Customer Reviews

Trouble

5 star:		(99)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Like most people, I got my first Akon experience with Bananza (Belly Dancer), a fresh, original dance track with an infectious beat. The next track that grabbed my attention was the unusual sampling of Bobby Vinton's hit on "Lonely".

Originally from Senegal, Akon (formerly Aliaune Thiam) blends his heritage, his inherited musical talent and the experiences of a troubled youth, into an exciting debut album of hip hop and R&B.

His strength is in the soulful R&B songs, his unique accent giving the lyrics an extra edge, but his rapping isn't too bad either.

Despite the x-rated lyrics on Gangsta (featuring Daddy T. Picklehead and Devyne), it has a compelling driving beat, and is one of the better songs on the album. Other picks are "Locked Up", "Ghetto", "Pot of Gold", "Show Out" and "Trouble Nobody".

The version I have has 15 tracks, corresponding to the listing on the UK album. There are two extra versions of "Locked Up" and the bonus song "Gunshot", which has a catchy Caribbean style chorus.

An excellent debut album from a young man finally on the right side of the tracks.

Amanda Richards, June 2, 2005

I heard Locked Up on the radio and i hated it! It wasn't until i heard the song Bananza (Belly Dancer) when i decided to check his cd out... I listened to it in the mall an downloaded all 12 tracks as soon as i got home... Heres my thoughts on the album*

1. Locked Up- 8/10 It took some time for me to like it, but Akons voice really saves this song...

2. Trouble Nodody- 10/10 I liked this song the first time i heard it, great track!

3. Bananza (Belly Dancer)- 10/10 One of my favorite songs on the cd!!!

4. Gangsta- 5/10 It's the worst song on the album, the verses are terrible...

5. Ghetto- 10/10 Amazing song, the course is great!!!

6. Pot Of Gold- 6/10 Not sure about this song...

7. Show Out- 9/10 Fun song, ...show ouT!!

8. Lonely- 10/10 I listen to this song every day... "Cus ain't nowhere in the globe i'd rather be, an ain't nowone in the globe i'd rather see, then the girl of my dreams that makes me be, so happy but now i'm so lonely"!!!!!!! LOVE IT!!

9. When The Time's Right- 7/10 ..ok, but the lyrics suck!

10. Journy- 10/10 Just another great song on the album...

11. Don't Let Up- 10/10 Tight beat, great vocals, even better lyrics!!!

12. Easy Road- 10/10 cool way to end the album...

AKON's ON TOP!!!

Akon's cd "Trouble" was awesome from beginnin to the end. I really cannot stand todays r&b.. but Akon bring's it fresh with a different and unique singing style complimented by that nerve-calming West Indian accent.. and at the same time, the cd comes off gangsta to you.. it almost doesn't seem possible, but for once there is actually a hard r&b cat, whose music is worthwhile. particularly, "Ghetto" stood out as a heartfelt gangsta ballad.. while tracks like "Journey" can undoubtedly get it crunked. All in all, Akon's cd "Trouble" is not a con. it is worth your money.. At least now i know what im gonna be bumpin at the start of this school year. Hell yeah!

I happen to find this album in a store for $8.99, and I knew I loved the song Bananza so I decided to pick up the CD. I knew I could not beat the price. Well this album actually surprised me, and it's really, really good. Unlike some of the other reviewers I never heard the song Locked up until I listened to the CD. I don't listen to the radio because I'm sick of hearing the same songs, over, and over, and over again.

Akon has a nice melodious voice. You hear his voice, and you instantly think Caribbean, but he is singing some really meaningful R&B songs. He also produced all the songs on his debut CD. He does not sound like anyone else out there, which makes me appreciate his material that much more. The songs he sings are about different phases in his life. He has lived a tough life. So he gives you a peek into his life through his songs. This album makes you sit up and take notice when you listen to the words. It's very refreshing to hear an album that is not laced with lyrics full of sexual innuendo, and the materialistic life. This brother is singing about being in jail, and life after. The song I love the most is Bananza. I remember hearing that song in 2003, and it took me about a two weeks to finally find out who this brother was. He was getting radio play, but I could never catch the name if the Artist. That's my favorite song to workout too when I'm jogging along the trail I jog on.

My favorite songs are:

3. Bananza

4. Gangta

5. Ghetto

7. Show Out

9. When the Time is right

10. Journey

12. Easy road

This album is a good first effort, and if you pick it up you won't be disappointed.

I'm not really into R&B but I definitely made an exception with Akon's "Trouble"

First heard Akon on BET with Styles P. "Locked up" and I was hooked after that. I just had to check this dude out. Picked up his CD shortafter and I was just amazed at how good the CD was. It's one of those CDs you buy with no regrets afterwards, which is very rare nowadays.

Touching, soothing, and moving songs with meaningful lyrics and most of all: It's real, no fake sh*t here.

Favorite tracks are: 13) Locked up Remix, 5) Ghetto (awesome track), 6) Pot of Gold, 10) Journey, and 8) Lonely

If you've downloaded/heard some of his songs and enjoyed them, try buying his CD. A quality CD like this really deserves your support.

Akon is like a breath of fresh air, it's something new to listen to instead of the crappy, meaningless hiphop music that's out nowadays. Definitely looking forward to this guy in the future.

when i first heard locked up, i loved it. my brother on the other hand hated it. he told me that his friends said that it was a terrible cd and that akon is going to go broke. well that was a huge lie. i decided to buy it even though it only had 12 songs. after all i am so happy it only has 12 songs because if he would have added more than it would have became a filler cd. there is only one song that you cant listen to when your pumped up and hyper. that song is pot of gold. it starts off with locked up, the regular version, and goes straight to trouble. trouble is one of my 3 favortie songs. after that it flows into bonanza (belly dancer). at is a great song for when your hyper. it makes you want to shake it! after that we got gangsta(top 3)....now you have to let this grow on you. it took me a couple of listens to like it. then ghetto. this song is amazing! it really flows into the life of the ghetto its amazing because every word is true. then pot of gold, i dont like this to much.then show out which is great. then lonely which is top 3 material also. lonely has a little chip monk voice in the background. "when the times right" is another banger you also have to let this grow. dont just skip it....give it a try. the journey is another amazing track.....listen to the words that he says in this song. dont let up is another great track...then there is easy road....everyone should like this one...it has a catchy chorus. locked up remix is a bonus track.
overall its definatly a 10/10 cd! run out and buy it right now !akon is real in everything that he says from shaking it, to how rough it is in the ghetto

This album is definitly banging. Akon is a fresh voice and his african accent gives his flow a caribbean feel. This dude is gangsta as well, no fake sh**. Go cop this album.GO GET THIS, SUPPORT REAL TALENT.

Akon's debut album "Trouble" (2004) is decent. As an artist he brings something different with a somewhat unique voice that can catch your attention. The first track "Locked Up" has a soulful Akon telling a story of being in jail and wanting to get out and move on, I am sure some people who have strayed on the wrong paths in there life can relate with this one. Akon addresses the life of a convict who is trying to make it on the title track "Trouble". Not much into, "Bananaz" (Belly Dancer) a track about the ladies, find it bland, also feel same way about the next one. Akon drops a standout sad sounding cut with "Ghetto" a track about dealing with self destructive street life and finding a better way. "Pot of Gold" is an upbeat track, where Akon talks about being strong and overcoming lifes obstacles. "Lonely" is about losing a special girl and wanting to get her back, the background sample is funny. Akon travels on "Journey", which is followed up by the relaxed "Dont Let Up". The album closes off with the bonus track "Locked Up" (Remix) feat. Styles P of the Lox. This is actually the track that drew my attention to this album, like this collabration. Akon to me is clearly a R & B singer even though this album has been mislabeled as a Rap album. The difference with him is he talks about some topics your average singer does not and brings a different sound while handling the majority of production himself. That said theres alot of tracks I skip over, but a few do standout making "Trouble" an album I recommend checking out. I think R & B fans will appreciate it more then Rap fans.

I first got this CD only because I briefly saw a commercial for it, and I heard the song locked up. I thought that would probably be the only song I liked but, the entire CD is strong. Stand out joints are "Journey" and "Ghetto."

This is definately worth your money, his r&b is different from today's bubble-gum hiphop, and takes you back to the days when hiphop was at it's prime. Soul with thug passion makes a great CD.

Represent'n NEWARK New Jersey.

Senegalese born American Akon might not have the greatest voice in the music industry but it's very unique and always very pleasant to listen to. Akon mixes R&B and Rap and he sound like rapper turned soul singer, his laid back way of singing is one of a kind, his voice make me think of a reggae singer, but he clearly isn't. He's also singing about his personal experiences and not jewelry, cars and women like the average rapper. Akon sings about sitting in jail, chosing te right path in life and loneliness without a woman. Akon's cover of Bobby Vinton's classic ballad "Mr Lonely" is the best song of this album. He takes it to new hights with making a uptempo song out of it. "Trouble" and "Journey" are also great songs that I enjoy and also "Locked Up" that is about his time in jail. Unfortunately this album is a bit uneven. Some of the faster party songs are not that good, and it feels more and more like he's rapping on them. "Bananza" and "Ghetto" are pretty average and "When the Time's Right" is forgettable. However, I think there is a place for Akon in the music world. He got his own style and he's interesting to listen to. Very good lyrically and a special voice. 3/5