Popular 2000s singer arrested on outstanding warrant in Georgia

Akon was arrested on an outstanding warrant in the Atlanta metro area last week, according to local police.

The “Beautiful” singer was arrested in Chamblee, Georgia — which is roughly 14 miles north of Atlanta — on Friday, Nov. 7, according to a report from the Chamblee Police Department.

Officers responded to Tint World, located in the 3600 block of Chamblee Dunwoody Road, just after 11 a.m., after they were alerted that a car registered to someone with a warrant was at the business.

Akon was found standing outside the vehicle, where police confirmed the car was registered to him and that he was wanted on a warrant issued by the Roswell Police Department. The “Smack That” singer acknowledged the warrant and was taken into custody, according to the police report. Akon was released several hours later.

Details from the Roswell Police Department indicate that this arrest stemmed from Akon’s run-in with law enforcement earlier this year.

MassLive obtained a copy of the original warrant, which was issued on Sept. 10 after officers found Akon stranded because the battery of his Tesla Cybertruck died. A check of the truck’s registration initially showed no valid insurance and that Akon was driving on a suspended license going back to Jan. 2, 2023, per the warrant.

At the time, police issued Akon a citation, confiscated his license, and returned it to the Georgia Department of Driver Services pending its reinstatement, according to the warrant. Police also seized an illegal vape found in the truck’s center console.

Akon, whose birth name is Aliaune Badara Thiam, rose to fame following the release of his single “Locked Up” in 2004. He saw continued success with his debut album “Trouble,” which also spawned the hits “Lonely” and “Belly Dancer (Bananza).”

Akon received a Grammy nomination for his 2006 sophomore album “Konvicted.” The album’s success was supported by the hit singles “I Wanna Love You” and “Smack That,” which both received Grammy nominations for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and were certified triple platinum by the RIAA.

Akon’s third album, “Freedom,” contained the top ten hit “Right Now (Na Na Na)” as well as the top 40 singles ”I’m So Paid“ and ”Beautiful.” He has since experienced a significant commercial decline with the release of his fourth and fifth albums, “El Negreeto” and “Akonda,” which were both released in 2019.