Akon can retire a few decades earlier, thanks to his gutsy decision to sign fashion risk taker/pop sensation Lady Gaga. Akon signed the star to his KonLive label at Interscope Records in 2007 after the 23-year-old was dropped by at least five other imprints. It’s a move that has set Akon up for life. Gaga’s Grammy-winning dance anthems — like “LoveGame,” “Bad Romance,” and “PokerFace” –have gone on to dominate music charts across the globe.

“I was like, ‘Yo, I want to sign that right there. She needs to be under my umbrella. Jimmy was like, ‘Yeah, whatever you want. Take her. Let’s get it done.’ And she just blossomed into a super megastar, man. She’s pretty much retired me. 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.”