Here's a little known fact about Akon: he's already set up for retirement. And it's all thanks to Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga signed to Akon's KonLive record label (which sits under the Interscope umbrella) after she had been dropped by a major label. In 2009 Lady Gaga was one of the world's highest selling artists.
In a recent interview Akon expanded on his relationship with Gaga - or at least how her signing has impacted him. "She's pretty much retired me," he revealed. "She was definitely a blessing. She came at the right moment. I'm glad I believed in her, boy. That goes to show you, if you believe in something strong enough, it will pay off... She just blossomed into a super megastar, man"
Lady Gaga will appear on Akon's next album, alongside a respectable guest cast including David Guetta, Dr Dre and Chuckie. The album is expected to be released later this year.
Photo: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images