Senegalese-American music mogul Akon has opened up about one of the biggest “what ifs” of his career, explaining exactly how he missed the opportunity to sign Canadian rap icon Drake in the late 2000s. Speaking on a recent episode of Stepping Into The Shade Room, the founder of Konvict Muzik revealed that the barrier to sealing the deal was a combination of an unfamiliar early sound and a staggering $1 million asking price.
Akon recalled that around 2008, he had a genuine shot at signing the future superstar. However, the music playing from Drake at the time did not yet reflect the smooth, genre-bending style that would eventually define his career.
“Drake was the only one I had a shot at, and I wanted it to become official,” Akon shared. “It wasn’t that I didn’t see the vision that he was going to be big; he just wasn’t big then and was requesting a whopping $1 million to sign with me.”
Beyond the hefty financial demand, Akon admitted he struggled to place Drake’s identity in the rap landscape, noting that his demo tracks sounded remarkably similar to a legendary Detroit emcee.
“He was the Drake that sounded like Eminem,” Akon said with a laugh. “The records of him that they played were sounding like that of Eminem.”
The turning point came shortly after when Drake released his breakout hit, “Best I Ever Had”. The record showcased the distinct R&B-infused rap style that would dominate global charts for the next two decades. Akon admitted that the moment he heard the track, he was fully sold and wanted to make a move—but the window of opportunity had closed.
By the time Akon realized Drake’s true potential, the rapper was caught in a historic major-label bidding war. “By that time it was too late,” Akon confessed. “He was too expensive. I didn’t have a million dollars.” Drake eventually signed with Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment, while Akon shifted his international focus to other rising stars, including Nigeria’s very own Wizkid.
