NE-YO & AKON

ABOUT NE-YO

NE-YO is a three-time, GRAMMY award-winning hitmaker, songwriter, actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist whose smooth vocals, creative storytelling and dynamic versatility have defined the sound of music for nearly two decades. NE-YO ascended to superstardom with his 2005 debut single “So Sick,” which was certified quadruple- platinum. Since then, NE-YO has continued to deliver an array of era-shaping singles, including “Sexy Love,” “Closer,” “Because of You,” “Miss Independent,” “Mad,” “Let Me Love You,” “Time of Our Lives,” and many more. He also earned his first diamond-certified song with his collaboration with Pitbull and Afrojack on “Give Me Everything.”

As a solo artist, NE-YO has cemented his legacy as one of the all-time hitmakers, winning three GRAMMY awards, earning two No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 and generating over 23 billion streams across his entire catalog. February 2026 will mark the 20-year anniversary of his debut album, “In My Own Words,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and became a cultural touchstone. Additionally, NE-YO has proven to be an equally talented songwriter, penning bangers like Rihanna’s “Unfaithful,” “Russian Roulette,” and “Take a Bow,” along with Beyoncé’s 2006 breakup anthem “Irreplaceable” and songs for such artists as Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion and Mario, among others.

His iconic discography was on display during his NPR Tiny Desk concert, where he performed his chart- topping hits. Most recently, NE-YO was honored with the Key to the City of Las Vegas and a proclamation from the mayor that designated August 7 as “NE-YO Day” in the city, considering he was raised in Las Vegas and spent time at the local Boys & Girls Club. The multihyphenate has also leveraged his platform to expand into the film and television space, appearing in STARZ’s BMF, NBC’s World of Dance, Netflix’s Dance Monsters, Empire, Stomp the Yard, Save the Last Dance, Battle: Los Angeles, George Lucas' Red Tails, The Wiz Live!, Starz’ Step Up: High Water, Hip Hop Family Christmas Wedding and The Sound of Christmas.

NE-YO is currently gearing up to explore a new musical frontier and preparing to release his country-inspired album. He has spent months in Nashville, working with different collaborators to blend his signature sound with the poignant melodies of country music.

ABOUT AKON

AKON is an award-winning Senegalese-American multi-platinum recording artist, singer, producer, entrepreneur, actor, and philanthropist best known for dominating Billboard charts with a unique sound that transcends the R&B/Hip-Hop, EDM Dance, and Pop genres. AKON is the founder of three major recording labels – Konlive, Konvict Kulture and KONVICT Music - that launched the careers of global artists like T-Pain, Lady Gaga, and Kardinal Offishall. Over two decades, he has sold more than 35 million albums worldwide, earned five Grammy nominations, released 45 Billboard Hot 100 songs, and made over 300 guest appearances for generational icons such as Michael Jackson, David Guetta, Gwen Stefani, Lil’ Wayne, and Eminem. His many accolades include an American Music Award for “Favorite R&B Male Artist;” three World Music Awards for “Best Selling African Artist,” “Best Selling Internet Artist,” and “Best Selling R&B Male Artist;” a Billboard Music Award for “Artist of the Year;” and a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the #1 selling artist for master ringtones. He is the first solo artist in history to garner the top two spots on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2010, Forbes listed him among the top Celebrity 100 (2010) and Pepsi approached him to produce/record “Oh Africa” for the 2010 World Cup. Philanthropic passions led him to give back to his homeland through the creation of TheKonfidence Foundation, benefitting underserved children in Africa and the U.S. He also launched a partnership to bring electricity to one million African households by the end of 2014. In 2018, he launched Akoin, a new cryptocurrency aiming to help further African communities by empowering economic development.