The Smoking Gun website this week reported that the multiplatinum urban-pop star Akon has  either embellished or fabricated much of his criminal past. Tales of his criminal career, which included running a car theft ring, were largely "kontrived." Here's a detailed report.

I was among the first music critics to profile Akon before his 2004 debut, Trouble, became a smash. I remember he was soft-spoken as he talked about his criminal past. He didn't exactly boast about it the way 50 Cent did when I interviewed him. I thought maybe Akon was just shy or ashamed of his criminal record. Turns out, much of it was a fantasy, a ploy to push records. And homeboy definitely succeeded.   

(Associated Press photo)