In this VladTV Flashback from 2020, Akon spoke about linking up with music executive Devyne Stephens and eventually signed with Steve Rifkind's SRC Records. He went on to confirm that he was on a promo tour for a year and a half before "Locked Up" finally took off. He also disclosed that he turned down four or five other offers to sign with SRC for only $12,000 because he felt like Rifkind truly believed in him.