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Senegalese-American R&B singer Akon has been very busy promoting his Akon Lighting Africa initiative. Akon plans to bring electricity to millions of Africans through solar energy. To achieve this goal, he installed solar street lamps and panels in 14 African countries. During a recent trip to Montreal, Akon took the time to speak to Montreality on many topics about his life, and about his first impression on Canadian rapper Drake.
A 360 artist
Akon believes that Drake is winning right now in 2015 and he thinks that no other rapper can compete with him.
“He’s a poet to me,” he said. “The way he delivers certain lyrics. He mixes reality and real rapping in one. And then he adds melody to where people who [are] not really familiar with that culture can sing along to it. He’s a 360 artist.”
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A missed opportunity
Akon recalls the day when Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall brought him recordings of Drake. Akon was not impressed with what he heard and preferred not to sign Drake to his label, Konvict Muzik.
“I honestly did pass on him because at the time, he didn’t sound like what he sounds like today,” Akon said. “The ‘Best I Ever Had,’ it wasn’t even close to what that sounded like. I think he was at a position where he was finding himself. ”
No regrets on both sides
Akon insisted he had no regrets about his decision.
“Ultimately, as time goes, people develop, they get better,” he said. “They become the best because of things like that [not getting signed]. Sometimes that motivates you to want to be better and take yourself to the next level.”
Drake has come a long way. Today, he is part of Lil Wayne’s Young Money label. He has sold an estimated 10 million albums worldwide, he won a Grammy Award in 2013, and he is one of 4 artists to have more than 100 hit songs on the Billboard Hot 100 list. Who knows what direction his career would’ve gone had he signed a deal with Akon?
Watch the video of the interview below:
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SEE ALSO: Drake Achieved Something That Only 4 Musicians Have Ever Done.
