Akon says he knows why Michael Jackson took pills in days leading up to death

Michael Jackson died of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication at his home in Los Angeles, California.

In the lead up to his death 'The King of Pop' took a considerable amount pills and Akon says he knows why.

The 'Smack That' singer claims that Jackson's incredible work ethic is what contributed to his early death, aged just 50.

Prior to his passing in 2009, Jackson was set to make his return to the stage with his 'This Is It' tour in London.

Akon claims that the star was too excited to sleep.

He told The US Sun: “He was so happy and excited that he was about to go to London and lock these 50 dates in and remind the world who he was and what his value was to pop music. 

“He didn’t even sleep. That is why he was taking sleeping pills because he was too damn excited. 

“He would be up for weeks at a time thinking about how he wanted everybody to have the most amazing experience, he wanted to create something that was going to be talked about for centuries. 

“When you have that energy you don’t sleep.

“You are going to need help to get sleep because your mind is constantly moving and your energy and your flow [are] electric to the point where you cannot turn it off.”

Akon added: “He always pushed himself to the limit. He never compromised the best. 

“He never believed there was something he could not accomplish or could not do.

“Even though his age prevented him from doing a lot of the moves that he did when he was younger, his mind told him ‘No, you can do this. I don’t care what you have got to do, you are going to show everyone, and show yourself and just do it. 

"'You are not going to complain. You are going to find a way to make it work. If you have to work out 25 hours a day to do it [and] when that day comes you are going to make it happen'.

“He was that kind of person. So he pushed himself to the limit and if he wasn’t satisfied he was going to stay there until he was satisfied.

“It is kind of a gift and a curse.”

Jackson's physician Dr. Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011 and spent two years in jail.