Akon thinks Canada has dethroned Atlanta to become the most dominant region in Hip Hop — from a business perspective, at least.
The “Locked Up” rapper made the claim during a recent interview with the Big Homies House podcast, where he pointed to Canuck superstars like Drake and Tory Lanez to support his argument.
Although he recognized Atlanta’s dominance over the last two decades, Akon went on to claim Canada is running the music business as a whole, citing fellow Canadian hitmakers like Justin Bieber and The Weeknd.
“Atlanta’s been a driving force to Hip Hop, for sure, but the dominators of Hip Hop is Canada,” he said. “N-gga, they dominating the music business. Okay, you got Drake, you got Tory Lanez, you got The Weeknd, you got Justin Bieber.
“Mind you, I’m thinking from a business standpoint. I’m not talking about influence. Influence? Atlanta, hands down. ‘Cause everything that those guys I mentioned in Canada is birthed from influence here in Atlanta. Don’t get it twisted, Atlanta changed the game when it came to urban music.”
Akon went on to hail the influence of Outkast, Goodie Mob, Lil Jon, Jermaine Dupri and L.A. Reid and Babyface’s LaFace Records, but as far as the business is concerned, he believes Canada’s crop of megastars are running things right now.
Not everyone is so keen to give it up to other regions. Diddy had some words for his native New York City during a recent conversation with Funk Flex on Hot 97, urging the city’s rappers to shun the influence of trap and drill and embrace their roots.
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“New York, we’re in last place,” the Bad Boy boss said. “I’m here to tell y’all, that shit comes to an end today. We’re gonna start doing us. The way you hear the beat in your head, do you. The way you move, do you. The way you dress, do you. Don’t be doing them, God bless them.”
He continued: “A New York cat is not supposed to be following nobody nowhere for nothing. Because we come from a rich culture of artists and designers and creatives. New York was always leaders, and we don’t blend in, b. We from New York, the fuck?”
Akon doesn’t know wtf he’s talking about. At all.
The underground scene in Canada is dope. Daniel Son, Raz Fresco, Asun Eastwood, Saipher Soze been killing it for a while now. Music here in the states is trash. U.K artists are also making better soul/R and B music as well. They just don’t have the popularity.
I MESS WITH DANIEL SON AND ASON TOO. SUPER DOPE.
Not everyone sells out in canada… winnipegs most put canada on the map for rap and a shit load of American rappers copied the style atleast they actually did what they say on a track not for clout… drake is pure ass
Hell no! A Town has the rap game on lock, business perspective included.
Naaaah God’s & Goddesses.
Corporate America has the rap game on lock! All these ngz are bitches to the industry. Since NWA. COME AND GET ME FBI!….just playin feds…but I ain’t scared feds.
How many of these Canadians still live in Canada ? I think its safe to say Drake, Tory, Merkules, etc are pretty much American at this point. Canada sucks. Justin Trudeau is a known communist and the son of Fidel Castro and wants to take away his peoples guns and right to self defense.
Uneducated opinion. Drake has a massive mansion in Toronto. Obviously he is all around the world but always comes back. Same with Bieber. Not a fan of any of these guys but they, especially Drake, rep Toronto/Canada. American influenced? Of course they are, but so is the rest of the world while incorporating their own take on urban culture (drill and afro beats come to mind). As for the Trudeau Canada sucks mind set, I am convinced you are an OG from the mean streets of rural Alberta.
Uhh yeah trudolf msy be a goof but don’t get it twisted thinking America is some special place… you guys are the most corrupt/evil nation in the world. You got a retard for a president all of which bow the knee to Satan. End of the day all governments are on board for the great reset and they all pushed for the people to take the V (genocide) not too mention the constant push for nuclear war with Russia, blowing up they’re pipe lines and blaming on Russia LOL
Atl full of batty puppets
This dude has the dumbest takes I’ve ever seen. Not to mention he grifted Senegal and is a POS.
Dumbest take I’ve heard in awhile. I’m not a fan of everything Atlanta but they have the crown for close to a decade now. Foh Acorn
Akon ryt. His prophecy always on point. He already knew bout King Tekashi dominance b4 it happen.
How is Bieber and The Weekend hiphop?
Akon is weird
Wtf is Akon talking about?