Akon vs. Imanbek & BYOR | Head 2 Head

In the 25^th edition of Head 2 Head (2024), Akon and Imanbek & BYOR contend for the best rendition of “Belly Dancer.”

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 2 Head, we pit at least two musicians performing the same song, comparing their respective performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  In the 25th edition of Head 2 Head (2024), Akon and Imanbek & BYOR contend for the best rendition of “Belly Dancer”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Akon, “Bananza (Belly Dancer)”

Trouble // Universal / UMG Recordings, Inc. // 2004 

“Yo excuse me beg your pardon girl / Do you have any idea what you startin’ girl?” Trouble. Senegalese American musician Akon embraces her naughtiness.  He continues singing the first verse of “Bananza (Belly Dancer)”, “You got me tinglin’ come to me minglin’ / Steppin’ off lookin’ bootylicious and jinglin’.” Oh, snap! The innuendo is ripe on this gem from his 2004 album, Trouble.  He penned “Belly Dancer” with Lynval Golding, Neville Staples, and Terence Edward Hall. He produced the top-40, gold-certified pop hit, which peaked at no. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2005.

“Bananza (Belly Dancer)” is a surefire vibe. The blend of African music, R&B, and hip-hop is part of its charm. It features infectious rhythms and grooves from the beginning.  Akon’s distinct vocals and personality are a big reason for the song’s success.  He brings ample swagger without breaking a sweat; he never forces things.  Even when he’s turned on, he keeps it chill: “So stand by like a butty pass / While I watch this beautiful thing shake that ass.” Woo! Obsessed with her ass, he adds, “And now you got me spendin’ (uh huh) / The way you got that body bendin’ (uh huh) / Ass like that girl you gotta be kickin’ / Have me goin’ to church next day repentin’.” Hallelujah! The chorus is the sugar honey iced tea – inescapable:

“Hey ladies drop it down

Just want to see you touch the ground

Don’t be shy girl go bananza

Shake ya body like a belly dancer.”

Trouble had bigger hits – “Locked Up” and “Lonely” were top-10 hits – but “Bananza (Belly Dancer)” is sick too (in the most positive way possible).

Appears in 🔻:

• Akon, Bananza (Belly Dancer): Bangerz N Bopz 🔥 48 (2024)

2. Imanbek & BYOR, “Belly Dancer”

“Belly Dancer” // Musical Freedom Label Ltd. // 2022

“Hey ladies, drop it down / Just want to see you touch the ground / Don’t be shy girl go bananza / Shake ya body like a belly dancer.” That chorus never gets old! “Belly Dancer” sounds fresh in the hands of Grammy-winning Kazakh DJ/producer, Imanbek (Imanbek Zeikenov), and Russian DJ/producer, BYOR.  However, as you just read, “Belly Dancer” is a remix of a 2004 Akon song, “Bananza (Belly Dancer)”. Imanbek and BYOR, who produced the remix, give it a dance-tinged, electronic makeover.

Covering a popular or relatively popular song can be a tall task. Imanbek and BYOR ensure that “Belly Dancer” sounds original in their hands.  Their remake has a quicker tempo than the original, more fit for a rave. The Akon original is more laid back, while Imanbek and BYOR ‘get right to it!’ The tropical vibe is still perceptible, it is less pronounced. No essay is needed regarding “Belly Dancer.” It is a fun club cut that is infectious to the nth degree.

Appears in 🔻:

• 13 Sickening BELLY Songs (2024)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

It’s the moment of truth! The verdict! Who was the best “Belly Dancer”? Was it Akon, the original performer, producer, and one of the songwriters, or did the remake by Imanbek & BYOR get the edge? Both versions are awesome – vibes, vibes, and more vibes.  The Imanbek & BYOR rendition sounds fresher in the 2020s, naturally, but the Akon version isn’t anachronistic. That percussive groove from the 2004 original remains lit.  It’s a tough decision, but, we all know the right decision.  Akon, you win for making this enduring, belly-dancing, booty-shaking gem. You gave Imanbek & BYOR a sweet joint to transform.

Akon vs. Imanbek & BYOR: Head 2 Head No. 25 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Musical Freedom Label Ltd., UMG Recordings, Inc., Universal; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]