Akon, speaks to Laura Checkoway on why his signing with the Steve Rifkind Company was based on something as simple as showing up.
It was the closing of 2002. I’d built three recording studios in Atlanta. It couldn’t be better. I got operations. I got any kind of car you can think of. Everybody in Atlanta knew me.
So [choreographer] Divine Stephens was like, “Listen, man, what you going to do with your life?” While I was locked up, I’d created a plan for what I planned to do when I got out and it was focused more on music. At the time Divine’s working with Puffy so he used all his contacts. He called Bernard Alexander who was working with Def Squad. Bernard flew in from L.A., listened to the music, was blown away. He was like, “Yeah, I can get you a deal by tomorrow.”
He flew to New York, met up with Kenny Burns who was vice president of Roc-a-Fella. Kenny heard the music and called back with Steve Rifkind on the phone. Kenny was like, “It’s critical, we’re trying to reach you now.” Steve was playing basketball and broke his nose and was on the way to the hospital in his car playing the music.
He calls like, “I just broke my nose. I want to come to Atlanta first thing tomorrow. Do not talk to nobody. I’m interested.” But we had other offers. So Steve was like, “I’m coming to Atlanta tomorrow.”
The next day, we’re sitting upstairs and we see this white guy with two Secret Service looking guys parked out front. I was like, “Shit! Fuckin’ fed. What the fuck they want now?”
I open the door. “Steve Rifkind.” We click instantly. Everything that we were going to tell him we want to do, he just said it. He understood it. He wasn’t offering much money compared to the other labels. But these other labels want me to switch up and be more commercial and he wanted to give me all creative control and let me do what I do. I told myself it’s less money but I think this is more of a question of whether I believe in myself or not. It’s going to come later.
So we decided to go with Steve. The fact that he had a broken nose and showed up, I was impressed.
“I told myself it’s less money but I think this is more of a question of whether I believe in myself or not. It’s going to come later.” Seeing the bigger picture. Nice!!!
Yep! Now he’s not complaining about money or his deal like a lot of other artist. He’s just handling his business.
I LIKE! We are featuring Devyne and Jah on our show… http://www.imanageacelebrity.com
@fashionrocka we need to talk!!
Preciate it you always bring the good stuff to the table!
Great post. The small things matter.
Precious- Thank YOU for reading!!
Joe- That’s just it!! The small is always overlooked.
some more exclusive useful info from 21 hustle–Steve has always been a visionary – He signed Dead Prez –even though no one knew how to unleash them on the hood and semi-isolated them in the white college arena (P.E. made it clear with Fear of a Black Planet), he did give them a chance when no one else would—Glad he gave Akon alot of auto-tune crooning room.