BILFPOD - Akon Backstage: 9 Kids, 50 Adopted, and Why "Wife ≠ Girlfriend"

Episode Date: July 30, 2026

Backstage in Tampa, minutes before showtime, Akon sat down with Mara for a rapid-fire, no-filter conversation before heading into his tour stop with Ne-Yo. In this episode of BilfPod, Akon talks about what's changed (and what hasn't) 20+ years into touring, why this run feels like "dropping his first record again," and the surprising reason nothing on the road surprises him anymore. He opens up about his massive family 9 kids of his own plus 50 adopted children he supports in Africa and what it was like sending his oldest off to college. He also previews a new project he's producing on modern relationships, built around a simple idea: a lot of people don't actually know the difference between being a good girlfriend and being a wife. This is BILF Pod where authenticity trumps authority. Real conversations, no scripts, no filter.

Yeah, I got nine all together, seven boys and two girls. Nine, but then you have all the kids that you didn't. Oh yeah, my adoptations, they're 50. I adopted 50 kids and no, they're in Africa. Atlanta was in, was in nuts. It was a thunderstorm, it still was jam-packed. Mind your apothea's indoor and outdoor. Outdoor was raining cats and dogs and then inside where the seats were,

it was flooded. So people were in like two inches of flood and it didn't even stop the show. It didn't stop the show. Everyone thinks I'm short until they meet me like, I didn't know he was so tall. You're very tall. I swear to God. That is so crazy. I don't know. You must produce it's probably going to be the biggest thing.

It's called how to be a wife and not a girlfriend. How to be a wife and not a girlfriend? That's the thing right now. Women want, they all want to be wise, but they don't know quite how to be white. How's it going? How's it going? Good. How's it good.

Hi. What's up? Hey, sir. Hey, sir. That's the future. All right. Hey. Why she got a better greeting guy?

I wasn't expecting her. What was that? I wasn't expecting her. No, look at you. Hi, baby. How are you? Oh, my God. Yes, how are you?

You looked really good. You've been working out on this too. You've been working out big time, huh? Here's swap with me. This is a bodyguard. He's the godfather. Straight from Israel right here. Uh-oh.

He loves Israel. That's true. He loves Israel. The tech you on the through over there? Huh? Yeah, we try to put it together now. We actually had what set up before the conference started. Are you excited for tonight?

Well, you know, to me, it's just another day in office. I know. It's like asking you, are you excited for the interviews? So you made it out. Let me find out. She's going to school next month. Oh, really? Yeah, New York.

Sheesh. Can you believe it? That's crazy. I was just there last week. Are you ready to do this? Yeah, let's get it. Because you already got this, because we've done this before. Yeah, this is easy.

I know, I already know what I can be. You're a pro. You're a pro. You can ask. All right, I got this. All right. Welcome back to the Bill Pod. where authenticity trumps authority i am here on location like promise i told you i tell you i've

shown up you you showed it i am what i don't know what i mean it's so hot here in tampa is super hot so i'm dying right now but i am here with the one the only the iconic acon oh thank you i'm just excited to see you i can we could just do a whole podcast on how excited we are right now 100 all right so i got to ask follow-up questions so when i saw you your album hadn't released yet Right. Album released, how'd you feel about that? No, I feel good about it. I feel really, really good about this release.

It's doing really well. Don't forget the credit for the next to the rebirth. That's my shit. Bimp. Yeah, it feels amazing. So you're on tour right now. You're in your seasoned. Yeah.

A lot different than where you were at many years ago. How does it feel being on tour seasoned versus last time? It actually feels the same, to be honest. You know, last time, obviously I did more touring internationally. internationally than I did here. Yeah. But for the most part, man, it's been unbelievable. That's because you look the same.

It's been unbelievable. You have an age. That's what it is. You have an age, so it would be looked the same. It feels like we just, you know, it's nostalgic for you. No, it's been amazing. So what was like the biggest thing that surprised you doing this? Nothing surprises me on the road.

What about the love from the fans? Still big? That, I mean, I kind of expect that. Maybe I'm just being naive or entitled to. love for my fans, right? But I love them and I hope they still love me, right? So I don't think that they will come on to spend money to see if they didn't love me, right? So, but I think the one thing that I can't say that, um, that actually made me feel so good and changed the perspective is the generations that come out. It's like three generations, right? I got, I got, no,

it's, so, no, it's, so you got, so you got the, the daughter, the mom and the grandma. Like, they all come out and it's the best. What is like the mix of the crowd? Is it like, is it predominantly white people, black people, all kinds of people? What is it? Yeah, it's a well-versed audience. I can imagine. Yeah, very, very versed.

Everybody knows your song. Yeah, it's United Nations out there. What are you doing right now as far as your repertoire? Are you doing a little bit from the old school, a little bit of new school? What are you doing? I'm just, I'm doing all the hits. I love that. Like, we prioritize the hits because that's what they hired.

I'm saying to watch it. No, you know, listen. I'm saying to watch you're going to have an amazing time. I'm so excited. Yeah, you're going to have an amazing time. I told you I was coming. I'm coming. I'm coming.

I'm too honest. I don't make it well worth your trip. Don't be disappointing me today. I'm going to make it well worth your trip. How does it feel being on tour with Neo? Does you know him prior? Yeah, yeah. We mean, me and Neo go back 20 years.

Oh, so you know. Yeah, that's my dog, man. I love that man. So it's like being on tour with your homie. Yeah, seriously. No problems, no issues, no egos. It's like, yeah, what you need? What you got?

You got it? You got it. good, it's been just numbered up the whole time and back and forth, vice versa as well. What do you think is the biggest difference between now and then? The biggest difference, probably just our age. That's it. Does that make you less able, like, do you feel like you can't do something like you No, it makes me more experience. I mean, I feel more comfortable. I've been there, done that. You're saying the first rodeo. So, and then it gives me a better perspective of how the younger

generation is gravitating. So it seems like it's, brand new for me because even the audience feels brand new because it's like their first experience seeing it you know what I mean I could definitely yeah so it's almost like a rebirth like as if I just dropped my record for the first time rebirth there again with the rebirth icon but you know it's because I'm telling you look so young that's why it had nothing's changed for you so what was your favorite city so far so far I would probably say well we just started in the U.S. but man Raleigh was crazy. Raleigh?

That was the first night. Raleigh? Raleigh? Did Atlanta? Atlanta was, ooh. Atlanta was, was crazy. And it was, listen,

Atlanta was so crazy. It was a thunderstorm. It still was jam-packed. Mind your apothea's indoor and outdoor. Outdoor was raining cats and dogs. And then inside where the seats were, it was flooded because the rain was coming downhill. So people were like two inches of flood

and it didn't even stop the show. Nothing. It didn't stop the show. And you didn't stop either, I'm sure. No, you didn't because you were going to give the Atlanta was a zoo. That is so great. Did you bring the kids?

Because last time when I saw you in L.A., you had all the kids coming. Yeah, they were all here. They all here. Stop. You brought all of them? All them except, well, my two daughters are not here because one is at an Acapella Academy in L.A.,

so she's going to make the West Coast run. And my other daughter's getting ready for college. So she went to Alabama to go visit her dorms and all that stuff. But she's going to meet me in New York, though. That is how many kids? Yeah, I got nine all together. Seven boys and two girls.

Nine, but then you have all the kids that you didn't. Oh, yeah. I adopted 50 kids and no, they're in Africa. Because that was incredible too. But they came out to the European shows though. Amazing. Did you, so now being on tour, what would you say is like something new that you brought in this time, that you probably weren't doing before, but maybe something new to change it up a little bit?

I got my twins, less twins. Yeah. So they're out here with me. They kept choreograph everything that you saw and they gave me a few dance steps too. So you're going to see me. Guys, it's so, right? And then you get this. This is like what I bring Lily around.

It's right around and then she's teaching me stuff. I'm like, wait, hold up. Les twins got me dancing on stage for the first time. Are the kids so proud of you? No, they love it. They are loving it, man. Are they like, Dad, you're really, this is, Dad, you're amazing. Well, they're old enough now. They don't, they keep their own ego.

They think they, yeah, they think they better than you. They're trying to get their own clouds. Yeah, I get it. I mean, I want them to feel that they better. You do? No, I don't want, I don't want Lily to feel herself. No, no where she came from. She need to know where she's, I think she knows.

She's one that you know that. Yeah, she did. Now you have a daughter going to college. Yep. What does that feel like? Oh, it's a little scary, though. It's a little scary. Yes, you're my oldest, yeah.

Where's she going? She's going to Alabama. Alabama. Yeah, so, I mean, we'll see. You know how it is. She's out there dormant, first time, own spot. You know, you know how that gets. Oh, I know.

I know. I'm going through it right now. Everything. I know. I am a little nervous. I don't love the idea. I got spies out there, so they're going to. Me too.

I think Lily's going to New York. Perfect. That was perfect. I wasn't too big. Yeah, the first year and a half, two years, got to have the spies out. What do you mean? Just to make sure. She can't come home.

Are you letting your daughter? Yeah, she's saying. She's living there. If she doesn't like it, are you going to let her come back? No, no. I mean, it's up. But she has no choice. She chose to go out there.

So she got to stay out there. Lily, you heard that? Just like you heard it. Yeah. I mean, you can stay home in Atlanta. Then you come home every day, every weekend. But when you want you, once you go outside the premises, it's real life. How many cities have you done so far?

So far we've done 35 cities But what does that look like day to day? Are you doing like one every other day? Are you doing five days? Yes, it's pretty much one every day And in between those one every day And one every other day

Depending on the distance And how far we got to travel on the bus So real question, how are you keeping your peace? That's a lot Oh no, this is the most peaceful thing ever No one can get a hold of you Because you're always on the bus Stop! So, but what do you do to decompress

After your job? Oh, the performance And then the tour of bus Are you still working out? Well, the stage now becomes the workout. Every day I'm hitting that cardio. That is in feeling now. So tell me some rituals you do before you get on stage.

Anything about you? Well, on this one, it was mainly World Cup season. So I've been watching all the games, keeping track of all of that. That's been my ritual, just watching the games before I go on stage. What are you reading for today? I'm moving for France. France? Yeah.

Have you been to any of the World Cups? I've been four of them so far. I went to both Sunday Gilles games. And then I went to the last France and who's that they beat. Well, whoever that was. So you, I know you want to go watch the game, so I'm going to wrap it up. Oh, now you're good. Do you foresee yourself going on another tour after this?

Yeah, this is just going to be the beginning of more tours coming. You just can't start it again. Yeah, yeah. It's like I just dropped the new record for the first time. It's like a recharge for you. So what are you doing, what are you working on right now? A new album. A new album. Yeah, you have the new album, then you're going to do one right after that.

No, I'm already working on the new album. You're always ahead of you. I'm already working on the new hour. Because you're an overachiever. We're already working on Aconic. You are ACON. Of course. We already know who you are.

I can't. I can not with you. Wait, are you going to Disney World? Hell, no. No, we ain't got time. Did you want to go there? No, no. You know, I was raised.

I know. My earlier life there. So you remember I told you I hate Disney? I know, and I loved it. I know. I hate it. But it was, it was your experience. No, I just am like it is so hot

and there's lots of kids screaming everywhere. No. Exactly, your experience. Yeah, I guess you're right, and I live right over there. That, you know, not, definitely not. Akon, you are for real legendary. But what is, when you're on stage, what is like your favorite song to do when you're up there?

Favorite song to do? You can do it from the new album and the old album. I mean, nah, but I like all of them. I mean, like literally every song, I mean, you're gonna see tonight, from top to bottom. It's gonna be nonstop. Who goes on, do you on first, or Neo goes on first? on first and then I come on right behind them.

And then we go back and forth. Of course, and then of course you steal the show, of course. I wouldn't say that. You know, that an amazing show. Yeah, I have never seen him just. He has an amazing show. I'm excited for tonight. If there's one thing you want to let the audience know about you and what you're doing,

and the way that you feel, give him something. You got to, I can't, it's hard to explain. Like, you got to come out. There's no other way, like. Are you just like, when you go out there, are you just in awe? Sometimes like, holy shit. Like, this is, I'm doing this. But the funniest thing is like you're doing this 20 years later.

Right. That's what's the all. That's insane that's all because it's literally like as if it's literally like I just dropped again for the first time like as a brand new artist. And that says so much. It don't even feel like I'm seasoned. It feels like this is my first ever opportunity again. Amazing. You know, which is dope. I love that. What's the biggest misconception people think about you right now? That I'm sure. That you're short? Yeah. I get that every I get that everywhere I go. Is that you're short? Yes, everyone thinks I'm short until they meet me.

Like, I didn't know he was so tall. Yeah, you're very tall. That is so crazy. I don't know. Like every fan from the moment, they'd be like, I thought you were short. And you're amazing and super sweet and humble. I appreciate that. Thank you.

What are you about to do right now? I'm about to go. I got some couple phoneers to knock out. Then I got the neat and greet. And then we get ready for the show. All right. Well, go do your thing. You got it.

I appreciate you. Are you doing any more reality TV? Are you going to do any reality TV? TV or no now I don't think I'm gonna do any reality TVs personally but I'm I'm most producing few you are what are you doing I got one that's about to come with by the launch so you know this probably gonna be the biggest thing it's called how to be a wife and not a girlfriend sorry how to be a wife and not a girlfriend that okay tell me that's the thing right now women want they all want to be

wise but I don't know quite how to be one and they think being a good girlfriend is being a life it's too different up or responsibilities oh okay so you're gonna educate you they treat the girlfriend aspect as if you're already marriage. So you have all these marriage rules in a regular relationship and expecting you be yeah. It just doesn't work. I think it's this generation. And then when you get married, you use the same rules in your marriage and then you're like, listen, I'm not going to keep you anymore. I just want to say thank you. I came out because I said I would. I'm a woman of my work. I appreciate that. I love seeing you. Your vibe. You can document it. Yes. What?

That was amazing. Yeah. I appreciate you. No, thank you.