Akon is responsible for some of the biggest hits of the mid-2000s, but providing electricity for 16 million people in impoverished African countries is his most commendable accomplishment. During an appearance on VladTV, the "Locked Up" performer discusses the steps he took to give literal power to some of the most destitute places on the African continent. One of those steps involved getting a $1 billion credit line from one of China's biggest companies.

The "I'm So Paid" singer says the politics surrounding the process of procuring electrical power for African countries was too dense for him to navigate, so that's what led him to pursue solar power. "I started to realize how deep it was 'cause this is the type of business that starts real wars, the politics was a little heavier than I expected," he explains. "So I went to China, met up with some friends out there, some manufacturers, and aligned myself with one of the biggest companies in China, that's owned by the Chinese Government, that manufactures solar," he continues. That company gave Akon the $1 billion credit line he needed to start his mission.

Akon's efforts have provided solar power for 15 countries in Africa so far. Akon's grandmother served as the inspiration for his Light Up Africa project. "Every time I would come, I would try to upgrade her, but she would never take it," Akon explains in the clip. "One day I said, 'Ma I'm not coming to visit you anymore... you have to at least let me put electricity in the house," he continues. "Come to find out the grid was so far out; I don't care how much money I had, there was no way I could bring electricity to her."

It was that instance that led Akon to the conclusion that he had to help his grandmother and other African people without electrical power. "Without electricity, you can't even begin to develop a country, let alone your own home."