Don Jazzy And D’Banj: Gains And Losses Of Mo’Hits Break-Up

By: Samuel Abulude

18 months after the break up in Mo’Hits, one of the vibrant labels in the music industry, which led to its collapse, SAMUEL ABULUDE writes on how the major players, Don Jazzy and D’Banj have fared

Hardly will music experts recount those who made it in the afro hip hop music trend within the past ten years in the industry without making mention of the iconic duo and co-owners of Mo’Hits. With TuFace Idibia arguably the biggest export of the music genre in Nigeria and others like Sound Sultan rocking the industry mid and late 2000, D’Banj, co-owner of Mo’Hits, became the prince of afro hip hop music.

Less than a decade after, Mo’ Hits has died; no thanks to the parting of ways of D’Banj and Don Jazzy as international fame beckoned. Both personalities have moved on and had their own individual gains but the swag and music finesse which was unique about their music is missing.

In the Beginning

They both had a strong desire to do music back in London where they met. It was a case of destiny meeting opportunity. Michael Collins Ajereh, known as Don Jazzy who was an instrumentalist, met D’Banj (Dapo Oyebanjo), an ambitious man who wanted to do music. He was part of JJC, a music group based in London. Mo’Hits Records was the result, founded in 2004, and this pushed the career of D’Banj, with hit singles, debut album, No Long Thing, released the following year with hit singles like Tongolo, Mo bolowon and other releases, Run Down and The Entertainer.

This gave Mo’Hits Records a pride of place as a popular record label due to the commercial success of the albums. Don Jazzy, the CEO, always featured in the videos of D’Banj and watchers in the industry felt the team were inseparable and were going to rock the scene for a long time. Other artistes, Wande Coal who released from Mushin to Mo’Hits, Dr Sid, D’Prince and Kay Switch were signed on at different times and the success story continued with the koko master, D’Banj, a major success of the group with awards, big shows and the attendant high finances to show for it.

The Break Up

Success comes with challenges. D’Banj and his music producer and partner, Don Jazzy, having made their imprint in the music industry, were set for higher heights part of which was international collaboration as the attention of global music was set on the Nigerian music scene. With ace American rapper, Snoop Dog now Snoop Lion, featuring in D’Banj’s Mr Endowed remix, this ushered their entry into the headquarters of music and entertainment. Then the fateful meeting with Kanye West in 2011 leading to D’Banj or rather Mo’Hits signed into Kanye’s G.O.O.D Music Record label in June same year, a grand opportunity to rub shoulders with the movers and shakers of world hip hop music.

No one knows what really led to D’Banj and Don Jazzy breakup but insiders alleged that the ‘ungodly’ influence of Kanye West on D’Banj and ultimately Mo’Hits might have unsettled Don Jazzy who had his ideas on the direction the record label ought to follow. After all, D’Banj was not the only artiste under the label. With the unconfirmed report of D’Banj being dragged to illuminati known to be a music cum social cult by Kanye, and Don Jazzy not wanting to be part of this, a breakup was imminent.

It was unfortunate and heart breaking. After several months of speculations, Don Jazzy confirmed in March 2012 through his twitter account that D’banj had left the group. D’Banj’s reason for leaving was cited as difference in interests.

After the breakup, Don Jazzy, D’Prince, Dr SID and Wande Coal started Marvin Records while D’banj, Jay Sleek and Kay Switch founded DB Records. Marvin Records added Tiwa Savage, a talented singer and accomplished songwriter, into their crew which was an interesting development.

Entertainment expert and lawyer, Akinyemi Ayanoluwa, said it would take a little more time for them to find the perfect formula again. He said “D’banj is yet to find a producer that can understand his sound and help midwife a new sound, or a producer that will help fill in the space once occupied by Don Jazzy. Don Jazzy is yet to find that Elvis Presley, a sex symbol that can bring charm and ‘swag’ to beats the same way D’banj did to Don Jazzy beats during the Mo’Hits days. They are both winning with endorsements, performances and appearances. The industry is better for it, the more the merrier the more the growth. The only downside is failure to have enduring partnership that transcends ethnic considerations.

After Mo’Hits Saga

Since the breakup last year, D’Banj has recorded some success. Hit single, Oliver Twist, produced prior to the parting of ways, gave him a lot of awards. His Koko Concert attracted a lot of crowds and brought American artistes like Pusha T, Common and 2 Chains along with Nigerian artistes. With different contracts in the offing for D’Banj, he signed a contract with Sony Music of the United States.

With D’Banj’s iconic status, nothing less was expected of him. The afro hip hop star artiste, who refers himself as Eja Nla meaning big fish in Yoruba language, sang in the closing ceremony of the South Africa 2013 nations cup held in January this year. Before then, D’banj, in June 2012, performed at the Hackney Weekend to celebrate the 2012 summer Olympics, which was headlined by Jay Z and Rihanna. He performed alongside his friend and fellow Universal Music Group label mate, Rita Ora, at the SCALA London Live Music, Clubs and Arts Venue to celebrate the release of her debut album, Ora. He has also recorded endorsements like the Bank of Industry BOI brand ambassadorship.

Don Jazzy, who has a gentlemanly mien, has also recorded other successes and endorsements like the Loya Milk, MTN ambassador. It must be said that in terms of international acclaim, D’Banj has more of that and this has increased his fame which was what he desired and laboured for in the first place, but the quality of his music has suffered according to observers.

Post Mo’Hits Era: D’Banj’s Music Suffers

But it will be said that his music content is not as eclectic as his former songs and albums which had the full input and imprint of ace music producer, Don Jazzy. Riding on the high of his fame home and abroad, the koko master and Oliver Twist crooner released his fourth album, D King’s Men DKM, amidst pomp and razzmatazz after the previous three, No Long Thing, Run Down Funk U Up and Entertainer, produced under Mo’Hits Records in 2005, 2006, 2008 respectively.

Music producers, radio DJs and music followers have observed that his recent album, DKM, is a good album but not better than the previous ones in terms of the music content. Some even urged him to have a business relationship with Don Jazzy known for producing quality and unique hip hop music to produce some of his songs. Afro hip hop has been D’Banj’s mainstay and Don Jazzy, his erstwhile partner, helped in honing this style of music with good beats.

Marvin Crew’s Music Success

Saddled with the burden to build a new record label after Mo’Hits crashed, the former CEO established Marvin Crew with the arduous effort of churning out great hits of his artistes’ music namely Wande Coal, D’Prince, his brother and Dr Sid.

After moaning their loss as fallout of D’Banj and Don Jazzy, the artistes needed to hit the ground running and spend quality time in the studio to make the label a brand among growing number of successful record labels in the industry.