All Good Things Come To An End?
There were no other two people better suited to team up in the Nigerian music industry. One a talented and charismatic performer, the other a talented and charismatic producer - a match made in heaven. So where did it go wrong?
D'banj and Don Jazzy were two names which, when put together, formed the winning tag team from the stables of their record label, Mo Hits Records. Don Jazzy was the respected mentor, and D'banj the admired whiz kid. With Don Jazzy on the beats and D'Banj singing the hits, it was one chart-topper after another. Is the fairytale now over?
Twitter, the print, TV and online media have been awash with news of the split of this formerly unbreakable duo. Rumors were rife of betrayal but both parties have, even now, maintained that same respect and decorum that they are so admired for. So what really went down? And what is the fate of Mo'Hits, the record label they both created?
Fading Glory
There was a time that the Naija music industry was all about D'banj and Don Jazzy. Their hits ruled the airwaves, from Tongolo to Why Me. Then with the recent singles came the period of a somewhat downward spiral, or at least a sense of stagnancy in D'banj's music. Could it be that this was as far as things could go music-wise, with Don Jazzy? Could it be that their musical chemistry had run its course and both needed to find new ground and fresh material with which to work with and grow?
It's never easy letting go of a good thing. Harder still, to break bonds with a producer that looked more like a brother and a friend. However, did D'banj feel he had bigger horizons ahead that Don Jazzy couldn't lead him to, even on his broad, capable shoulders?
Things started to look up for D'banj when he caught the attention of Jay Z as well as Kanye West and got signed to the Good Music label. Was that the beginning of the end for Mo'Hits? Many seem to think so.
Back Story
No Long Thing, Rundown Funk U Up and The Entertainer are the three albums D'banj has to show for his years-long collaboration with Don Jazzy and their Mo'Hits Records. Add to that the countless cameos, features and collabo's with other members of the Mo'Hits crew, and one can only imagine the acrimony sure to arise when the time comes to share the spoils. They did it all together - now they'd have to get used to the fact that the party's over. The successful and well respected label has run its final lap of glory.
D'banj Breaks Up with Don Jazzy - Official
No more guessing games, no more wondering or hoping: fans around the country and beyond have now faced the fact: the D'banj and Don Jazzy split is official. This is proven to be all the more true with Don Jazzy creating his own personal, all-new Mavin label, backed by his brother and musician, D'Prince, as well as Wande Coal, both former crew members of the defunct Mo'Hits. To add more fuel to the flame, Don Jazzy has also signed up the beautiful and talented Tiwa Savage, one of the most respected female artistes in Naija. If that doesn't spell "come back" for Don Jazzy then I don't know what will.
The Blame Game
Someone definitely has to take the fall for the split between D'banj the Kokomaster and Don Jazzy IDJA. No one, least of all the fans, saw it coming and everyone can't help but feel that the break up could have been averted. Some say D'banj started to get cocky especially since he was getting so much backing from Kanye and his clique. Others say Don Jazzy started to feel left out of things, since as a producer, he was meant to be seen but not heard (well, that's the American way apparently). He's been so used to being D'banj's go-to guy, the "big brother" D'banj needed around constantly in order to not look bad. Now D'banj seems to be looking pretty fine on his own.
We'll certainly miss seeing and hearing them on the same track. But then maybe there was never going to be any more hits from Mo'Hits. Maybe the curtain call was long overdue. The only hope of the fans is that at least the two former inseparable pals remain good friends and not let the industry tear apart what was once an admired brotherhood.
