AKON - AKON SLAMS 'HARDCORE' RAPPERS

R+B star AKON has criticised successful rappers for promoting violence instead of encouraging their fans to take a more positive outlook on life.

The singer, who currently tops the UK singles and album chart, claims his contemporaries are ignorant and afraid to abandon the tough ghetto lifestyle of their youth.

The 20-year-old believes stars including 50 CENT and THE GAME don't deserve any acclaim stemming from their pretentious behaviour.

He fumes, "If you make a million dollars and you're still promoting violence you don't deserve that kind of success.

"It's ignorance. We are in this game to get away from the streets and set up businesses.

"Everybody wants to be hardcore. It's ego, that's all it is."