Don Jazzy

Don Jazzy

Don Jazzy performing at the 2014 MAMAs
Background information
Birth name Michael Collins Ajereh
Born (1982-11-26) 26 November 1982
Umuahia, Abia State
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 (born 26 November 1982, Umuahia, Abia State), known as Don Jazzy, is a Nigerian record producer, singer-songwriter and musician. He has been the chief executive officer of Mo' Hits Records and is the current chief executive officer of Mavin Records.[1] Ajereh has also produced tracks for Dr SID, Wande Coal, Emeka Infiniti, D'Prince, Darey, Naeto C, Olakunle Excel et Zanga, Sauce Kid, Ikechukwu and Tiwa Savage.

Personal life and education

Ajereh was born in Umuahia. His family moved to 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.[2] In London, Ajereh gained employment at McDonalds 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.

Ajereh uses Twitter to interact with his followers. He has an appreciation of African fabrics and male Indian gowns and other individualistic fashions.[3]

Career

Mo' Hits records and GOOD music

In 2004, Ajereh collaborated with D'Banj to found 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]

Samsung endorsement

MAVINS

Soon after Ajereh's split from D'Banj, the Samsung company introduced to the market "Built for Africa" products. These included an Afro-Pop home theatre. Its EQ tuning is via a sound optimised equaliser. Ajereh endorsed the product.[6] The product was launched in Cape Town.

Mavin records

On 7 May 2012, Ajereh announced a new record label, Mavin Records. 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 said, "I see Mavin Records being the power house of Music in Africa in the shortest possible time."[7]

Ajereh built a social network platform called "Marvin League" to complement and market his label.[8]

On 5 November 2013, Ajereh had conflict with an artist, Wande Coal who left the label two days later.[9]

In September 2014, Ajereh produced a Nigerian social activist song with Reekado Banks and Di'Ja called Arise.[10]

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.[11][12]

Film appearance

In 2012, Ajereh appeared in Moses Inwang's movie The Last 3 Digits in Nollwood. Inwang also cast Ali Baba, A.Y., Nonso Diobi and Dr. Sid.[13][14][15][16]

Production discography

Albums

  1. Anaconda 3:34
  2. Booty Call 5:13
  3. Close To You 3:43
  4. Hey Girl 5:08
  5. Igbe Mi 5:40
  6. Masquerade 4:02
  7. No Long Thing 3:15
  8. Ololufe (Club Mix) 4:21
  9. Stop The Violence 6:37
  10. Why Me (Remix) 5:16
  11. Jasi 2:50
  1. I Know U Like It 3:10
  2. You Bad 4:05
  3. Se Na Like This 4:12
  4. Kiss Ur Hands 3:54
  5. Confused 4:20
  6. Se Ope 3:22
  7. Now It's All Gone 4:24
  8. Bumper 2 Bumper 3:44
  9. Who Born The Maga 3:04
  10. That's Wots Up 4:42
  11. Bananas 3:59
  12. Taboo 4:24
  13. Jehovah 4:02
  14. Ololufe 4:56
  15. Ten Ten 3:47
  16. My Grind 4:48
  17. Been long you saw me
  18. Private trips
  19. Go low 3:50
  20. The kick 3:10
  21. Rotate 3:20
  1. When This Song Comes On
  2. Over the Moon (feat. K-Switch)
  3. Something About You
  4. Winchi Winchi (feat. Wande Coal)
  5. Pop something (feat. D'Banj)
  6. a Mi Jo (feat. Ikechukwu, M.I & eLDee
  7. Baby
  8. E Je Ka Jo (feat. D'Banj)
  9. Pillow
  10. Something About You (Silva Stone Remix)
  11. Winchi Winchi (feat. Wande Coal, Sway DaSafo & Dotstar)
  1. Intro by MAVINS (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)
  2. I'm A MAVIN by MAVINS (Michael Ajereh, Tiwatope Savage, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojosipe, Charles Enebeli)
  3. Oma Ga by Tiwa Savage (Michael Ajereh, Tiwatope Savage, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojosipe)
  4. YOLO by Dr SID (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)
  5. See Me Ri by Wande Coal (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojisipe, Towa Ojosipe)
  6. Take Banana by D'PRINCE (Michael Ajereh, Charles Enebeli)
  7. CPR by Dr SID (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)
  8. Forever by Wande Coal (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojosipe, Towa Ojosipe)
  9. Why You Over There by D'PRINCE (Michael Ajereh, Charles Enebeli)
  10. Chocolate by Dr SID (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri, Charles Enebeli)
  11. Pretty Girls by Wande Coal (Michael Ajereh, Wande Ojosipe)
  12. Amarachi by D'PRINCE (Michael Ajereh, Charles Enebeli)
  13. Outro by MAVINS (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)

Singles with Mo' Hits artists

  1. Omoba
  2. I like What I See (feat. Wande Coal)
  3. Ooze (feat. D'Banj)
  4. Give It To me (feat. D'Banj)
  1. Tongolo (2005)
  2. Soko (2005)
  3. Mobolowowon (2005)
  4. Why Me (2006)
  5. Run Down (2006)
  6. Kimon (2008)
  7. Olorun Maje (2008)
  8. Gbono Feli (2008)
  9. Entertainer (2008)
  10. Suddenly (2008)
  11. Fall in Love (2008)
  12. Igwe (2008)
  13. Mr Endowed (2010)
  14. I do This
  15. Scape Goat (2010)
  16. ashanti (2010)
  17. Mr Endowed (Remix) (feat. Snoop Dogg) (2010)
  18. Oliver Twist (2011)
  1. Bumper 2 Bumper
  2. You Bad
  3. Kiss Your Hand
  4. Who Born the Maga
  5. Been Long You Saw Me (feat. Don Jazzy) (2011)
  6. Go Low (2011)
  1. Something About You (2009)
  2. Winchi winchi (2009)
  3. Pop Something(feat. D'Banj)
  4. Over The Moon (2010)
  5. Chocolate
  6. Y.O.L.O
  7. C.P.R
  8. Afefe
  9. Chocolate West African Remix (ft Ice Prince Sarkodie Elom Adablah Lynxxx)
  10. Chocolate East African Remix (ft Musik Maestro)
  11. Lady Don Dada
  12. Love Mine
  13. Talented
  14. Baby Tornado
  15. Baby Tornado Remix (ft Alexandra burke)
  16. Surulere (ft Don Jazzy)
  1. Ten Ten

Singles with other artists

Awards

References

  1. "The Don Jazzy Story". Vanguard. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  2. Amoo T. Point Blank Don Jazzy Hip Hop World Magazine 1 February 2010.
  3. Ikeji L. Don Jazzy's first radio interview in almost 5 years Linda Ikeji's blog 20 August 2011. Accessed 22 April 2015.
  4. Wande Coal, Wizkid. Ynaija website.
  5. Breaking news, it's over, Don Jazzy confirms Mohits Break Up TheNETng 7 November 2013. Accessed 22 April 2015
  6. 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.
  7. Naija B.From Mo’Hits to Mavin Records! The New Music PowerHouse Label Bellanaija company 7 June 2012. Accessed 22 April 2015.
  8. don Jazzy changes random boys life View Nigeria newspaper.27 March 2015. Accessed 22 April 2015.
  9. Marvin Records released official statement over Wandel Coal Gist Yinka 7 November 2013. Accessed 22 April 2015.
  10. The Mavins – Arise View Nigeria newspaper. 21 September 2014 Accessed 21 September 2014.
  11. Olamide apologises over fight with Don Jazzy, swearing on live TV DailyPost Nigeria 2 January 2016. Accessed 25 January 2016.
  12. Don Jazzy, Olamide settle rift, apologise over Headies 'wahala' Vanguard News January 2016. Accessed 25 January 2016.
  13. The Last 3 Digits You tube promotion. Accessed 27 October 2014
  14. The last 3 digits 9 Aija books and movies blog. 12 November 2012. Accessed 12 November 2012
  15. Audu J. New trailer alert: Moses Inwang's The last 3 Digits Judith Audu Blog 2014. Accessed 29 October 2014.
  16. Izuzu C. The Last 3 Digits Moses Inwang's movie wins Best International film award Pulse Nigeria Accessed 4 June 2015.
  17. Headies prize giving event Hip Hop World magazine 11 June 2012.
  18. Headies 2014 winners Hip Hop World magazine 2014.
  19. Adunni A. List of Winners Naij.com 14 September 2015. Accessed 14 September 2015

External links

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