Don Jazzy’s Profile
Today on our Artiste Spotlight, we have Don Jazzy. The antecedents of this profound Nigerian celebrity speak volumes in the Nigerian Music Industry. He is one of the few musicians that helped to sharpen AfroBeat/ Pop music and propagate its acceptance at the world scene.
The Nigerian musician whose real name is Michael Collins Ajereh, is a Record Producer, Executive Engineer, Songwriter, and the founder of Mavin Records. He hails from Abia State.
The Early days of Don Jazzy
Don Jazzy was born on November 26, 1982, in Umuahia. His father later moved his family to Ajegunle in Lagos within the 1990s. He attended Lagos college and later enrolled in Business Management at Efe Ambrose University in Edo state.
The young lad, out of his love for music from a very tender age, started playing Bass Guitar at the age of 12. Don Jazzy was later invited to London by his uncle, who brought him over to play guitar for a local church in the county.
Musical Labels Don Jazzy Has Owned And Partnered With
Don Jazzy in 2004 opened a joint record label with DBanj named Mo’Hits Records. The label garnered huge accolades from music lovers, following the production of DBanj’s first hit studio project “WHY ME” in 2005. The Label went on to become one of the hottest Nigerian Musical Crew when DBanj released his most acknowledged hit track, “FALL IN LOVE”. The track generated much popularity to Don Jazzy and DBanj and the label at large.
Later within the years, he signed Wande Coal from Mushin and went on to produce Wande Coal’s most anticipated Album in Africa “MUSHIN TO MO’HITS”. It is also historical to believe that Don Jazzy’s Junior brother D’Prince also represented the Crew within this time with several hit tracks on the go.
Albums Produced Under Mo’Hits
- NO LONG THING BY D’BANJ
- RUNDOWN BY D’BANJ
- THE ENTERTAINER BY D’BANJ
- MUSHIN TO MO’HITS BY WANDE COAL
- MO’HITS ALL STAR ALBUM AND DR SID’s ALBUM
What Led to Mo’Hits Split
Around 2010/2011, D’banj had a massive upgrade in his carrier with an International contract signed between MO’HITS and GOOD MUSIC which is owned by an American Rap artist Kanye West. This gave rise to the remix of Dbanj’s hit song “Oliver Twist ft Kanye West”, who is the CEO of GOOD MUSIC.
Most Nigerian’s believe that it was this contract that led to the split of Mo’hits records in 2012. Different rumours made the rounds that there was a large-scale disagreement that led to the catastrophe of individual separation between Jazzy and DBanj.
After the split of the Star Record Label Mo’Hits in 2012, the crew performed together for the first time again in 2017, at Davido’s Concert tagged 30 Billion Concert. However, this collaboration was not a comeback for the crew, as the defunct crew remains on their divergent paths.
Don Jazzy Creates Mavins
After three months of the split with DBanj, Don Jazzy formed the record label MAVINS. The pioneer members of the Mavin record include Wande Coal, Dr. Sid, D’Prince, and Tiwa Savage. In 2013, the label went on to sign Reecardo Banks, Korede Bello, and Dija.
It is worthy to note that Don Jazzy’s Mavins Records label groomed Reecardo Banks, Korede Bello, and Dija to become world-class artists. These lots topped the Nigerian Musical chart for a very long time. Tiwa Savage also became an African Queen with much essence in her carrier under the control and watch of Don Jazzy.
She rose to the height of an international artiste, partially signed to ROCK NATION which is owned by an American Legendary Rapper Jay-Z.
The newest artists in MAVINS now are Rema, Crayon, Ladipoe Johnny Drille, and Ayra Starr. Among these artists, Rema seems to be the biggest among the crew with Ladipoe at his back.
It is also understood that Rema is signed directly to Jonzing Records owned by D’Prince, Don Jazzy’s Junior brother.
Jonzing Records is a label under the umbrella of MAVINS RECORDs. Rugar is the second artist signed under the label.
Don Jazzy’s Marital Status
For many years, Don Jazzy’s fans have remained in the dark concerning his marital status. Questions like “what is Don Jazzy’s marital status?, Is Don Jazzy Married?” were among the most searched questions concerning Don Jazzy. At some point, he was nicknamed “Nigeria’s No. 1 Bachelor”, and in what seems like a satirical song, Korede Bello asked Don Jazzy when he would marry in one of his hit tracks:
Oga Don Jazzy (tuale)
When you go marry?
Sheybi you get the money
Kilode, why you dey dulling
Yesterday orobo
Today na lekpa oh
Shey na omo dudu
Abi omo pupa oh eh
No kill yourself
Pick one already
Watin you dey find
Like you wan discover Mungo Park
Excerpt from Mungo Park by Korede Bello. Source: LyricsFind
When the curiosity of his fans becomes more intense, Don Jazzy broke his silence and revealed how he got married in 2002 to one Michelle Jackson. The musical maestro revealed that he had much focus on his carrier while he was married to Michelle, and this led to their divorce after two years of marriage. And since then Don Jazzy has been single and not searching.
Don Jazzy’s Instagram post concerning his marital life reads:
For so long everyone keeps asking me when am I getting married? Well truth is almost 18 years ago I was 20 and I got married to my best friend Michelle @yarnstaswitch and it was beautiful. I loved love and I loved marriage. Michelle is soooo beautiful inside and outside with such a soft heart. But then me being so young and full of dreams I went and fucked it up cos I was giving all my time to my Music.
Music became priority instead of my family. We got divorced when I was 22 and it hurt. I am still very much in love with my music and I wouldn’t want to marry another and fuck it up again. So I’m taking my time. Why am I just saying this now?? I really like to keep my relationships private actually. Past or present. But I was watching the bounce interview with Ebuka which is almost like a tell all interview, and I felt bad skipping this huge part of my life. So yeah make una no vex o.
What is Don Jazzy’s Net worth
According to an inside source who prefers to remain anonymous, Don Jazzy’s net worth is about 19 million Dollars. This makes him one of the richest Nigerian artists.
