Akon – BEAUTIFUL DAY (Album Review)

Akon sounds far removed from his “Locked Up” days in “BEAUTIFUL DAY.”

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TOP 5 SONGS

5. LET YOU GO

If you tossed Tyla on this track, I really think it would have taken off. “LET YOU GO” carries that festive, panoramic amapiano-inspired sound that feels nearly impossible to hate.

I thought Akon did very well here, stripping away the fluff and singing with a level of purity that makes the record feel genuine. I also really enjoyed the chorus. I am not exactly sure who, or how many negroes, helped put it together, but whoever did their job deserves credit.

4. MEAN THE SAME

I mean… I can see the vision with this one. Even though Akon sounds like a smaller version of himself, like he lost his mushroom juice on some Super Mario s**t, I still thought this was one of the tracks that carried real soulfulness, tender love and care, and one of the few moments where he had to do the heavy lifting himself.

He ends up giving us something that feels both enjoyable and heartfelt. Is it an amazing track? No. But it has a real pulse.

3. NEVER REALLY MATTERED (Ft. SIMIEN)

Wait a second, Akon does not sound too bad here. He shows some vocal range, strong passion, and nails the melodies as he says “sorry, blame me” for the thousandth time after doing something foolish.

I also thought the bouncy production, which flips Ready For The World’s classic “Love You Down,” was a major highlight. It gives the track a nostalgic groove while still feeling lively enough for today.

What I did not quite love was the Great Value Mariah Carey on the chorus. Nonetheless, this track is cool.

2. SO RUFF (Ft. Jahvor)

Holy s**t, Jahvor puts up one of the best verses of the year on this track. Yes, better than anything J. Cole or K-Dot dropped recently (Am I taking it too far again?).

He absolutely plows through the beat with a relentless flow, then switches to a cadence that feels like the one those kids who wore their clothes backward back in the day used. I also love how grounded his content is, speaking on getting it out of the mud and earning everything the hard way.

Akon follows with a verse built on similar sentiments, though it lacks the same flair or explosiveness. Still, I enjoyed hearing him talk his talk as a low-key legend in the game.

Strangely enough, both artists sound really good over the friendly island instrumentation.

1. BEAUTIFUL DAY

“BEAUTIFUL DAY” is simply one of those tracks that will make you feel very good inside. It features an organic instrumental packed with feel-good vibes, vibrant guitar licks, and handclaps. Kudos to the legend JR Rotem for that sunshine recipe.

Akon gets lost in the backdrop in the best way, singing with a sense of freedom throughout as he sounds thankful for the money he has made, the women he has pulled, and the trials he has had to overcome.

If you hate this track, you might need to check your emotional thermostat.

SONG BY SONG RATING

1. BEAUTIFUL DAY (4/5)

2. NEVER REALLY MATTERED (3.5/5)

3. RINGTONE (3/5)

4. WAY UP DER (3/5)

5. HUAWEI (Ft. Nektunez) (3/5)

6. LONG ROAD (3.5/5)

7. SORRY (3.5/5)

8. QUE CALOR (3.5/5)

9. MEAN THE SAME (3.5/5)

10. LET YOU GO (Ft. tears of joy) (3.5/5)

11. KONFLICTED (Ft. RMR) (2.5/5)

12. KEYS (3/5)

13. SO RUFF (Ft. Jahvor) (3.5/5)

14. YOUR BODY (Ft. Ozuna) (3/5)

15. JUST A MAN (Ft. Stephen Marley) (3.5/5)

RGM RATING

(66%)

I didn’t have Akon dropping an album in 2026 on my bingo card.

I mean this with all respect in the world, but it does not really feel like Akon makes music purely for the love of the sport. He comes across more like someone who sees it as a business opportunity first. Because of that, BEAUTIFUL DAY sometimes plays like the ultimate money grab. At moments, it even feels like you could hear sponsorship ads stitched into the tracks.

Sonically, a lot of the album leans into a fluffy, slightly inauthentic mix of Afrobeats, reggae, and R&B. It is not necessarily bad, but it can feel like YouTube background music you accidentally leave playing for hours. Still, I am not mad at it. I would rather Akon do this than return to the kind of street activity that previously got him locked up.

Vocally, Akon still sounds very close to his classic self, just a bit more worn down. He delivers infectious melodies and clearly has an ear for hooks that stick. Lyrically, the project is actually consistent with his history: apologies on repeat, enjoying life, and romantic escapades in every direction.

Respectfully, the album sometimes feels like something made to cover expenses. I say that as someone nowhere near his financial level. It comes off a bit opportunistic, slightly chaotic, and occasionally almost AI-like in execution.

Still, there are reasons to press play again: it is cool hearing Akon active, it works in the right setting, and there is something oddly humbling about hearing a man apologize this many times. He may have to apologize for this one. I don’t know. Maybe.

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