May 2012 saw the end of arguably the
greatest producer-singer combination in the history of Nigerian music:
Don Jazzy and D’banj.
In the weeks leading to the split, both
had signed deals of sorts with Kanye West‘s G.O.O.D Music, and plenty
reports had claimed Don Jazzy was unhappy with D’banj’s over-eager
ambition to be an international star.
It was suggested that Don Jazzy wasn’t at
ease with the G.O.O.D Music deal, and was content with being – for lack
of a better phrase – “a local champion”. (Oddly, it was Jazzy who got
to work with Kanye West first, after producing Lift Off).
Following their last song together,
Oliver Twist, D’banj took his business overseas, while Don Jazzy took
what was left of the Mo-Hits crew, and created his Mavin Records label,
signing on Tiwa Savage.
The first few months after the breakup
were tough on the both of them, music-wise. D’banj struggled to blend
into the majorly rap G.O.O.D music, making a 3 second cameo in the video
of Mercy, and was left out of the label’s Cruel Summer album.
Don Jazzy and his new Mavins team didn’t
have it so easy at first either, releasing a compilation which, while
not totally terrible, was way below what one would expect from the
legendary Don Jazzy and veteran acts like Wande Coal (who later left to
start on his own), and Dr. Sid.
But teething problems aside, both sides
began to bloom in what they were actually best at: D’banj at
money-making, and Don Jazzy at music-making.
Though D’banj’s music career has not been
a total dud (songs like Finally & Bother You made little waves),
he’s been more of a business man over the past 2 years, affiliating
himself with brands like the World Bank and signing endorsements
everywhere from Cocacola to Sony to most recently, Apple/Beats.
Don Jazzy has also not been sleeping
endorsements-wise (he’s signed to Loya Milk & MTN, amongst others),
but he’s played a significant part in developing Nigeria’s music,
constantly raising the bar for other producers, while bringing up young
artistes and still producing street anthems from The Kick to Dorobucci.
So who really got off better from the split of the iconic Mo-Hits? Who really won?
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