Senegalese-American singer, songwriter and music executive, Akon, has revealed why he chose to sign Nigerian Afrobeats star Wizkid in 2008 instead of Canadian rapper Drake, who would later become one of the biggest artistes in the world.
Akon made the revelation during a recent interview with The Shade Room, where he discussed his early involvement in the careers of African artistes and his efforts to introduce Nigerian music talents to the international market.
According to the music executive, Drake was considered for a deal at the time but his financial demands became a major factor in his decision to pursue other options.
Akon explained that Drake was still an emerging artiste and had not yet developed the signature sound and global appeal that would later make him a household name.
Why Akon chose Wizkid over Drake
Akon said Drake was requesting a significant amount of money to sign a record deal during that period, a demand that influenced his decision to look elsewhere for emerging talent.
He revealed that the Canadian rapper was asking for about $1 million at a time when he was still building his career and had not achieved mainstream success.
The singer said he eventually focused on Wizkid after being introduced to the Nigerian artiste through Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment (EME).
Akon recalled being impressed by Wizkid’s talent and potential after meeting him during his visit to Nigeria.
“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,’” Akon said.
He explained that Wizkid’s talent stood out despite having limited rehe potential to achieve international success
Wizkid’s journey to global recognition
Wizkid, whose real name is Ayodeji Balogun, went on to become one of Africa’s most successful music exports, helping to push Afrobeats onto the global stage.
After rising to fame in Nigeria with hits that established him as one of the country’s leading young artistes, Wizkid gained international recognition through collaborations with global stars and performances around the world.
His breakthrough international success was further strengthened by his collaboration with British singer Drake on the hit song “One Dance” in 2016, which became a global chart-topping record.
The achievement helped cement Wizkid’s position as one of the most influential African artistes and contributed to the growing global acceptance of Afrobeats.
While explaining his connection with Wizkid, Akon credited Banky W for discovering and developing the singer’s talent before he became an international star.
He acknowledged that Banky W played a major role in providing Wizkid with the platform needed to grow his career and reach a wider audience.
Akon said his involvement helped introduce Wizkid to the American market, but he emphasised that the foundation laid by Banky W was crucial to the artiste’s development.
“They had limited reited States,” he added
Akon’s revelation has generated discussions among music fans, with many reflecting on how different decisions made during an artiste’s early career can shape the future of the global music industry.
While Drake eventually became one of the world’s biggest recording artistes, Wizkid’s rise has also established him as a major force in global music and a leading ambassador for Afrobeats.
