{{Short description|Record label}} {{redirect|Konvict|the album by Akon|Konvicted}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}} {{Infobox record label | name = Konvict Kulture | image = 160px | parent = | founded = 2003 as Konvict Muzik <!-- T-Pain's ''Rappa Ternt Sanga'' was the label's first release in 2005, but recorded in 2004. --><br/>2022 as Konvict Kulture (rebrand) | founder = Akon<br>Melvin Brown<br>Bu Thiam | distributor = Vydia (2020–present)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vydia.com/konvict-kulture-announces-partnership-with-vydia/ // Konvict Kulture and Vydia Announce Partnership // Vydia //|website=www.vydia.com}}</ref><br />Universal Motown Records (2005–2011)<br />Universal Republic Records (2011–2014)<br />Interscope Records (2006–2014)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.10720/title.akon-signs-ya-boy-to-konvict-music | title=Akon Signs Ya Boy to Konvict Music | date=February 26, 2010 | access-date=October 5, 2024 | archive-date=December 5, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205040602/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10720/title.akon-signs-ya-boy-to-konvict-music | url-status=live }}</ref><br />Def Jam Recordings (2008–2014)<br />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 singer Akon, Melvin Brown and Bu Thiam in 2003 under the name Konvict Muzik.<ref>[http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/features/2007/09/3137/ Melvin Brown: Konvict Business] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008002720/http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/features/2007/09/3137/ |date=October 8, 2008 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Masuku |first=Brooklyn |date=2023-02-08 |title=Costa Titch Announces Global Partnership Deal with Akon's label Konvict Kulture |url=https://gagasiworld.co.za/costa-titch-announces-global-partnership-deal-with-akons-label-konvict-kulture/ |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=Gagasi World |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2011-11-01 |title=Akon Signs Gospel Rapper Mali Music to Konvict Muzik |url=https://allhiphop.com/news/akon-signs-gospel-rapper-mali-music-to-konvict-muzik/ |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=AllHipHop |language=en-US}}</ref> 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'''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Preezy |date=2022-10-30 |title=Akon Preps Partnership With TikTok, Afrobeat's Movement And The Rebirth Of Konvict Muzik |url=https://www.vibe.com/features/editorial/akon-tiktok-afrobeat-konvict-muzik-1234703338/ |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=VIBE.com}}</ref> By 2011, Fotemah Mba was appointed Vice President of A&R for the label.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
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.<ref name="africanartists">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cp-africa.com/2011/12/19/akon-signs-2face-wizkid-and-psquare-to-konvict-musik |title=Akon signs 2face, Wizkid and P-Square as Konvict Musik Representatives |access-date=October 5, 2024 |archive-date=April 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417195444/https://www.cp-africa.com/2011/12/19/akon-signs-2face-wizkid-and-psquare-to-konvict-musik/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Background== Akon started his own label after the success of his 2003 mixtape ''Akonvict.''
thumb|upright=.85|Original Konvict Muzik Logo
==KonLive Distribution== {{Infobox record label | name = KonLive Distribution | image = Kon Live Distribution logo.gif | parent = Interscope-Geffen-A&M | founded = {{start date and age|2006}}<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/the-akon-empire-1048640/ | title=The Akon Empire | magazine=Billboard }}</ref> | defunct = {{end date and age|2013}} | founder = Akon | distributor = Interscope Records<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-12-20/r-b-hip-hop-albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Not 4 Sale] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425202409/http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-12-20/r-b-hip-hop-albums |date=April 25, 2014 }}</ref><br>Geffen Records<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-12-20/r-b-hip-hop-albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Not 4 Sale] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425202409/http://www.billboard.com/charts/2008-12-20/r-b-hip-hop-albums |date=April 25, 2014 }}</ref> | genre = Pop, dance, R&B, hip hop | country = United States | location = | website = }}
'''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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/music/2018/04/10/lady-gaga-just-dance-10-year-anniversary-redone-akon-interview/|title=Lady Gaga's 'Just Dance' turns 15: Akon, RedOne on the hit that almost went to the Pussycat Dolls|date=March 23, 2023|last=Nolfi|first=Joey|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=October 5, 2024|archive-date=September 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920170918/https://ew.com/music/2018/04/10/lady-gaga-just-dance-10-year-anniversary-redone-akon-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/label/755634-KonLive-Distribution|title=KonLive Distribution|website=Discogs }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mtv.com/news/znad9m/verse-simmonds-akon-konlive | title=Akon Signs Verse Simmonds to KonLive | website=MTV }}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
==Notable artists== {{More citations needed section|date=October 2025}}
===Current=== *Akon *Jonn Hart
===Former Konvict Artists=== *OG Boo Dirty *Demarco * Sarkodie * P-Square<ref name="africanartists" /><ref name ="Vanguard">{{Cite news | url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/12/akons-label-konvict-signs-wizkid-psquare-tuface/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria| title=Akon's label, Konvict signs Wizkid Psquare, Tuface! | date=December 19, 2011 | access-date=March 7, 2014 | author=Mgbolu, Charles|newspaper=Vanguard}}</ref> * Verse Simmonds<ref name="artists">{{cite web|url=http://konvictmuzikgroup.com/?page_id=59|title=Konvict Muzik Artists|access-date=June 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815233940/http://konvictmuzikgroup.com/?page_id=59|archive-date=August 15, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Wizkid<ref name="africanartists" /><ref name ="Vanguard"/> * Omega *Sammie * Cyhi the Prynce * Costa Titch (deceased) * D Teck * Dolla (deceased) * French Montana * T-Pain * Jeffree Star * JQT * Red Cafe
===Former KonLive Artists=== * Lady Gaga<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-05-31 |title=Akon Says He "Cashed Out" On Lady Gaga Before Her Decline |url=https://www.popdust.com/2014/03/24/akon-says-he-cashed-out-on-lady-gaga-before-her-decline/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531225221/https://www.popdust.com/2014/03/24/akon-says-he-cashed-out-on-lady-gaga-before-her-decline/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-05-31 |access-date=2024-03-08 }}</ref> * Kardinal Offishall * Ya Boy * R. City * Brick & Lace * Natalia Kills * Jeffree Star * Colby O'Donis * Mali Music
==Discography== {|class="wikitable unsortable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! style="min-width:6em;" | Artist ! style="min-width:11em;" | Album ! style="min-width:16em;" | Album details ! style="min-width:16em;" | 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 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Konvict Muzik |state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Record labels established in 2005 Category:Sony Music Category:Record labels established in 2006 Category:Contemporary R&B record labels Category:Labels distributed by Universal Music Group Category:Hip-hop record labels Category:Vanity record labels Category:Akon Category:SRC Records