Classic Akon music videos remastered for YouTube

Akon has remastered two of his classic music videos, for the songs “Pot of Gold” and “Belly Dancer (Bananza)”, on YouTube.

The two new videos come just in time for Akon’s celebrations for the 20th anniversary of his album from 2004 problem with a special digital and vinyl release. Both new editions are available now. His debut album, problem followed a one-off first single, 1996's “Operations of Nature”, and was released shortly before Akon founded his label Konvict Music.

Listen to the new edition of Akon's problem Now.

When problem When it was originally released, it reached number 1 on the UK Albums Chart and was later certified platinum in the US by the RIAA. Along with “Pot of Gold” and “Belly Dancer (Bananza)”, it also included one of Akon's biggest hits of all time, “Lonely”, which peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. In late 2023, it was inducted into YouTube's Billion Views Club, Akon's third video to do so after “Smack That” with Eminem and “Play Hard” with David Guetta.

“For me, writing a song like this is a kind of therapy,” said Akon NME of “Lonely” in 2023. “As soon as I get it out, I feel so much better. It makes me feel even better when I see that other people can identify with it too.”

problemThe digital deluxe edition also includes several brand new songs for streaming, including “Locked Up (Remix)” featuring Styles P & Taz, “Locked Up (Remix)” featuring Azad, “Locked Up (Remix)” featuring Booba, and “Ghetto (Remix).”

Listen to the new edition of Akon's problem Now.