Akon Admits He Passed on Drake Before Lil Wayne Signed the 'What A Time To Be Alive' Rapper to YMCMB

Imagine if everyone's beloved "6" rapper was not a member of the YMCMB family, but rather a part of Konvict Music? That's right, Akon was introduced to the Toronto-based rapper before he was signed to work with Lil Wayne.

In an exclusive interview with Montrality Akon admits he passed on adding Drake to his line-up of hitmakers, like T-Pain and Lady Gaga, saying the "Hotline Bling" rapper sounded a lot different back then.

"Kardinal Offishall had brought me some records on Drake back then when I first signed Kardi - this was before 'Best I Ever Had,'" he tells the hip-hop centric web show.

"I did. I honestly passed on him at the time he did not sound like what he sounds like today. 'Best I Ever Had' wasn't even remotely close to what that sounded like. I think he was in that position finding himself. Ultimately as time goes people develop, they get better, and they become the best because of stuff like that.

Sometimes that motivates you to want to be better and take yourself to the next level. And I think wit him, he was turned [down] so many times, it became his motivation"

Much like any aspiring musician, Drake developed and matured as an artist, capturing the attention of Lil Wayne. Akon now admits that he sees the development from the Canadian emcee who just recently scored his 100^th Billboard Hot 100 hit.

"Drake he is a 360 artist. I think he is the champ right now," confesses Akon. " I don't think there is a rapper right now that can go toe to toe with him at a stand point of just real records."

"He's a poet to me. The way he delivers certain lyrics. He mixes reality along with real rapping in one and adds melody to where people that is not really familiar with that culture can rap along to it.

I think the performance aspect, he grew into becoming a performer. In the begging he was really shy he didn't let out to much. I noticed that. I feel like that was the only piece he was missing. His confidence has grown a lot. You can see it on stage now. He's fully developed."