Akon Goes Country, "I Already Got My First Hit"

Singer, songwriter, rapper and producer Akon has just about done it all in the music industry. Now, the go-to-guy for hit-making hooks is entering uncharted territory. Country music.

"I'm bout to break into a genre that no black artist, producer or writer ever broke into, ever," Akon announced excitedly at the BBC radio station 1 Extra in the UK recently. "And the funniest part about it is, I'm goin in with an alias and I already got my first hit record."

There have been other African-Americans who've tried their hand at country, namely Ray Charles, but Akon said what he plans to do for the genre will set him apart.

"I'm tryin to break in, I'm not just tryin to go in," he said.

But the artist was mum on his country alter ego and wouldn't talk more about that "hit record" either.

"If I tell you, then they gon' shut it down," he said. "I just gotta go on until I accept that Grammy one day."

In related news, an Akon concert erupted into violence last month after a fire alarm set off panic among thousands of fans at a Danish mall. Eight people were arrested.