Senegalese-American singer and music executive Akon has revealed why he chose to sign Nigerian Afrobeats star Wizkid instead of Canadian rapper Drake, saying the rapper’s financial demands at the time made a record deal impossible.
Speaking in a recent interview with The Shade Room, Akon reflected on his early interactions with both artistes and the decisions that shaped their careers.
According to him, Drake was still an emerging artiste when they held discussions but requested a $1 million signing fee, a figure he considered too high.
Akon explained that Drake had not yet developed the distinctive sound that would later propel him to global stardom, making the investment difficult to justify at the time.
Instead, he opted to work with Wizkid through Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) after recognising the young Nigerian singer’s exceptional talent.
He credited Banky W with discovering and mentoring Wizkid before introducing him during one of his visits to Nigeria.
Akon said he immediately recognised Wizkid’s star potential and decided to support his career by giving him an opportunity to reach the international music market.
According to him, signing Wizkid provided the platform that helped launch the singer into the United States music industry at a time when resources were limited.
Since then, Wizkid has become one of Africa’s biggest global music stars, earning international awards and collaborating with some of the world’s leading artistes, while Drake has also risen to become one of the most commercially successful musicians in the global music industry.
