Senegalese-American singer Akon, whose birth name is Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam, has opened up about his experience with Nigerian singer May D and the former P-Square camp, recalling the moment he began to question the management arrangement around the singer.

According to Akon, his concerns began when he was told that May D would not be appearing in the video for Chop My Money, despite having one of the most recognisable voices on the record.

“I first sensed something was wrong when management told me that May D would not appear in the video for a hit record that carried his golden voice,” Akon said.

The singer said he found the decision difficult to understand and insisted that May D be brought to the United States to take part in the shoot.

The Chop My Money remix was released while May D was signed to P-Square’s Square Records. Featuring P-Square, Akon and May D, the song became one of the standout Afrobeats collaborations of its time. When the video was eventually released in 2012, all three artists appeared in it.

For Akon, it was only fair that May D was given his moment on screen. If an artist had made a significant contribution to a song, he believed that contribution should be recognised beyond just the audio.
Akon also recalled meeting May D and immediately seeing his potential. However, he said he felt the singer did not fully understand the business side of the music industry or the opportunities available to him.

He later made May D a private offer, which he believed could have given the singer more independence. But according to Akon, May D shared details of the conversation with the same people Akon believed were restricting him.

The story is not entirely new to fans. May D spoke about the situation himself during a 2025 appearance on The Honest Bunch podcast. He said he was initially left behind in Nigeria when plans were being made for the Chop My Money video, before Akon reportedly insisted that he be flown to the United States.

May D also claimed that Akon later discussed possible deals with him and invited him back to the US. He said telling P-Square about the conversation was a mistake and believes it contributed to his eventual fallout with the group.

May D left Square Records in 2012, bringing his short but memorable run with the label to an end. More than a decade later, the circumstances surrounding his departure and the opportunities he may have missed continue to fuel conversations.