Singles Top 40 says: "The song Halo by Beyoncé has been listed for 118 weeks in 14 different charts. Its first appearance was week 1/2009 in the US Airplay Top 100 and the last appearance was week 16/2009 in the New Zealand Top 40, Norway Singles Top 20, Australia Singles Top 50, UK Singles Top 75, World Singles Top 40, Canada Singles Top 100, Portugal Singles Top 50, US Singles Top 100 and Bulgaria Singles Top 40. Its peak position was number 2, on the New Zealand Top 40 and Norway Singles Top 20, it stayed there for 2 weeks. Its highest entry was number 15 in the Norway Singles Top 20. Below you'll find the exact numbers and statistics."

The video premiered exclusively on iTunes on December 23, simultaneously with the music video for "Diva".

The music video was shot in late November and was directed by Philip Andelman. It features actor Michael Ealy as Knowles' love interest , and unlike the other three music videos from the album , "Halo" is the first video to be shot fully in colour. The song was cut to be shorter for the music video (the album version is 4 minutes and 21 seconds, while the video version is around 3 minutes and 45 seconds. The second bridge in the Video Edit of the song is shortened) and only part of the song is actually sung by Beyoncé while during other times it is just the music playing in the background while the video progresses. The video begins with Beyoncé up against a wall with a window behind her with light shining. As the video progresses the scenes vary in different parts of the house. In one scene, Beyoncé is dancing to some choreography in a leotard while her love interest is looking down at her from a balcony. During the climax Beyoncé is seen underwater moving upwards slowly in white clothing and when the chorus begins, Beyoncé opens her eyes. The last scene is played with Beyoncé lying down with Michael Ealy above her and only their faces are shot for the scene. The song has an alternate video as well when Beyoncé is driving throughout the video then finds out at the end of the video her boyfriend is dead.


The Lyrics

(lyrics are written by beyonce)

Remember those walls I built
Well baby they're tumbling down
And they didn't even put up a fight
They didn't even make a sound
I found a way to let you in
But I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now

It's like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
It's the risk that I'm takin'
I ain't never gonna shut you out

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace
You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo (halo) halo
I can see your halo (halo) halo
I can feel your halo (halo) halo
I can see your halo (halo) halo
Woah...

Hit me like a ray of sun
Burning through my darkest night
You're the only one that I want
Think I'm addicted to your light
I swore I'd never fall again
But this don't even feel like falling
Gravity can't forget
To pull me back to the ground again

It's like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breakin'
Its the risk that I'm takin'
I'm never gonna shut you out

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace
You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo (halo) halo
I can see your halo (halo) halo
I can feel your halo (halo) halo
I can see your halo (halo) halo
I can feel your halo (halo) halo
I can see your halo (halo)

Halooooo ouuuu
Halooooo ouuuu
Halooooo ouuuu
Ouuuuu ouuuuu ouuuuu

Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace
You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away

I can feel your halo (halo) halo
I can see your halo (halo) halo
I can feel your halo (halo) halo
I can see your halo (halo) halo
I can feel your halo (halo) halo
I can see your halo (halo) halo
I can feel your halo (halo) halo
I can see your halo (halo) halo

"Beautiful" by Akon featuring Colby O’Donis & Kardinal Offishall

"Beautiful" is the third single from Akon's third studio album Freedom. The single was originally released with only Akon on the track, however the album version features Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall. It was released to U.S. Top 40 radio on January 6, 2009. It has been release as A-Side to I'm So Paid in the UK. The song describes Akon seeing a girl in a club that he is attracted to, and wanting to go over and meet her. He repeatedly describes her in the song as being beautiful.

"Beautiful" managed to become a top twenty hit in 2008 the previous year before its official release. Due to high digital sales, the song debuted at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the week of December 10, 2008, the week following the release of Freedom. It is Akon's eighth top twenty hit as a lead artist, and his seventeenth top twenty overall. It debuted at #7 on the Hot Digital Songs chart, selling over 91,000 downloads that week. It also made a #25 debut on the Pop 100 chart the same week. On the Canadian Hot 100 chart, it debuted at #16. The single also reached #30 on the UK Singles Chart on March 1, 2009, and has so far peaked at #8 and #3 on the UK R&B Chart. Even though the song has not received any airplay in Australia it has charted in the ARIA Top 40 singles charts peaking at #22 and on the ARIA Urban Charthas reached #7. On the New Zealand Top 40, it debuted at #39, then peaked at #13.

World Singles Top 40 said, "The song Beautiful by Akon has been listed for 99 weeks in 11 different charts. Its first appearance was week 50/2008 in the UK Singles Top 75 and the last appearance was week 15/2009 in the UK Singles Top 75, World Singles Top 40, New Zealand Top 40, Canada Singles Top 100, US Singles Top 100, Australia Singles Top 50 and Portugal Singles Top 50. Its peak position was number 8, on the UK Singles Top 75, it stayed there for 2 weeks. Its highest entry was number 16 in the Canada Singles Top 100 and Norway Singles Top 20."

Find more about the single's exact numbers and statistics in different Music Hits Chart here.

The Lyrics:

[Akon]
When I see you (see you)
I run out of words (words) to say (aah aah)
I wouldn't leave you
'Cause you're that type of girl
to make me stay (oh oh)

I see the guys tryna' holla
Girl I don't wanna bother you
'Cause you're independent and you got my attention
Can I be your baby father
Girl I just wanna show you
That I love what you are doin' hun

I see you in the club
You gettin' down good
I wanna get with you, yeah
I see you in the club
You showin' thugs love
I wanna get with you

You're so beautiful
So damn beautiful
Said you're so beautiful
So damn beautiful

[Akon & Colby O'Donis]
You're so beautiful
beautiful
beautiful
beautiful
You're so beautiful
beautiful
beautiful
beautiful
You're so beautiful

[Colby O'Donis]
Like the clouds you
Drift me away, far away (yeah)
And like the sun you
Brighten my day, you brighten my day (yeah)
I never wanna see you cry cry cry
And I never wanna tell a you a lie lie lie
Said I never wanna see you cry cry cry
And I never wanna tell a u a lie lie lie

[Akon]
I see you in the club
You gettin' down good
I wanna get with you, yeah
I see you in the club
You showin' thugs love
I wanna get with you

You're so beautiful
So damn beautiful
Said you're so beautiful
So damn beautiful

[Akon & Colby O'Donis]
You're so beautiful
Beautiful
Beautiful
Beautiful
You're so beautiful
Beautiful
Beautiful
Beautiful

[Kardinal Offishall]
Kardinal told you
Whether the sky blue or yellow
This fella ain't that mellow
If it ain't about you (you)
Hourglass shape make the place go (ooohhh)
Waistline makes my soldier salute
I'mma brute (brute)
High from your high heel game
High heels push up ya ass last name
And you livin' in the fast lane
Eyes like an angel (goddess)
Watch my yellin' as she undress
Spotless (otless) bad to the bone
Make me wanna go put me in the triple X zone (zone)
Lames don't know how to talk to you
So let me walk with you, hold my hand
I'mma spend them grands, but after you undress
Not like a hooker, but more like a princess
Queen, empress, president
Pull any way ya got my love
'Cause your beautiful (okay??)

[Akon]
I see you in the club
You gettin' down good
I wanna get with you (ohh yeah)
I see you in the club
You showin' thugs love
I wanna get with you

You're so beautiful
So damn beautiful
Said you're so beautiful (so beautiful)
So damn beautiful (so beautiful)

Akon

Aliaune Thiam (born April 16, 1977), better known by his stage name Akon (pronounced /ˈeɪkɒn/), is a Wolof Senegalese-American hip hop singer-songwriter,rapper, and record producer. Akon rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of his single "Locked Up" from his debut album Trouble. His second album, Konvicted, earned him a Grammy Award nomination for the single "Smack That." He is the founder of two record labels, Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution. He is well known for singing hooks and has over 155 guest appearances and 23 Billboard Hot 100 songs to his credit. He is the first solo artist to ever accomplish the feat of holding both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice.

Akon's solo debut album, Trouble was released on June 29, 2004. It spawned the hit singles "Locked Up" and "Lonely", as well as "Belly Dancer (Bananza)", "Pot Of Gold", and "Ghetto." Akon allegedly served a three-year jail sentence for grand theft auto, an experience that supposedly inspired his "Locked Up." "Locked Up" reached the top 10 in the U.S. and the top five in the UK. His manager Robert Montanez was shot to death following a dispute in New Jersey in December 2005. "Ghetto" became a radio hit when it was remixed by Green Lantern to include verses from legendary rappers 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. In 2005, he released the single "Lonely" (which samples Bobby Vinton's "Mr. Lonely"). The song reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100, and topped the charts in Australia, the UK and Germany. His album also climbed to number one in the UK in April, 2005. When music channel The Box had a top ten weekly chart, which was calculated by the amount of video requests, Akon's "Lonely" became the longest running single on the top of the chart, spanning over fifteen weeks. Akon then released another single featuring with a New Zealand rapper, Savage with the single Moonshine, which had become a success in both New Zealand and Australia, becoming number one in the New Zealand charts. In 2005, Akon gained more popularity after being featured on Young Jeezy's debut album, Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, on the song "Soul Survivor."

Akon's second album, entitled Konvicted, was released on November 14, 2006. Konvicted included collaborations with Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Styles P. Late August 2006, Akon released the single "Smack That" featuring Eminem, from the album. This single peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks. The music video for "Smack That" was directed by Raymond Garced. "I Wanna Love You," the second single off Konvicted, was released in September 2006. It is a collaboration between Akon and Snoop Dogg. This single earned Akon his first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, and Snoop's second. "I Wanna Love You" topped the U.S. charts for two consecutive weeks. In January 2007, Akon released his third single "Don't Matter" which earned him his first solo number one and second consecutive Hot 100 chart topper. "Mama Africa" was released as a European single in July 2007, making it the fourth single. It debuted in the UK at number 47. "Sorry, Blame It on Me" is the album's fifth single which debuted in August 2007, on the Hot 100 at number seven, which also happened to be a career best. The song is not available on the original album, but instead part of the Deluxe Edition of Konvicted, which came out August 28, 2007. The sixth and final single was confirmed in an interview by Akon to be "Never Took the Time." Konvicted debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 286,000 copies in its first week. After only six weeks, Konvicted sold more than one million records in the U.S. and more than 1.3 million worldwide. The album was certified platinum after seven weeks, and after sixteen weeks it was certified double platinum. Konvicted was able to stay in the top twenty of the Billboard 200 for 28 consecutive weeks, where it peaked at number two on four different occasions. On November 20, 2007, the RIAA has certified the Konvicted album triple platinum status with 3 million units sold in th United States. Currently it has sold more than 4 million worldwide.

On October 5, 2006, Akon broke a record on the Hot 100, as he achieved the largest climb in the chart's 48-year-history with "Smack That" jumping from number 95 to 7. The leap is fueled by its number six debut on Hot Digital Songs with 67,000 downloads. The record was broken on April 7, 2007 by Beyoncé and Shakira's "Beautiful Liar" when it jumped from 94 to 3 on the Hot 100, because of their 150,000 digital downloads on the Hot Digital Songs.

In December 2006, Akon's "Smack That" was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards, but lost to Justin Timberlake and T.I.'s "My Love".

Akon co-produced Konvict Muzik artist Lady Gaga's first studio album The Fame and co-wrote & produced the worlwide smash-hit Just Dance which also featured Colby O'Donis, the track earned a Grammy nomination at the 51st Grammy Awards, which earned the both young Konvict Muzik artists there first Grammy Nominations and has reached #1 in more than 14 countries, including Australia, UK & the U.S.

Akon is the executive producer of Not 4 Sale, Kardinal Offishall's fourth solo album, which was released on September 9, 2008. The street track "Graveyard Shift" features Akon rapping, and Akon also appears on the first official single Dangerous, which peaked at #5 on The Billboard Hot 100 and is nominated for Single of The Year and the Juno Awards.

Akon released his new album Freedom on December 2, which spawned three singles: "Right Now (Na Na Na)", "I'm So Paid" (featuring Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy) and "Beautiful" (featuring Kardinal Offishall and Colby O'Donis). The album has reached gold status by selling over 500,000 albums.

Akon is also confirmed to feature in Flo Rida's upcoming album with the song "Available" which also features Will.i.am.

Rap singer Nelly confirmed that Akon, Pharrell and T-Pain have talked about forming a rap supergroup in 2009.

A new song by Akon called "Angel Eyes" featuring Play-N-Skillz has leaked onto the internet; the song's instrumental is clearly from the classic Kim Carnes song, "Bette Davis Eyes".