Don Jazzy
Don Jazzy | |
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Don Jazzy performing at the 2014 MAMAs | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Michael Collins Ajereh |
Born | Abia_State, Nigeria |
Genres | Pop, R&B, Afro pop, African hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur |
Years active | 2002—present |
Labels | Mo' Hits Records, Mavin Records |
Associated acts | D'Banj, Dr SID, D'Prince, Wande Coal, Mo' Hits AllStars, Ikechukwu, Tiwa Savage, Korede Bello, Di'Ja, Reekado Banks |
Website | www.mavinrecords.com |
Michael Collins Ajereh, better known as Don Jazzy, is a Nigerian record producer, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He co-founded the now defunct record label Mo' Hits Records in 2004. Following the closure of the aforementioned record label, Don Jazzy set up Mavin Records on May 8, 2012.[1]
Early life and education
Michael Collins Ajereh was born in Umuahia Abia_State . [2] His family lived in Ajegunle, Lagos where Ajereh was raised. He was educated at the co-educational high school, Federal Government College Lagos. Ajereh found an interest in music early in life and at age 12, began to play the bass guitar. He also gained knowledge of traditional and percussion instruments. Ajareh enrolled in business management studies at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo state.
In 2000, Ajereh visited London. His uncle had invited him to play the drums for the local church.[3] In London, Ajereh gained employment at McDonald's and as a security guard. He continued his interest in music, associating with Solek, JJC, Kas, The 419 Squad and D'Banj. Ajereh learnt producing skills from Emeka Infiniti at O-Town record company.
Career
Mo' Hits records and GOOD music
In 2004, Ajereh collaborated with D'Banj to form Mo' Hits Records. In the next two years, Ajereh produced the albums No Long Thing and Rundown/Funk You Up. A third album, Curriculum Vitae, had also been started. Around this time, Ajereh developed a recognisable introduction, "It's Don Jazzy Again!"
In 2008, Ajereh was credited in the production of The Entertainer by D'Banj. He also contributed to the production of Wande Coal's Mushin 2 MoHits, an album that was described as one of the best albums to ever come out of Nigeria.[4]
Although Ajereh did not take credit as a singer, he performed background vocals for artists he produced. These performances include vocals for D'Banj, Sauce Kid, Dr SID, Ikechukwu, Kween, D'Prince, Jay-Z. Ajereh provided vocal performance for Kanye West's song Lift Off with Beyoncé on the Watch The Throne album.
In 2011, Ajereh was employed by Kanye West as a producer at Very Good Beatz. Kanye West made a surprise appearance at the Koko Concert in London. He showed support to D'Banj by giving him his chain. Ajereh worked with Jay-Z and Kanye West on the production of Lift Off, featuring Beyoncé on the album Watch The Throne which was released on 8 August 2011.
In March 2012, Don Jazzy and D'Banj abandoned their partnership citing artistic differences.[5]
Mavin records
On 7 May 2012, Ajereh announced a new record label, Mavin Records. Ajereh said, "I see Mavin Records being the power house of Music in Africa in the shortest possible time."[6] On 8 May 2012, he released an album featuring the artists signed to his label. The songs on the album included: Amarachi, Forever, Oma Ga, Take Banana and Chocolate, YOLO and the anthem I'm a MAVIN. Mavin records signed the vocalist, Tiwa Savage. Ajereh built a social network platform called "Marvin League" to complement and market his label.[7]
On 5 November 2013, Ajereh had conflict with an artist, Wande Coal who left the label two days later.[8]
In September 2014, Ajereh produced a Nigerian social activist song with Reekado Banks and Di'Ja called Arise.[9]
At the Headies Awards 2015, Ajereh argued with Olamide. The two disagreed about who should have won the "Next Rated" award. Lil Kesh of YBNL records lost to Reekado Banks, Ajereh's artist. The winner of the award received a car. Apologies on both sides were posted afterwards.[10][11]
Other ventures
Samsung endorsement
Soon after Ajereh's split from D'Banj, the Samsung company introduced to the market "Built for Africa" products including an Afro-Pop home theatre launched in Cape Town with Ajereh endorsing.[12]
Film appearance
In 2012, Ajereh appeared in Moses Inwang's movie The Last 3 Digits in Nollywood. Inwang also cast Ali Baba, A.Y., Nonso Diobi and Dr. Sid.[13][14][15][16]
Awards
- Nigerian Music Awards (2006) - Producer of the Year.
- Nigerian Entertainment Awards (2007) - Music Producer of the Year.
- The Headies 2011 - Producer of the Year for Over The Moon, Mr Endowed and Pop Something[17]
- The Headies 2014 - Producer of the Year for Dorobucci [18]
- City People Entertainment Award (2015) - special recognition award.[19]
Production discography
Albums
- D'banj – No Long Thing (2005)
- D'banj – RunDown Funk U Up (2006)
- D'banj – The Entertainer (2008)
- Mo' Hits All Stars – Curriculum Vitae (2007)
- Anaconda 3:34
- Booty Call 5:13
- Close To You 3:43
- Hey Girl 5:08
- Igbe Mi 5:40
- Masquerade 4:02
- No Long Thing 3:15
- Ololufe (Club Mix) 4:21
- Stop The Violence 6:37
- Why Me (Remix) 5:16
- Jasi 2:50
- Wande Coal – Mushin2Mohits (2008)
- I Know U Like It 3:10
- You Bad 4:05
- Se Na Like This 4:12
- Kiss Ur Hands 3:54
- Confused 4:20
- Se Ope 3:22
- Now It's All Gone 4:24
- Bumper 2 Bumper 3:44
- Who Born The Maga 3:04
- That's Wots Up 4:42
- Bananas 3:59
- Taboo 4:24
- Jehovah 4:02
- Ololufe 4:56
- Ten Ten 3:47
- My Grind 4:48
- Been long you saw me
- Private trips
- Go low 3:50
- The kick 3:10
- Rotate 3:20
- Dr SID Turning Point (2010)
- When This Song Comes On
- Over the Moon (feat. K-Switch)
- Something About You
- Winchi Winchi (feat. Wande Coal)
- Pop something (feat. D'Banj)
- a Mi Jo (feat. Ikechukwu, M.I & eLDee)
- Baby
- E Je Ka Jo (feat. D'Banj)
- Pillow
- Something About You (Silva Stone Remix)
- Winchi Winchi (feat. Wande Coal, Sway DaSafo & Dotstar)
- MAVINS – Solar Plexus "MAVIN Records" (2012)
- Intro by MAVINS (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)
- I'm A MAVIN by MAVINS (Michael Ajereh, Tiwatope Savage, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojosipe, Charles Enebeli)
- Oma Ga by Tiwa Savage (Michael Ajereh, Tiwatope Savage, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojosipe)
- YOLO by Dr SID (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)
- See Me Ri by Wande Coal (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojisipe, Towa Ojosipe)
- Take Banana by D'PRINCE (Michael Ajereh, Charles Enebeli)
- CPR by Dr SID (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)
- Forever by Wande Coal (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojosipe, Towa Ojosipe)
- Why You Over There by D'PRINCE (Michael Ajereh, Charles Enebeli)
- Chocolate by Dr SID (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri, Charles Enebeli)
- Pretty Girls by Wande Coal (Michael Ajereh, Wande Ojosipe)
- Amarachi by D'PRINCE (Michael Ajereh, Charles Enebeli)
- Outro by MAVINS (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)
Singles with Mo' Hits artists
- D'Prince
- Omoba
- I like What I See (feat. Wande Coal)
- Ooze (feat. D'Banj)
- Give It To me (feat. D'Banj)
- D'banj
- Tongolo (2005)
- Soko (2005)
- Mobolowowon (2005)
- Why Me (2006)
- Run Down (2006)
- Kimon (2008)
- Olorun Maje (2008)
- Gbono Feli (2008)
- Entertainer (2008)
- Suddenly (2008)
- Fall in Love (2008)
- Igwe (2008)
- Mr Endowed (2010)
- I do This
- Scape Goat (2010)
- ashanti (2010)
- Mr Endowed (Remix) (feat. Snoop Dogg) (2010)
- Oliver Twist (2011)
- Wande Coal
- Bumper 2 Bumper
- You Bad
- Kiss Your Hand
- Who Born the Maga
- Been Long You Saw Me (feat. Don Jazzy) (2011)
- Go Low (2011)
- Dr SID
- Something About You (2009)
- Winchi winchi (2009)
- Pop Something(feat. D'Banj)
- Over The Moon (2010)
- Chocolate
- Y.O.L.O
- C.P.R
- Afefe
- Chocolate West African Remix (ft Ice Prince Sarkodie Elom Adablah Lynxxx)
- Chocolate East African Remix (ft Musik Maestro)
- Lady Don Dada
- Love Mine
- Talented
- Baby Tornado
- Baby Tornado Remix (ft Alexandra burke)
- Surulere (ft Don Jazzy)
- Mo'Hits Allstars
- Ten Ten
Singles with other artists
- Darey – Escalade part 2
- Darey – Stroke Me
- Shank – Never Felt
- Naeto C – Asewo
- Ikechukwu – Like You (feat. Wande Coal)
- Ikechukwu – Wind am well (feat. Don Jazzy and D'Banj)
- Ikechukwu – Do (feat. D'Banj)
- Ikechukwu – All on Me
- Ikechukwu – Critical (feat. D'Banj)
- Ikechukwu – Now is the time (feat. Don Jazzy)
- Sauce Kid – Under G
- Kanye West & Jay-Z – Lift Off (feat. Beyoncé)
- Weird MC – Ijoya
References
- ↑ "The Don Jazzy Story". Vanguard. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ↑ http://www.nigerianbiography.com/2015/05/biography-of-don-jazzy-musician-abia.html - nigerian biography.com
- ↑ Amoo T. Point Blank Don Jazzy Archived 31 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Hip Hop World Magazine 1 February 2010.
- ↑ Wande Coal, Wizkid. Ynaija website.
- ↑ Breaking news, it's over, Don Jazzy confirms Mohits Break Up TheNETng 7 November 2013. Accessed 22 April 2015
- ↑ Naija B.From Mo’Hits to Mavin Records! The New Music PowerHouse Label Bellanaija company 7 June 2012. Accessed 22 April 2015.
- ↑ don Jazzy changes random boys life View Nigeria newspaper.27 March 2015. Accessed 22 April 2015.
- ↑ Marvin Records released official statement over Wandel Coal Gist Yinka 7 November 2013. Accessed 22 April 2015.
- ↑ The Mavins – Arise View Nigeria newspaper. 21 September 2014 Accessed 21 September 2014.
- ↑ Olamide apologises over fight with Don Jazzy, swearing on live TV DailyPost Nigeria 2 January 2016. Accessed 25 January 2016.
- ↑ Don Jazzy, Olamide settle rift, apologise over Headies 'wahala' Vanguard News January 2016. Accessed 25 January 2016.
- ↑ Samsung offers Afro Pop home theater with Don Jazzy through their audio visual product line up. Samsung company news presskit. 22 March 2012. Accessed 22 April 2015.
- ↑ The Last 3 Digits You tube promotion. Accessed 27 October 2014
- ↑ The last 3 digits 9 Aija books and movies blog. 12 November 2012. Accessed 12 November 2012
- ↑ Audu J. New trailer alert: Moses Inwang's The last 3 Digits Judith Audu Blog 2014. Accessed 29 October 2014.
- ↑ Izuzu C. The Last 3 Digits Moses Inwang's movie wins Best International film award Pulse Nigeria Accessed 4 June 2015.
- ↑ Headies prize giving event Archived 14 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Hip Hop World magazine 11 June 2012.
- ↑ Headies 2014 winners Archived 15 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Hip Hop World magazine 2014.
- ↑ Adunni A. List of Winners Naij.com 14 September 2015. Accessed 14 September 2015