In an interview for this month’s Vibe Magazine, Akon was eager to give props to the time he spent in St. Louis during his childhood and his property investment in neighboring East St. Louis.
“I was in East St. Louis every day after four o’clock. Hanging out over there. East St. Louis happened to be the most violent area in St. Louis. Even now, when you go to that city, it’s like a ghost town. I just bought a couple of buildings in downtown East St. Louis for $15 grand. I said, “I’m going to buy out the whole downtown East St. Louis and just hold on to it.”
“I’m just sitting on it. Eventually they’re going to have to rebuild that place. I got that whole block.”
He spent a chunk of his youth in the St. Louis area before moving in his teens.
According to Akon, Gangster Rap, N.W.A. in particular contributed to the crime wave in the late 80’s to early 90’s. “In East St. Louis, N.W.A was the biggest (expletive) ever. And I could still positively say to this day, N.W.A was the reason why St. Louis was so violent, I don’t care what nobody tells me. N.W.A. started it all. They really ignited that fire in St. Louis.”