Where are you?
I'm in Miami shooting the video for my single.

What are you currently listening to?
Currently I'm listening to a lot of foreign artists! I can't even pronounce their names.

Who is your favourite band?
My favourite band right now is Coldplay.

If you could have written one song, which would it be?
"No Woman No Cry" by Bob Marley. That record will never get old man. It's a true classic.

What distracts you from work?
Women!

What did you want to be as a child?
I always wanted to be a brain surgeon as a little boy, but then I realised how many more years I would have to give up at school and I changed my mind.

Who is your greatest inspiration in the art world?
I was never really a big art collector but I'm still amazed how Picasso's paintings cost so much. I know artists from high school that I felt were better, but I guess I'm a little too new school!

The song that changed my life is...
"Locked up" changed my life. That was a song that described the experience that led me to change my train of thought. It was amazing how so many people related to that record. It opened up many doors for me!

Who is your hero?
My dad is my hero because he leads by example. Never did drugs, never drank, and never smoked. He also was the hardest worker I know and treated everyone like family. I always admired that about him.

Akon's album 'Freedom' is out now. akonfan.com