Akon can retire a few decades earlier, thanks to his gutsy decision to sign fashion risk taker/pop sensation Lady Gaga. Akon signed the quirky hitmaker to his KonLive label at Interscope Records in 2007 after the 23-year-old was dropped by at least five other imprints. It’s a move that has set Akon up for life. Gaga’s Grammy-winning dance anthems — like “LoveGame,” “Bad Romance,” and “Poker Face” –have gone on to dominate music charts across the globe.