Akon announces Capital XTRA takeover and recalls spotting Lady Gaga
Akon has revealed he knew Lady Gaga was destined for stardom the moment he met her.
The hitmaker joined Capital XTRA Breakfast with Robert Bruce and Shayna Marie this morning, where he also announced, he will return to the station for a special Fully Reloaded takeover over the Bank Holiday weekend.
The guest slot will see Akon host two hours of classic R&B and hip hop on Capital XTRA, bringing his own musical influences and favourite tracks to listeners.
During the interview, the conversation turned to his remarkable track record for discovering talent, including Lady Gaga, T-Pain, French Montana and Jeffree Star.
Asked what he looks for in future stars, Akon said it often comes down to an instinctive feeling.
He said: “When you see a star, you just know. It’s like a God-given aura. Some people just have that glow.”
Lady Gaga was one of the clearest examples – Akon said: “Gaga, for sure. She had the glow immediately.”
He added that while natural star quality is important, work ethic is what ultimately determines whether an artist succeeds.
Akon explained: “If you’re a star and you’re lazy, you’re not going anywhere. That’s a waste of time.”
He also recalled seeing that same spark in T-Pain, despite early doubts from record labels that questioned his image.
You can hear Fully Reloaded with Akon on Capital XTRA on Monday 25 May from 11am-1.00pm.
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Listen to Capital XTRA Breakfast with Robert Bruce and Shayna Marie weekdays from 6.30am – 10.00am across the UK and on YouTube