Parting ways with D’banj was not the right decision, says Don Jazzy

Don Jazzy, CEO of Mavin Records, says his business separation from Dapo ‘D’banj’ Oyebanjo, was not a good decision.

The former collaborators split in 2012 over differences in interests, and this also led to the death of the once blooming Mo’Hits Records which they built together.

Don Jazzy, whose real name is Micheal Ajereh Collins, bared his mind on the separation in a recent interview on Worst Day in Business, a show hosted by Peace Hyde on CNBC Africa.

He said: “The decision to part ways with my former partner D’Banj at some point or at that point was not the right decision. As much as there were financial consequences, it was also that I lost a friend and a brother,” the 33-year-old producer responded when asked for his worst day in business.

“It was a mutual agreement, he wanted to concentrate on the American market and I thought we were not ripe enough, I just felt that we were wasting so much money in trying to create smoke where there was no fire. It’s not like I am not looking at the bigger picture, I just like to be realistic.”

Don Jazzy also made it known that he was considering the other artistes on the record label when he made the decision to stay in Nigeria.

“There is no way I would do that and not think of the other children I have over here in my record label. I had Wande Coal, D’Prince, Dr Sid and when I commit to something, I like to see it to the end and I couldn’t leave the rest of them hanging by going to the United states at that time.

“A lot American artistes including Kanye West were on me that time asking for beats and other things but it might take me a long time to be successful over there so I decided to stay behind and buil;d what I have here.

“We got to a point where Kanye was interested in us so I think we will get to a point where we can make better demands. It looks like the time is ripe now with the interest America has in Wizkid, Davido and Wande Coal, it just didn’t feel ripe then.”

The Mavin boss further noted that he had a beautiful relationship with D’Banj in spite of the separation while blaming the media for straining the harmony they shared.

“We had a very beautiful relationship, I don’t think anyone in the music industry had that type of relationship at that time. The media and fans that were angry made our relationship strained. I would say something and they would think I was referring to him and the same happened to him even after when we had settled things.”