Akon says he "cashed out" on a record label deal with Lady Gaga when she was at her peak.

The US rapper runs the company Kon Live and it helped release the 'Applause' star's albums before 'ARTPOP' in 2013.

However, Akon told DJ Sway on Sirius XM radio that he cut off the deal before her latest record because the music man thought Gaga was on the decline.

He said: "I got out while the gooding (sic) was hot. It's like a business, you build it to sell it. When I got it to the peak of where I felt it couldn't go nowhere, and there was nowhere left to go but down, I cashed out, in other words I sold my share and got out before it was too late."

When it was suggested that the sales figures of 'ARTPOP' doesn't compare to her previous releases, Akon replied:

"That's why I got out."

Watch Lady Gaga throughout the years below: