Akon: The Truth About My Multiple Wives & The Real Cost of Fame

We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson

FlightStory

Relationships, Society & Culture, Leisure

4.7 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 19 May 2026

⏱️ 106 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Akon reflects on the life behind some of the biggest songs of the 2000s, and the choices, controversies and turning points that shaped him long before global fame. He opens up about growing up between Senegal and the US, the criminal world he entered before music, and the prison sentence that he believes saved his life. Akon shares how ‘Locked Up’ began behind bars, why music became his way out, and how he learned to turn pain, business instinct and controversy into worldwide success. The conversation also explores his views on polyamory, having multiple wives, and why he believes honesty, rules and communication are essential in that dynamic. He also reflects on his friendship with Michael Jackson, the side of him the public rarely saw, and the questions he still has about his passing. Akon looks back on the moments that made him, the mistakes that nearly ended him, and the legacy he is still trying to build. Akon, We Need To Talk Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod Sign up to our newsletter https://linkly.link/2eXHX Follow Akon here: https://www.instagram.com/akon/ https://www.tiktok.com/@akon (00:00) Intro (01:38) Akon Addresses The Hamster Ball (06:29) Touring With Ne-Yo (07:52) Why Akon’s Audience Isn’t Who You’d Expect (15:11) Opening The Door For Artists Like Wizkid (20:15) Every Song Had To Be Ringtone Friendly (22:26) Mr Lonely Changed Everything (26:53) The Blackout That Changed Akon’s Purpose (30:53) ID Mobile Ad (33:06) Akon’s Relationship With Michael Jackson (45:20) Growing Up Between Senegal And America (48:13) Selling Stolen Cars To Fund Music Career (55:50) How Jail Changed Akon’s Life Forever (01:04:58) Huel Ad (01:06:06) What Still Pains Akon Today? (01:08:12) “I Say Ignorant Things On Purpose” (01:11:32) What Is Akon’s Real Name? (01:16:43) Akon Explains His Polyamorous Life (01:32:22) Akon Talks About His New Album (01:36:46) Most Memorable Conversation (01:42:32) Paul’s Takeaways Sponsored by: iD Mobile: Ditch the texts and ‘Make it a Call’ - your voice is more powerful than you thinkhttps://www.idmobile.co.uk/make-it-a-call?affiliate=marketing%7CYouTube_Display%7CMakeItACall_Brand&utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Display&utm_campaign=MakeItACall&utm_content=Brand Huel - http://Huel.com/WNTT with code WNTT for £10 off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	You believe in polyamory.
0:01.3	So then Acon, can you say, how many wives do you have?
0:05.0	I'm serious.
0:08.0	Yo, because I like you and you are my brother.
0:16.0	Not only are you a musician, artist, but also I'm a businessman.
0:20.0	I just wanted to be rich. But the problem is, popularity comes with a cost.
0:23.6	Like Michael Jackson is my boy.
0:25.6	But I just feel like there's a lot of holes on the explanation of his death.
0:29.6	So as your power and influence grows, do you ever fear a threat against your life?
0:36.6	My goal was some Richard Dye trying literally. It was stealing cars. Yeah, and now I'm in jail. That's what inspired me, man, to do this, man. Because I feel like this ain't the life I would have lived. When I was in there, I would just write on strength. So now, every time a guard would walk past, we would sing the song out together. They're locked up, they won't let me out, bitch, they won't let me out a lot.
0:57.3	That's what I realized, okay. pass, we would sing the song out together. Locked up, they won't let me out, bitch,
0:55.0	they won't let me out a lot. That's when I realized, okay, music is just a vehicle for me to do what I need to do. Alright, so I didn't know we would get into this topic. Right. But we got it, I mean, we're here. We're here. We need to talk. I'm giving you my word today. You'll be the one I give the exclusive to me.
1:13.4	Hey there.
1:15.7	Before we begin the episode, I just want to say,
1:17.8	thank you for choosing we need to talk.
1:21.5	Doing this podcast is one of the greatest joys of my life.
1:23.9	And I want to continue to share it with you. So hit follow and the bell icon.
1:26.7	It takes just a second, and it helps us to continue to grow this podcast.
1:35.3	Now, do you know what I think the first thing that I heard about you and Neo on tour was I saw clips.
1:46.4	You know what I saw clips of?
1:47.8	Oh yeah, me and the past the bar.
1:52.0	You know, I've been doing that since 2008.
	...

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