Single Review: Akon – ‘Hypnotized’
1 min read
From his upcoming 2016 album Stadium, R n B mogul Akon brings us his latest single, Hypnotized. A pleasant little ditty with a contagious beat and some seriously processed vocals, the song comes very much out of the blue for the rapper, who for the past few years has released music sporadically, if at all. Despite being certified platinum countless times over, Akon has been noticeably quiet as of late, and this release is a welcome return to his A-game.
The single opens with tinny vocals and a deliciously rolling, almost tropical rhythm, before morphing into a full-blown club banger. There are some playful little lyrical moments hidden in the bridge, and Akon seems only too willing to show off some skilful vocal acrobatics throughout the course of the song. “Why you gotta leave me hypnotised?” he croons, barely audible through some very heavy autotune. But then again, this is the man who holds the Guinness World Record as the #1 selling artist for master ringtones in the world: autotune, and made-for-the-masses pop, is his selling point.
It’s radio-friendly, memorable and sure to get stuck in listener’s heads. If anything, this could signal Akon’s return to the Top 40 for the first time in years.
