Legendary singer and music executive Akon recently shared a massive one. In a new interview, the Konvict Muzik founder opened up about a pivotal decision he made back in 2008: choosing to sign a young, rising Wizkid instead of Canadian superstar Drake.
Here is the breakdown of why Akon made that choice and how it helped shape the global music landscape.
Drake’s $1 Million Asking Price Was Too High
During an appearance on The Shade Room, Akon revealed that Drake’s financial expectations were a major hurdle at the time. Despite Drake being an emerging artist who hadn’t yet established the signature sound that would eventually make him a global powerhouse, he was already asking for a massive sum to join Akon’s roster.
“He was requesting a whopping $1 million to sign with me,” Akon explained, pointing out that the steep price tag for an unproven artist made the deal less feasible at that moment.
Recognizing Wizkid’s Star Power
While Drake’s deal fell through, Akon’s attention quickly shifted to Nigeria. During a trip to the country, legendary Nigerian musician and executive Banky W introduced Akon to a young talent who was signed to his label, Empire Mates Entertainment (EME). That talent was none other than Wizkid.
Akon recalled his instant reaction to seeing the young star: “Banky brought me Wiz, and I’m like: ‘Bro! This kid is a star.'”
Akon credited Banky W for discovering and nurturing Wizkid’s early talent, but noted that EME had limited resources to scale globally at the time. By partnering with them and signing Wizkid, Akon’s label provided the financial backing and industry leverage needed to push “Starboy” into the highly competitive United States market.
A History-Defining Decision
Decades later, both artists have gone on to achieve legendary status. While Drake eventually signed with Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment and became one of the biggest rappers in history, Akon’s decision to back Wizkid helped lay the groundwork for Afrobeat’s massive, mainstream integration in the West.
