{"id":1223622,"date":"2022-10-13T15:02:53","date_gmt":"2022-10-13T15:02:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/10\/13\/akon-admits-he-used-his-brothers-as-body-doubles-when-he-was-overbooked-on-shows\/"},"modified":"2022-10-13T15:02:53","modified_gmt":"2022-10-13T15:02:53","slug":"akon-admits-he-used-his-brothers-as-body-doubles-when-he-was-overbooked-on-shows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/10\/13\/akon-admits-he-used-his-brothers-as-body-doubles-when-he-was-overbooked-on-shows\/","title":{"rendered":"Akon admits he used his brothers as body doubles when he was overbooked on shows"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Akon is an R&B legend, if we\u2019ve ever seen one. But his latest admission might have just made him that little bit more iconic.<\/p>\n

Appearing on\u00a0The Morning Hustle<\/em>\u00a0radio show last week, the\u00a0Locked Up<\/strong>\u00a0hitmaker was told that T-Pain previously alleged that Akon\u2019s brother was used as a body double when he was overbooked on shows.<\/p>\n

The 49-year-old record producer has said that Akon had so many shows offers coming in during the peak of his career as a performer that he \u201ccould not leave\u00a0all this money\u00a0on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Akon
Akon revealed that his brother was used as a body double when he was overbooked on shows. Credit: Sipa US\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So, the entrepreneur did what any person with a look-a-like sibling would do, and asked his brother, Abou Thiam, to step in for him.<\/p>\n

When asked if those rumours were true, Akon, born Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam, admitted to doing so on some occasions.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me clear some things up so we all know. \u2018Bu was my double. He was, yes. This was before the internet,\u201d he reassured listeners, who surely would have been able to tell in today\u2019s\u00a0social media-centric climate whether the Akon they were watching was the real thing. \u201cIf you saw \u2018Bu in one place and you saw me, you couldn\u2019t tell the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Akon
Akon admitted that Abou Thiam would often wear a hat when he posed as him. Credit: The Photo Access\/Alamy Stock Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Akon went on to explain \u201cBu started off as my hype man when we were on the road. We were booked so [much], and I was like, \u2018man, all this money I\u2019m leaving on the table. We cannot leave all this money on the table\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

While his brother has since gone on to become the Executive Vice President of Columbia Records \u2013 who manages the likes of Harry Styles, Lil Nas X and\u00a0Beyonc\u00e9, as well as launching his own label BUVISION \u2013 Akon admitted that \u201cBu can\u2019t sing himself\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe can\u2019t do none of that,\u201d Akon joked of his sibling, also revealing that there was one other subtle way fans could have told the difference between the two.<\/p>\n

\u201cBack then nobody knew that\u2019s how you could tell the difference, \u2018Bu wears hats, I don\u2019t.\u201d When Bu [would] wear the hat, you can\u2019t tell!\u201d<\/p>\n

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African brothers with the double finesse \ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23 pic.twitter.com\/2xOzUZVnhU<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 \u24d8 This user \uea00 (@ItsLymax) October 11, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Meanwhile, his other brother, Omar, also wanted in on the action \u2013 and actually took it upon himself to imitate Akon without his permission.<\/p>\n

\u201cOmar, he would do it without getting permission from me or Bu. Omar would be in another country, another city getting money, and I\u2019d be like, \u2018what? They booked me already!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n