
Little more than a month ago, The Smoking Gun published an article claiming Akon manufactured most of his past as the ringleader of a "notorious" car-theft ring and that he didn't spend four and a half years in prison, as he's claimed. Instead, the Web site reported, Akon spent only a few months in an Atlanta jail for stealing a single car, according to police, court and corrections records.
The story raised some serious doubts about the stories Akon has been repeating in interviews for years and about his background as a hard-hitting thug who once owned and operated four chop shops that catered to "celebrities and drug dealers." But did Akon spend years in prison, fighting off other inmates on an almost-daily basis, as he's claimed over and over again?
On Tuesday, MTV News sat down with Akon to discuss The Smoking Gun's report. And while he didn't come right out and debunk the article or corroborate his accounts of a criminal past, he said he believes the claims have done little to hurt his rep.
"It's an article," he said. "Everyone's entitled to their own opinions and views. At the end of the day, the Konvict movement is keeping me out of jail. It's nothing I want to glorify or go back to. Honestly, I'm glad something like that came out, because it opens the minds of other people who're thinking positive.
"We're doing so many positive things," 'Kon continued. "To go back and focus and put energy on negative things like that, to try to discredit an artist, it makes no sense to me. If there was a motive for it, it would be worth entertaining. I'd rather keep it the way it is and leave the article out there. It only helps me. It's not something I was trying to glorify or turn back to. It was something I was trying to forget. Actually, it worked out for me in a positive way."
Akon is still working on Acquitted, the follow-up to 2006's Konvicted. The album was originally slated for release this month, but those plans have been scrapped.

It seems that Foxy Brown is thoroughly unhappy with her most recent release, Brooklyn's Don Diva - so much so that she sent Miss Info a statement explaining the situation.
In her statement, Foxy explained that Brooklyn's Don Diva is a mixtape street album, released in anticipation of her upcoming fourth studio album, Black Roses.
According to Foxy, Brooklyn's Don Diva was compiled without her permission while she was in prison. "I heard this CD in its entirety for the first time just days ago and was devastated," she wrote in her statement. "Riddled with grief over an album that was seemingly so carelessly orchestrated, I sat down with the president of Koch to come to a decision on how to make the best of this situation. In another phase of my life and career I would have dealt with this situation with litigation, but for the benefit of my fans and in the wake of the profound spiritual cleansing I recently underwent in prison, I made the decision to settle our creative difference amicably. My fans have waited seven years for an in-store release and deserve my very best."
Apparently the "spiritual cleansing" which is causing Foxy Brown to be dissatisfied with her new album also led a management change. Chaz Williams spoke exclusively to Lenny S, Maya "The Brasilianaire" Medena and Big Lite about what appears to be an amicable split between Foxy and his Blackhand Management team.
The rapper then revealed that next month, Koch Records will be re-releasing Brooklyn's Don Diva with five new records, videos, publicity, mass-marketing and promotion.
Foxy added that she believes "Koch and I will deliver the biggest street album in female rap history."

Congratulations to Tameka “Tiny” Cottle and her man T.I. She gave birth to a beautiful baby boy around 12:48 AM (5/16)! He weighed in at around 5 pounds. Tiny and T.I. named the baby Major.

According to
Sandra Rose:
Champion boxer Floyd Mayweather was the in-studio guest on Hot 107.9 yesterday. Mayweather surprised everyone when he quit the sport of boxing live on the air!
He said he was “tired” from the stress of boxing. But the most shocking moment came when Mayweather promised to “whup Reggie Bush’s ass” for taking Kim Kardashian away from him! Lawd, why would anyone want to fight over THAT?
He said after he whups Reggie, he will “woo Kim” by buying her a red ferrarri with a red ribbon tied around it. It must be love (or too many left jabs to the dome).
Hot 107.9’s Mizz Shyneka has a knack for getting stars to open up and tell ALL they bidnezz on the air!