I Wanna Love You - Akon > Reviews > YOU WANNA DO WHAT TO ME?!

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	One hit and lots of B-sides
How does it rate alongside the competition	Unmemorable
Value for Money	Very Poor

Advantages:	High - profile Akon, who alone is very talented
Disadvantages:	Not sure why it took this to get Akon well - known

Recommend to potential buyers:

no

Full review

Unusual to find a single track to review as opposed to an entire album, 'I Wanna Love You' is taken from Akon's second album, 'Konvicted'. The track is also included on the featured artists album, Snoop Dogg's 2006 album, 'The Blue Carpet Treatment'.

'I Wanna Love You' became Akon's first ever US Billboard number one, and Snoop Dogg's second of his long-serving career (his first being 'Drop It Like It's Hot' featuring Pharrell Williams). The track knocked Justin Timberlake down from the top-spot, before being replaced by Beyonce's 'Irreplaceable'. Many versions of the song circulate, including the adult edit, which features the word 'f***' in place of 'love'. The only other country the track topped the charts in was Brazil, although this was months after its original success as it was only released worldwide in 2007 - coincidently, Beyonce also toppled the track from its top spot in Brazil with her track 'Beautiful Liar' featuring Shakira. 'I Wanna Love You' only managed to peak at #3 in the UK chart, however Akon already had two previous chart toppers to his name in the UK market ('Lonely' and 'Smack That')

My main complaint with the track is that I do not appreciate Snoop Dogg's vocals, and feel he is a slightly washed up artist that tries to make his success by going through Heathrow airport with firearms in his luggage. 'I Wanna Love You' was originally supposed to feature a new up and coming rapstar named Plies, however he was removed from the track including his writing credits after being arrested in June 2006 for illegal gun possession. The incident occured when Plies was performing in concert and was told that his set was going to have to finish 15 minutes early, in retaliation members of his 'entourage' fired into the crowd resulting in five non-lifethreatening gun wounds. Two men were arrested on charges of attempted murder, whilst Plies paid his $50,000 bail. Due to possible bad publicity the decision was then made to use the unofficial version circulating with Snoop Dogg as the featured artist.

With the incident now at the back of peoples memories, Akon and Plies have now teamed up on a 2007 track named 'Hypnotized'. Plies version on 'I Wanna Love You' can be found on the internet, and whilst I do prefer it to Snoop's, I cannot say that it is that much better. The accompanying video does stay true to many rappers videos, with girls grinding on poles as they yearn over Snoop Doggy Dogg in his fur-hooded jacket. Akon's vocals are the best part of the track, in what is a happy-go-lucky tracket that many maybe able to relate to. 

Pictures for the review

Display pictures

Akon - I Wanna Love You (Clean)