Akon & Devyne Stephens- The Rule of Two

on the eve of Thanksgiving over 500 individuals braved a gusty autumn wind while standing in line outside of Throbacks Sports Bar & Grill. Located in College Park, Ga., the venue is a popular hangout for local entertainers and athletes who reside on the south side of metro Atlanta. On this day, however, needy families who have been hit hard by the economic downturn wait patiently in line to receive a free turkey and canned goods courtesy of  Akon and Devyne Stephens.

While handing out food items, the business partners listen with concern as the recipient families discuss being financially decimated by the effects of the recession. Akon and Stephens understand what it means to live in need. The world has witnessed their recent success in the music industry, but the two have overcome years of hardship in order to find their own personal freedom. 

The 1990s were a trying decade for Akon and Stephens. Both aspiring musicians, they soon discovered that it takes more than talent and a dream to breakthrough in music. One of the first artists to sign with LaFace Records, Stephens and his group, 90 Miles Per Hour, were dropped by the label before they could make a significant impact in the industry. A few years later, Akon experienced similar misfortunes when his debut album was shelved by Elektra Records in 1996. Faced with uncertainties, Stephens put his dreams on hold to become a choreographer while Akon found himself drifting down a wayward path. According to The Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Akon was convicted of possessing a firearm in 1998 and was later arrested for theft by receiving stolen goods.

“I was going in and out of jail during that time,” says Akon, who was born Aliaune Thiam. “I got to a point where I wasn’t taking music as seriously as I should have. I’m lucky that Devyne was there to steer me on the right path.”

After rapper Lil Zane introduced Akon to Stephens during an Atlanta Falcons game, the two developed a friendship and a respect for each other’s musical talents. Stephens eventually became Akon’s mentor and most trusted bail bondsman.

“I think the most encouraging thing was for somebody to be there during the process of him getting his life together,” says Stephens, who admits to bailing Akon out of jail on numerous occasions. “A lot of times when people get in trouble, others shy away from them. Akon really needed someone who was by his side to encourage him.”

Stephens’ support helped Akon to remain focused as an adult, but his parents’ background in the arts inspired him as a child. “My mom was a dancer and my father was a jazz musician,” the St. Louis-born, Senegal-raised artist reveals. “We were always surrounded by entertainment. With that, you see everything that comes with it from the late rehearsals to the never coming home. I understand what it’s like to work on a record and not be home for months at a time. I’ve seen the hard work you need to put in just to have a little success.”

Akon demonstrated an unyielding work ethic after Stephens signed him as the feature artist to his Upfront Megatainment record label. Once Upfront Megatainment gained distribution through SRC/Universal, he revived his career with the melancholy single, “Locked Up,” and his reflective debut album, Trouble. The album sold over three million units worldwide and opened the door for Akon to create Konvict Muzik. Thus far, the label’s most accomplished act has been the autotune enthusiast, T-Pain.

“Every artist wants to start their own entity,” Akon says. “Devyne was there to support me and we have always operated as one company [Upfront/Konvict]. We signed T-Pain and the brand took off and became a movement.”

Since the signing of T-Pain in 2005, Akon has established Kon Live Distribution, Konvict Clothing, and the Konfidence Foundation. Along with signing acts to Upfront Megatainment and serving as the VP of Konvict Muzik, Stephens currently owns The Complex in Atlanta. The 7,500-square-foot facility is considered the premier artist development studio in the southeast.

“The Complex means a lot to me because of my background in developing artists,” Stephens says. “I like to view it as a facility that merges the image and skill enhancement needs of all recording and performing artists. I think that The Complex plays an important role in the music industry in that we are preparing and challenging the artists of today and the artists of tomorrow to take their careers to the next level.”

Their achievements have allowed them to become more liberated in their personal lives and as artists. On his recently released third album, Freedom, Akon attempts to redeem his past transgressions by freeing himself of the “thugged-out” image that has followed him since his debut.

“Freedom is the third chapter,” Akon says of the follow-up to his sophomore album, Konvicted. “It’s an alienation from the Konvict persona. The whole purpose of bringing out the Konvict movement was to have a message of moving forward. The Konvict message was getting distorted. It was a negative outlook and that wasn’t what we wanted to present. We wanted to take a negative and make a positive out of it. But the brand was getting tainted. The intention was to uplift people who are in similar situations.

“Originally, the album was going to be called Acquitted. But that would have added to the same negative connotations. People thought we were portraying the gangsta lifestyle and glorifying being locked up. Acquitted would have given you that same feel. The beauty of Freedom is that it’s so broad. Everyone can relate to freedom.”

The charitable gesture made by Akon and Stephens at Throbacks proves how much they have grown as musicians, entrepreneurs and men. “We want to continue to give back to the community,” Stephens says. “We had struggles for 10 years before the recession. … Hopefully, with Barack Obama in office, we’ll see change for the world. The main thing is to maximize the opportunities and the gift that God has given us.”

Akon and Stephens have managed to turn their dreams into an empire. With the release of Freedom and T-Pain’s Thr33 Ringz this fall, Upfront/Konvict have laid the foundation for another triumphant year in music. “We’re here to make history,” Stephens says. “Our goal from Day One was to make history and make sure that the music we make counts. We want to tell a story that means something and can touch people everywhere. And that’s why Akon is so prolific in his writing; he can touch so many people with the stroke of his pen.”