Akon‘s latest single "Smack That" rose from No. 95
to No. 7 on last week’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart–the largest surge in
Billboard’s 48-year history. "My [challenge] was never getting a hit record.
Now that I got one, it’s easy. I know exactly what the crowd wants to hear,"
Akon said. "If anything, I’m going to have pressure off this one. How I’m
going to top that is the next question at the end of the day. I just feel like
as long as I’m working hard, and putting out good music, it shouldn’t be a problem."

The jump was spurred by its No. 6 debut on the Hot Digital Songs chart. With
67,000 downloads sold in its first week, "Smack That" became one the
top 10 fastest growing songs at Top 40 radio and is the No. 1 most added song
at rhythmic and crossover.

Its Billboard showing beats the previous record set in February by Vanessa
Hudgens, Zac Efron and Andrew Seeley’s "Breaking Free," which climbed
from No. 86 to No. 4. "Smack That" isn’t the only Akon record impacting
the charts, as his Snoop Dogg– assisted "I Wanna Love
You" is also breaking in. Both singles are from Akon’s upcoming sophomore
album Konvicted.

While topping the success of those singles may pose a future concern, Akon
doesn’t seem worried. Fans can expect more big things down the road from Akon,
who is planning a movie called Illegal Alien, based on his life. The crooner
considered actor Mekhi Phifer as the perfect choice to play him. "If people
really knew my story, they’d be looking at me a whole other way," said
Akon. "It’s like City Of God/Menace II Society/Ray all in one movie. Like,
a lot of people didn’t know my uncle tied me to the train tracks when I was
a kid. He literally tried to kill me because I wouldn’t give him any money.
I am from a whole other culture. There’s a lot of good things in it–and a lot
of bad things."

Although films are on the horizon, Akon is also focused on creating a full
album with rapper Young Jeezy, as well as musical ventures
with his record labels. "Right now I’ve got Upfront [with Devyne Stephens],
and we’re doing this up under SRC now as a joint venture with Universal. Then
I have Konvict at Jive, where I’ve got T-Pain, whose album
is dropping in 2007, and I’ve got Dolla too," said the
singer, who recently worked in the studio with Elton John and
Gwen Stefani. "But the mothership of all the labels is
at Interscope, which is KLD, Kon Live Distribution. I just signed Chilli
[of TLC] on that situation. The records I got on that girl, y’all better
be ready. We’ve also got Earl Ray on that situation. He says what R&B cats
wanna say. He doesn’t beat around the bush."