Konvict Kulture Explained

Konvict Kulture
Founded:	2003 as Konvict Muzik 2022 Konvict Kulture (rebrand)
Founder:	Melvin Brown Akon
Distributor:	Vydia (2020–present)^[1] Universal Motown Records (2005–2011) Universal Republic Records (2011–2014) Interscope Records (2006–2014)^[2] Def Jam Recordings (2008–2014) Sony Music (Jive/RCA) (2005/2017)
Genre:	Hip hop, R&B
Country:	United States
Website:	https://konvictkulture.com/

Konvict Kulture is a record label founded by Melvin Brown and R&B singer Akon in 2003 under the name Konvict Muzik.^[3] Artists including T-Pain, Kat DeLuna, Mali Music, Red Café, Dolla, Ya Boy, and Costa Titch have signed to and released singles or albums by the label.^[4] ^[5] Heard at the beginning of many of the label's recordings, besides Akon's own production or songwriting contribution, is the sound of the clank of a jail cell, followed by Akon uttering "Konvict". In 2022, the label was rebranded into Konvict Kulture.^[6] By 2011, Fotemah Mba was appointed Vice President of A&R for the label.

The label operated with another label founded by Akon in 2006, KonLive Distribution, whose flagship artist was Lady Gaga. KonLive was an imprint of Interscope Records, while Konvict Muzik was an imprint of Akon's label, Universal Motown Records prior to the launching of KonLive. In 2011, Akon signed Nigerian artists P-Square, Tuface, and Wizkid as representatives of the label in Africa.^[7]

Background

Akon started his own label after the success of his 2003 mixtape Akonvict.

KonLive Distribution

KonLive Distribution
Parent:	Interscope-Geffen-A&M
Founded:	^[8]
Founder:	Akon
Distributor:	Interscope-Geffen-A&M^[9]
Genre:	Pop, dance, R&B, hip hop
Country:	United States

KonLive Distribution (or simply KonLive) was a record label founded in 2006 as a joint venture with Jimmy Iovine's Interscope Records, the label was to allow both parties to manage the career and recording catalogue of singer Lady Gaga.^[10] Other notable acts signed to the label included Kardinal Offishall, Colby O'Donis, Brick & Lace, Mali Music, Natalia Kills, Jeffree Star, R. City, Ya Boy, and Verse Simmonds.^[11] ^[12]

Notable artists

Current

Akon
Amirror^[13]

Former Konvict Artists

OG Boo Dirty
Demarco
Sarkodie
Jonn Hart
P-Square^[14]
Verse Simmonds^[15]
Bohagon
Wizkid^[14]
Omega
Cyhi the Prynce
Billy Blue
S. Fresh
Lego
Costa Titch (deceased)
D Teck
Dolla (deceased)
French Montana
T-Pain
Jeffree Star
JQT
Red Cafe
Sean Teezy

Former KonLive Artists

Discography

Artist	Album	Album details	Singles
T-Pain	Rappa Ternt Sanga	Released: December 5, 2005 Label: Konvict Muzik Chart position: 33 U.S. RIAA certification: Gold	I'm Sprung I'm N Luv (Wit A Stripper)
Akon	Konvicted	Released: November 14, 2006 Label: Konvict Muzik Chart position: 2 U.S. RIAA certification: 3× Platinum	Smack That I Wanna Love You Don't Matter Mama Africa Sorry, Blame It on Me
T-Pain	Epiphany	Released: June 5, 2007 Label: Konvict Muzik Chart position: 1 U.S. RIAA certification: Platinum	Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') Bartender Church
Brick & Lace	Love Is Wicked	Released: September 4, 2007 Label: KonLive Distribution Chart position: — RIAA certification: —	Never Never Love Is Wicked Get That Clear (Hold Up) Take Me Back Bad To Di Bone
Lady Gaga	The Fame	Released: August 19, 2008 Label: KonLive Distribution Chart position: 2 U.S. RIAA certification: 6× Platinum	Just Dance Poker Face Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say) LoveGame Paparazzi
Kardinal Offishall	Not 4 Sale	Released: September 9, 2008 Label: KonLive Distribution Chart position: 40 U.S. RIAA certification: —	Dangerous Set It Off Burnt Numba 1 (Tide Is High)
Colby O'Donis	Colby O	Released: September 16, 2008 Label: KonLive Distribution Chart position: 41 U.S. RIAA certification: —	What You Got Don't Turn Back Let You Go
Sway	The Signature LP	Released: October 6, 2008 Label: Konvict Muzik Chart position: 51 U.K. RIAA certification: —	F Ur X featuring $tush Saturday Night Hustle Silver & Gold
T-Pain	Thr33 Ringz	Released: November 11, 2008 Label: Konvict Muzik Chart position: 4 U.S. RIAA certification: Gold	Can't Believe It Chopped N Skrewed Freeze
Akon	Freedom	Released: December 2, 2008 Label: Konvict Muzik Chart position: 7 U.S. RIAA certification: 2× Platinum	Right Now (Na Na Na) I'm So Paid Beautiful
Lady Gaga	The Fame Monster	Released: November 18, 2009 Label: KonLive Distribution Chart position: 5 U.S. RIAA certification: 5× Platinum	Bad Romance Telephone Alejandro Dance in the Dark
Natalia Kills	Perfectionist	Released: March 15, 2011 Label: KonLive Distribution Chart position: 134 U.S. RIAA certification: —	Mirrors Wonderland Free Kill My Boyfriend
Lady Gaga	Born This Way	Released: May 23, 2011 Label: KonLive Distribution Chart position: 1 U.S. RIAA certification: 4× Platinum	Born This Way Judas The Edge of Glory You and I Marry the Night
T-Pain	Revolver	Released: December 6, 2011 Label: Konvict Muzik Chart position: 28 U.S. RIAA certification: —	Best Love Song 5 O'Clock Turn All the Lights On
Jeffree Star	Mr. Diva - EP	Released: October 2, 2012 Label: KonLive Distribution Chart position: — RIAA certification: —	Mr. Diva Legs Up

Notes and References

Web site: // Konvict Kulture and Vydia Announce Partnership // Vydia //. www.vydia.com.
Web site: Akon Signs Ya Boy to Konvict Music . February 26, 2010 .
http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/features/2007/09/3137/ Melvin Brown: Konvict Business
Web site: Masuku . Brooklyn . 2023-02-08 . Costa Titch Announces Global Partnership Deal with Akon's label Konvict Kulture . 2024-01-31 . Gagasi World . en-US.
Web site: 2011-11-01 . Akon Signs Gospel Rapper Mali Music to Konvict Muzik . 2024-01-31 . AllHipHop . en-US.
Web site: Brown . Preezy . 2022-10-30 . Akon Preps Partnership With TikTok, Afrobeat's Movement And The Rebirth Of Konvict Muzik . 2024-01-31 . VIBE.com.
http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/12/19/akon-signs-2face-wizkid-and-psquare-to-konvict-musik Akon signs 2face, Wizkid and P-Square as Konvict Musik Representatives
The Akon Empire . .
http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-12-20/r-b-hip-hop-albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Not 4 Sale
Web site: Lady Gaga's 'Just Dance' turns 15: Akon, RedOne on the hit that almost went to the Pussycat Dolls. March 23, 2023. Nolfi. Joey. Entertainment Weekly.
Web site: KonLive Distribution. .
Web site: Akon Signs Verse Simmonds to KonLive . .
https://thenationonlineng.net/akons-konvict-kulture-unveils-amirror/ Akon’s Konvict Kulture Unveils New Afrobeats Star, Amirror
Web site: Akon's label, Konvict signs Wizkid Psquare, Tuface! . . December 19, 2011 . March 7, 2014 . Mgbolu, Charles.
Web site: Konvict Muzik Artists. June 26, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20110815233940/http://konvictmuzikgroup.com/?page_id=59. August 15, 2011. dead.
Web site: 2014-05-31 . Akon Says He "Cashed Out" On Lady Gaga Before Her Decline . https://web.archive.org/web/20140531225221/https://www.popdust.com/2014/03/24/akon-says-he-cashed-out-on-lady-gaga-before-her-decline/ . dead . 2014-05-31 . 2024-03-08 .