Kon Man: Akon Tickets Out Now

We’ve leaked out the news before that Akon is coming to perform in Beijing on November 4. Now the tickets are available! Call 400 610 3721 or click here. The minimum you need to pay to get in MasterCard Center with him is RMB 280, but the cheap seats are probably already sold out by the time you read this. If you are dying to show how supportive you are, RMB 1,680 VIP tickets are your best choice.

We were so excited about this occasion that we threw him a huge pile of questions. but so busy is Akon, he only had time to answer five of them. Unless our questions were “too personal” for him.

Anyway, here’s the Q&A with Akon – scroll down for the questions that he refused to entertain.

What inspires you to be so prolific a recording artist/producer?
Travelling has given me lots of inspiration to my music. My past experience has affected and will always affect my music. Music is the way to express oneself.

You've done a lot of travelling with your music - why so long to come to China?
I always wanted to have a concert in China. We actually planed to come to China a few years ago, but the show was canceled. But I'm lucky; I finally have a chance to perform in China. The only regret will be that I won't have enough time to tour around these cities.

How do you feel being responsible for unleashing Lady Gaga onto the world?
Gaga has her unique personality and outstanding voice. We just needed to help her find a suitable music style. Once we found that, she could bring out her advantages and turn into this super star Gaga that you see today. Her creativity is incomparable. I was shocked by her talent too. I can't wait to see what she's going to do next.

How does it feel to have been the last artist to release a record with Michael Jackson?
I respect every artist. But Michael Jackson was indeed an iconic figure. Ever since I started my musical career my dream was to cooperate with him, can't believe I did that in less than five years. Then I needed to sit down and think: OK, what's my next dream? He's the kind of person that I hope to work with more often. He wants to make the kind of music that can heal the world, but now he's left us, it's such a tragedy.

Is there anyone that you haven't yet worked with that you would like to?
I hope that I can work with U2.

Exciting stuff. Now here are the questions that Akon would not entertain

• What would you do if your next album sold only twelve copies?
• How do your children like your music? Have they seen the video of "I Just Had Sex?"
• What's the loneliest you have ever been?
• What would you like to smack right now?
• What's your biggest fear?
• When was the last time you felt locked up?
• Would you change any of your past if you could?
• Would you ever send one of your brothers on tour so you didn't have to go?
• What do you miss from Senegal? Yassa or maffae, perhaps?
• Why are you so protective about your birth date?
• How did you get a diamond mine in South Africa?
• How did you become a fan of Chelsea FC? Who would you be willing to buy for them?
• How do you feel about being nominated for Grammy and MTV awards so many times but not winning yet?
• You've collaborated with a lot of international acts - have you any plans to collaborate with a Chinese musician?
• Do you think that a time will come for Akon to release music that is Chinese influenced?
• How does it feel when artists on your label win Grammy Awards?
• You have a good sense of what people like, what do you like? Who is the next big thing? Who's your favorite musician of all time?
• You've made moves in films, music and clothes already - what's next for Akon?

This might be the reason that Akon didn't have time to answer all of the questions.

Photo: Courtesy of the organizers