Akon has revealed that he passed on the chance to sign Drake in 2008 because the Canadian rapper wanted $1 million before putting pen to paper.
The Senegalese-American singer and music executive shared the story during an interview with The Shade Room, explaining that Drake was still an emerging artist at the time and had not yet found the sound that would later make him a global sensation.
Rather than meet Drake’s demands, Akon turned his attention to Nigeria, where Banky W introduced him to a young Wizkid.
The moment he heard the singer, Akon said he knew he was looking at a future star.
Banky W discovered Wizkid. That is 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 Banky W and Empire Mates Entertainment had done the hard work of discovering and developing Wizkid, but lacked the resources to take him beyond Nigeria.
That partnership, he explained, gave Wizkid access to the American market and helped launch his international career.
They had limited resources, so when I signed Wiz, that was what broke him into the United States.