He’s got a knack for molding music stars

That’s because he doesn’t specialize in just one thing. He can negotiate record deals, teach trendy dance routines, see if a song is hot or not, determine whether a certain career is heading down the right path and run two record labels.

Top hitmaker Akon says he wouldn’t have reached his full potential if it wasn’t for Stephens.

“Devyne taught me how the [music] game actually works,’’ says the multiplatinum singer, songwriter, and producer.

“I would just be around Devyne, watch him and that’s how I developed,’’ Akon added. “I got in because of Devyne.’’

In almost two decades, Stephens, 39, has gathered a long list of high-profile clients. He’s worked with Usher since the Grammy-winning singer was 12, choreographed for Diddy, and helped Mary J. Blige transform her street fashion style into a more sleek and glamorous look. From wanna-be-superstars to the real thing, artists rely on Stephens’s personal hand to help guide their careers.

“It’s all about seeing the process of change and making ideas come into fruition,’’ says Stephens, as he sits upstairs at the Complex, a development facility he started five years ago. It’s a one-stop shop where novice acts can go through a 30-to-60 day program that includes media training, a vocal coach, choreography, a fitness program, and an overall evaluation before being shopped to a label for record deal.

R&B singer Ciara trained at Stephens’s facility before she became a one-named sensation back in 2004 with “Goodies’’; it’s also where some pro athletes work out. In addition, Stephens owns Dreamland - a sprawling 18,000-square-foot mansion on 19 acres in suburban Atlanta - which is a hot spot for exclusive and upscale events.

The Atlanta native has spent most of his career behind the spotlight, but when he first started out, he was the one seeking fame. He was signed in the early 1990s by LaFace Records with his own group, Devyne featuring 90 Miles Per Hour. But they broke up before releasing an album and he started working in artist development for the label.

With LaFace, Stephens groomed Grammy-award winning group TLC.

“Michael Jackson is the best dancer I’ve ever seen and Devyne is my second favorite in the world,’’ says T-Boz of TLC, who attended high school with Stephens.

While Stephens was helping acts reach their peak, he learned more about negotiating record deals and teaching artists how to interact with the media. He decided to retire from choreography five years ago to concentrate more on the Complex and guide the career of Akon, who was a struggling musician when they met 10 years ago.

Stephens started working with Akon, taking almost five years to help the then-rapper grow as a songwriter and producer. He also told Akon he would capture more listeners if he sang about his tribulations of being a convict rather than rap about it.

But what took Stephens to another level was his ability to negotiate Akon’s record deal with SRC Records.

“This guy has a vision like no else out there,’’ said Steve Rifkind, founder of SRC Records. “He really sees something from someone who has the possibility of being great. He can execute his vision. He’ll produce.’’

Now, Stephens has a roster ranging from Akon to T-Pain to the up-and-coming group Rock City, who each can write and produce songs. With a slumping economy and lackluster record sales, he believes having more than one talent can help artists survive nowadays in the music industry.

“You have to be very versatile in this climate,’’ Stephens says.