Michael Collins Ajereh, better known as Don Jazzy, is a Nigerian record producer, singer, songwriter and entrepreneur. He co-founded Mo’ Hits records then left to create his own label called Mavins records. Don Jazzy hails from Isoko, from Delta State. His mother is an Igbo princess from Abia state and his father was an origin of the Isoko people. He was born in Umuahia, Abia State. His family moved to Ajegunle, Lagos where he was raised. He attended Federal Government College, Lagos.
He found an interest in music early in life and at age 12 he started to play the bass guitar. He also gained knowledge of traditional and percussion instruments. He studied business management studies at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo state. In 2000, Don Jazzy visited London. His uncle had invited him to play the drums for the local church In London, after which he gained employment at McDonald’s as a security guard. He continued his interest in music, associating with Solek, JJC, Kas, The 419 Squad and D’Banj. He learnt producing skills from Emeka Infiniti at O-Town record company. In 2004, he collaborated with D’Banj to form Mo’ Hits Records. In the less than two years, he produced the albums “No Long Thing” and Rundown/”Funk You Up”. A third album, Curriculum Vitae, had also been started. Around this time, he was already recognized by the introduction, “It’s Don Jazzy Again! In 2008, he 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.
Although, Don Jazzy never took credit as a singer, he performed background vocals for artistes he produced. These performances include vocals for D’Banj, Sauce Kid, Dr SID, Ikechukwu, D’Prince, Jay-Z, at that time, but right now has done more than a lot for both up and coming and the big names artistes in the industry. He provided vocal performance for Kanye West’s song “Lift Off”, with Beyoncé on the Watch The Throne album. In 2011, he was employed by Kanye West as a producer at Very Good Beatz. He 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 the 8 August, 2011. In March 2012, Don Jazzy and D’Banj abandoned their partnership citing artistic differences. On 7 May 2012, Don Jazzy announced a new record label, Mavin Records. He said, “I see Mavin Records being the power house of Music in Africa in the shortest possible time. On 8 May 2012, he released an album featuring all the artistes 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. He built a social network platform called “Marvin League” to complement and market his label.
On the 5th of November 2013, he had some issues with an artiste, Wande Coal, who left the label two days later. In September, 2014, Ajereh produced a Nigerian social activist song with Reekado Banks and Di’Ja titled Arise. At the Headies Awards 2015, he had an argument with Olamide. The two disagreed about who should have won the “Next Rated” award. Lil Kesh of YBNL records lost to Reekado Banks; Don Jazzy’s artiste. The winner of the award received a car. Both Don Jazzy and Olamide later apologised to each other afterwards. Tiwa Savage and Reekado Bankz recently left Mavins to start a new beginning. They didn’t leave with no argument or fight. Jazzy gave them his well wish and also mentioned that Tiwa’s jersey as the queen of Mavins was still there and no one will ever wear it. Jazzy have stayed off the music scene for over 3 years without producing or backing up a song for his artistes as he usually does. But he didn’t stop entertaining his fans on instagram and Twitter, he kept making them laugh and engaging on all challenges done on instagram. Jazzy didn’t only stop been active, all artistes on his label expect Tiwa and Reekado Bankz were at the top of their games, the rest went into tin air nothing was really heard from them. He has signed DNA who are twins.
These guys are really talented he has also signed the best RnB singer called Jonny Drille, who happens to a producer too. Jazzy spends a lot on his promotions, he is never at the back of his game. But then he has stopped a whole lot of things he was known for, but what can we say. Few weeks back, Don Jazzy made it cleared to City People why he was silent musically. He said he’s no longer in the game. He said that the grace of God that has brought him this far, will be used to push his boys (artistes), but his fans have refused to agree or accept the fact that he only wants his boys out there. It felt like he was coming back when he recently signed two hot guys into his Label, Rema and Crayon. At the time he signed Rema, he was all over social media with the impression that he was coming back to serve us hot the way he used to, but then he just came to push his boys. This boy is the hottest thing in the industry right now, all his songs are hit songs, from the first to the last he dropped.
This young man is not even up to 6 month in the industry he is already collecting over 1 million for shows in Lagos. After a month or two, he signed another Cute young man called Crayon, after he signed him he did a song titled All is in order which was produced by Don Jazzy, featuring Korede Bello, Crayon, Rema and DNA.
–Precious Pomaa   Â
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