AKON EYED RETIREMENT AFTER JACKSON DUET.

R&B star AKON considered retiring from the music business after recording a duet with MICHAEL JACKSON - because he had fulfilled one of his lifelong ambitions. The Smack That hitmaker teamed up with the pop legend for a new track entitled Hold My Hand - which will be featured on Akon's forthcoming album Acquitted. And Akon insists that working with his childhood idol was the greatest moment of his career. He tells MTV.com, "That was a dream come true. I had a wish list of all the collaborations I ever wanted to do. Mike was at the top. I was saying, 'Well, if ever I get to Mike, then that'll be the sign I can retire.' But I got to Mike 10 years earlier than I expected. So I decided not to make retirement goals anymore."