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Akon says he missed the chance to sign Drake before helping introduce Wizkid to the American music market.
Sometimes, one decision can change the course of music history. According to Akon, that is exactly what happened when he chose not to sign a young Drake. Soon afterwards, however, Banky W introduced him to Wizkid, a meeting that would help shape the future of Afrobeats on the global stage.
The singer, producer, and music executive recently reflected on these career-defining moments during an interview with The Shade Room. He explained that he had the opportunity to sign Drake early in the rapper’s career. However, the deal did not happen because Drake reportedly requested $1 million, an amount Akon said he was not prepared to pay at the time.
Looking back, Akon admitted that he saw Drake’s potential from the beginning. Nevertheless, he believed the financial risk was too great.
“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 for me,” Akon explained during the interview.
Furthermore, he recalled that Drake’s early recordings sounded very different from the music fans know today. According to Akon, Drake’s style initially reminded him of Eminem. However, everything changed after the release of “Best I Ever Had.” By that point, Drake’s career had taken off, and signing him was no longer a realistic possibility.
Banky W’s introduction of Wizkid to Akon became a defining moment in the global rise of Afrobeats.
Although Akon missed the opportunity to work with Drake, another life-changing moment soon arrived.
During the interview, Akon credited Banky W with discovering Wizkid and introducing the young Nigerian singer to him during one of his visits to Nigeria.
Akon immediately recognized Wizkid’s star quality. As a result, he decided to support the singer’s international ambitions.
“Banky W discovered Wizkid. Banky brought me Wiz, and I said, ‘Bro, this kid is a star,'” Akon recalled.
He also explained that he helped introduce Wizkid to the American market at a time when Afrobeats was still growing internationally. Consequently, the collaboration became an important step in expanding the genre’s global reach.
Interestingly, Akon’s reflections have sparked conversations across social media because they reveal how one decision can influence music history in unexpected ways.
Today, Drake stands among the world’s biggest recording artists. At the same time, Wizkid has become one of Africa’s most influential global stars. He has collaborated with artists such as Beyoncé, Drake, Justin Bieber, and Chris Brown, while continuing to push Afrobeats onto the world stage.
Meanwhile, many fans have praised Banky W for recognizing Wizkid’s talent early and helping launch one of Nigerian music’s greatest success stories.
As the interview continues to circulate online, it reminds music lovers that every missed opportunity can open the door to another remarkable journey. In Akon’s case, passing on Drake eventually led him to play a role in one of Afrobeats’ biggest international success stories.
Stay tuned to MAX FM for more exclusive celebrity news, music industry stories, and the biggest entertainment updates from Nigeria and around the world.
by Gladius Elizabeth
Music & Entertainment Writer, MAX FM
Published: July 15, 2026
