Studio Album · No. 3

Freedom Songwriting Credits by Akon

2008 Konvict Muzik / UpFront Records / SRC Records / Universal Motown 13 tracks 55 min

Produced by Akon, Giorgio Tuinfort, Jaylien, K-Figz, Detail, T-Pain, Frank Romano, RedOne, Hakim Abdulsamad, LoGiC

Konvict Muzik / UpFront Records / SRC Records / Universal Motown PopR&BDance-Pop
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 13 of 13 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 13 / 13 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 13 tracks with documented writers, by whether Akon carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
13 trackswritten by Akon 0 tracksoutside writers
Akon's roles on this album

Share of the 13 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

13
Tracks
19
Lyricists
10
Producers
782,000+
US Copies Sold
2008
Released
Data Insight

Freedom pushes Akon toward pop and dance, bringing in RedOne among the producers while Akon still co-writes and produces much of the record. The singles "Right Now (Na Na Na)" and "Beautiful" leaned into euphoric club-pop, with "Right Now" reaching the Hot 100 top 10. It captures his late-2000s run as both a hitmaker and one of pop's most in-demand hook singers.

Akon's third album, released on December 1, 2008 after a recording run that began that May. It was going to be called Acquitted until his label settled on Freedom, and it is his only album that carries no Parental Advisory sticker. RedOne, Giorgio Tuinfort, and T-Pain push the sound toward dance-pop, and a leaked duet with Michael Jackson called "Hold My Hand" was left off the final track list. It debuted at number seven with 111,000 copies and had sold 782,000 in the US by July 2011.

Track Listing & Credits 13 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Right Now (Na Na Na) #8
Aliaune Thiam Aliaune Thiam AkonGiorgio Tuinfort Akon
2
Beautiful #19
Aliaune ThiamJaylien WesleyColby O'Donis ColónJason Harrow Aliaune ThiamJaylien WesleyColby O'Donis ColónJason Harrow AkonJaylien AkonColby O'DonisKardinal Offishall
3
Keep You Much Longer
Aliaune ThiamGiorgio TuinfortMark "Exit" Goodchild Aliaune ThiamGiorgio TuinfortMark "Exit" Goodchild AkonGiorgio Tuinfort Akon
4
Troublemaker
Aliaune ThiamTimothy Walls Aliaune ThiamTimothy Walls AkonK-Figz AkonSweet Rush
5
We Don't Care
Aliaune ThiamGiorgio TuinfortClaude Kelly Aliaune ThiamGiorgio TuinfortClaude Kelly AkonGiorgio Tuinfort Akon
6
I'm So Paid #31
Aliaune ThiamNoel FisherDwayne Carter Jr.Jay Jenkins Aliaune ThiamNoel FisherDwayne Carter Jr.Jay Jenkins AkonDetail AkonLil WayneYoung Jeezy
7
Holla Holla
Aliaune ThiamFaheem NajmFrank RomanoDavid "Preach" Balfour Aliaune ThiamFaheem NajmFrank RomanoDavid "Preach" Balfour AkonT-PainFrank Romano AkonT-Pain
8
Against the Grain
Aliaune ThiamNadir KhayatE. Lavender Aliaune ThiamNadir KhayatE. Lavender AkonRedOne AkonRay Lavender
9
Be with You
Aliaune ThiamHakim Abdulsamad Aliaune ThiamHakim Abdulsamad AkonHakim Abdulsamad Akon
10
Sunny Day
Aliaune ThiamNadir KhayatLamont ColemanNeluset Jean Aliaune ThiamNadir KhayatLamont ColemanNeluset Jean AkonRedOneLoGiC AkonWyclef Jean
11
Birthmark
Aliaune ThiamGiorgio TuinfortNoel Fisher Aliaune ThiamGiorgio TuinfortNoel Fisher AkonGiorgio TuinfortDetail Akon
12
Over the Edge
Aliaune ThiamGiorgio TuinfortClaude Kelly Aliaune ThiamGiorgio TuinfortClaude Kelly AkonGiorgio Tuinfort Akon
13
Freedom
Aliaune ThiamGiorgio TuinfortNoel Fisher Aliaune ThiamGiorgio TuinfortNoel Fisher AkonGiorgio Tuinfort Akon

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 33 contributors

AT
Aliaune Thiam
Writer
On this album13 written
GT
Giorgio Tuinfort
Writer · Producer
On this album5 written
NF
Noel Fisher
Writer
On this album3 written
CK
Claude Kelly
Writer
On this album2 written
NK
Nadir Khayat
Writer
On this album2 written
FR
Frank Romano
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
HA
Hakim Abdulsamad
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
CO
Colby O'Donis Colón
Writer
On this album1 written
D"
David "Preach" Balfour
Writer
On this album1 written
DC
Dwayne Carter Jr.
Writer
On this album1 written
EL
E. Lavender
Writer
On this album1 written
FN
Faheem Najm
Writer
On this album1 written

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Frequently Asked Questions Freedom

Who wrote Right Now (Na Na Na) by Akon?
"Right Now (Na Na Na)" was co-written by Akon with producers including Giorgio Tuinfort and RedOne. It was the lead single from Freedom and reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Did Akon write and produce Freedom?
Akon co-wrote and produced much of the album, working with producers like RedOne, Giorgio Tuinfort, and T-Pain. His writing and hooks drive the record's pop and dance direction.
Who is featured on Beautiful by Akon?
"Beautiful" features Colby O'Donis and Kardinal Offishall. It was a single from Freedom and reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.
How did Freedom by Akon perform commercially?
Freedom debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and was certified multi-Platinum in the UK. It sold around 782,000 copies in the US by 2011.
When was Freedom by Akon released?
Freedom was released in December 2008 through Konvict Muzik and Universal Motown. It was his third studio album.
What genre is Freedom by Akon?
Freedom is a pop and R&B album with strong dance-pop leanings. It reflects Akon's late-2000s move toward euphoric, club-ready production.

Sources

Wikipedia: Freedom (Akon album) MusicBrainz: Freedom release group Cover Art Archive: Freedom front cover Cover Art Archive: Freedom by Akon