Senegalese-American singer and music executive Akon has revealed why he chose to sign Nigerian Afrobeats star Wizkid in 2008 instead of Canadian rapper Drake.
Speaking during a recent interview with The Shade Room, Akon said his decision was influenced by Drake’s financial demands at the time.
According to him, Drake was still an up-and-coming artiste who had yet to develop the distinctive sound that would later propel him to global stardom, yet he was asking for $1 million to sign with him.
Akon explained that he eventually partnered with Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) to sign Wizkid, whom he described as a promising talent.
While claiming he played a key role in introducing Wizkid to the American music market, Akon acknowledged that Banky W deserved credit for discovering the singer and helping to shape his career during its early stages.
“Banky W discovered Wizkid. That’s how that collaboration went. I went to Nigeria, and Banky brought me Wiz, and I’m like: ‘Bro! This kid is a star.’ They had limited resources, so when I signed Wiz, that was what broke him into the United States,” Akon stated.
BACKSTORY:
Long before Afrobeats became a dominant force on the global music scene, several international artistes and music executives played significant roles in introducing Nigerian musicians to audiences outside Africa. Among them was Senegalese-American singer and entrepreneur Akon, who invested heavily in African talent through his record label and strategic partnerships with local music executives.
One of Akon’s most notable collaborations was with Nigerian singer and music executive Banky W, whose Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) became one of the country’s leading record labels in the late 2000s. The partnership helped create opportunities for promising Nigerian artistes to gain international exposure at a time when Afrobeats was still in its early stages of global recognition.
Wizkid, who joined EME in 2009 after being discovered and mentored by Banky W, quickly emerged as one of the label’s brightest stars. He later rose to become one of Africa’s most successful musicians, earning international acclaim through hit songs, collaborations with global artistes and numerous awards, eventually becoming one of the leading faces of the worldwide Afrobeats movement.
Reflecting on those early years during a recent interview with The Shade Room, Akon explained why he chose to back Wizkid instead of then-upcoming Canadian rapper Drake. According to him, Drake was still developing his sound at the time and was seeking a $1 million signing deal, while partnering with EME to support Wizkid proved to be the more practical decision. Although Akon said he helped introduce Wizkid to the American music market, he credited Banky W for discovering the singer and laying the foundation for his successful career.
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