ATLANTA, GA (Upfront Megatainment) - Upfront Megatainment CEO, DeVyne Stephens, is proud to announce Upfront's second successful release with superstar recording artist/songwriter/producer Akon and the number two (No 2) album in the country, "
Konvicted" (Upfront/Konvict/SRC/Universal Motown).
DeVyne Stephens signed Akon to his Upfront Megatainment label in the late 90s after the star was released from prison. "I knew Akon before he got locked up. He had two careers during that time, the music industry and Grand Theft Auto. I even bailed him out a couple of times. I would always tell him how talented he was with his music, but, it took jail time to get him to focus on that," offers Stephens.
After taking a few years to sharpen and develop Akon's signature sound and create the "Trouble" album, Stephens began shopping Akon and quickly garnered a deal with SRC/Universal Motown through Upfront and the rest is platinum-music-making history.
Upfront's 1st release with Akon's debut CD, "Trouble," turned out sales of more than 3 million units worldwide. His sophomore CD, "Konvicted," has already made history with the single "Smack That" making the biggest leap in Billboard's "Hot 100" history by jumping 88 spots from No 95 to No 7.
To top that, Akon's singles "Smack That" (No 1), and "I Wanna Love You" (No 2) are at the top of Billboard's "Hot 100" chart, an accomplishment that only two artists have done in the history of music, once with Usher (2004), and with Mariah Carey (2005).
Always the businessman, DeVyne brokered a new label deal for Akon with Interscope/Geffen Records for Akon's Kon Live label. "I like to see the artist on my label grow to be entrepreneurs just as I did. We are a family that builds each other up," states Stephens. Akon tapped Stephens to be the Executive V.P. of his new label, a testament to their mutual respect and solid commitment to the Upfront and Konvict family.
Stephens started his career in the music industry in the early 90s starting out as an artist himself signed as the first act to LaFace Records (DeVyne spearheaded a group called DeVyne and 90 MPH). While signed to LaFace, LA Reid enlisted DeVyne Stephens' expertise to help develop the artists on his roster which included Pink, Usher, Toni Braxton, and TLC. DeVyne went on to work outside of LaFace with artist such as Gwen Stefani, P. Diddy, Jay-Z, Ciara and Mary J. Blige, amongst other notables. Needless the say DeVyne, all for the better, put his rap career to the side.
"Artist development has always been in my blood. It came to the forefront when I was working with Boyz 2 Men and Bass from the group told me that I should really make a career out of developing artists. I have always had an eye for stars and an ear for hits and I've always known how to bring the best out of performers. It's just a gift," states Stephens.
Upfront's current artist roster also boasts male vocal group Red Dirt, Kandi Burrus (formerly of platinum-selling R&B group Xscape), rap group FA, and soul vocalist Rod Michaels as well as a host of producers and songwriters. Watch out for Red Dirt early 2007, the next act to be released on Upfront Megatainment.
"Red Dirt is a mix between Jodeci and Mint Condition's strong vocals combined with true musicality. They are what's missing in R&B today from a male vocalist group," states Stephens.
