So this is what Akon meant when he said he was going country?
Akon is back at it again, teasing more of his “country” music, but this time he has collaborated with a major country group. Earlier this year, Akon shared with TMZ that although it seemed he had been MIA from the music scene, he was hard at work behind the scenes re-recording his catalog with a country flair.
“I’m actually redoing my whole catalog in country. The whole catalog, I’m not even joking. We’ve already started. It’s been an idea for years, like, forever. Starting next month you’re gonna start seeing all the releases.”
Um, okay. But did anyone ask for this?
Akon blew up on the rap scene in the early 2000s, breaking onto the scene in 2004 with his debut record, Trouble, which was home to his song “Locked Up.” In 2006, Akon received Grammy nominations for “I Wanna Love You” (featuring Snoop Dogg) and “Smack That” (featuring Eminem), which were number one and two on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.
Before breaking out in his solo career, he was featured on numerous songs from artists like Michael Jackson, Dr. Dre, Eminem, T-Pain, Gwen Stefani, Lil Wayne, and many more, if that gives you any indication of his track record and the caliber of people he collaborates with.
But it appears he’s downgrading who he collaborates with as he embarked on his country career. Akon is expanding his country career, teaming up with another famed 2000s group, Rascal Flatts.
Last night, the “I Like The Sound Of That” singer, Gary LeVox, shared a snippet of their tune, noting it’s “collab you didn’t know you needed.”
“Summer 2005 gave us ‘Smack That’ and ‘Life Is a Highway’… We’re back in 2025 with a new one. Me + AKON?
The collab you didn’t know you needed is finally here!”
@garylevoxofficial Summer 2005 gave us “Smack That” and “Life Is a Highway”… We’re back in 2025 with a new one. Me + @AKON ? The collab you didn’t know you needed is finally here! 👀 #HoldTheUmbrella Pre-save link coming soon! #miamibeach #newsong ♬ original sound – Gary LeVox
Didn’t know we needed this? Oh, Gary… we know, we all know that we most definitely do NOT need this.
From the short snippet posted of LeVox singing, nothing about this song is country. The tune’s melody sounds like it was created solely on a computer, and while the lyrics might have a Jimmy Buffett flair, they sound like your run-of-the-mill Miami bop. If they plan to market “Hold The Umbrella” as a country song, that’s a miss.
Some fans loved the preview of this collaboration, and many others (most of them) were left wondering how it came to be. Don’t get me wrong; both of these artists were a big part of my childhood, but I don’t think they belong together on a track.
Check out some of the commentary.
“What the helly is this?”
“Gary, what is you doing baby.”
“As a millennial, this is weird to me.”
“Oh. ok.”
“Gary… what are you doing…”
“This isn’t slapping enough to be an Akon song.”
“What in the great value Rascal Flatts is this?”
“Rascal Flatts? I’m confused.”
“GARY, NOOOO.”
“Pass.”
“Girl, please…what?”
“Hard watch.”
As for Akon, this is the second country flop that he’s had this week. Earlier, he teased a countryfied version of his hit “Right Now (Na Na Na),” with Josh Ross, who runs along the same line of artists like Bailey Zimmerman and Nate Smith, which again is hard to call country.
Similar to the collaboration with Rascal Flatts, I won’t act like it’s a horrid song or not catchy, because it is. But to say this is country? Eh, swing again.
@joshrossmusic Feeling a lil Kon-try @AKON 🤠 #newmusic #countrymusic #musicoftiktok ♬ Drunk Right Now (Na Na Na) – Teaser – Josh Ross & Akon
