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Quick Facts
Biography
Michael Collins Ajereh, better known as Don Jazzy or Don Baba J, is a Nigerian record producer, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur and philanthropist. 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.
Background
Don Jazzy, as he is fondly called is from Isoko in Delta State. His mother is an Igbo princess from Abia state and his father is an origin of the Isoko people. He was born in Umuahia, Abia State. His family moved to Ajegunle, Lagos where Ajereh was raised.
Early life and education
Ajereh's family moved to Ajegunle, Lagos where Don Jazzy was raised. He was educated at the co-educational high school, Federal Government College Lagos. Don Jazzy 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. Don Jazzy enrolled in 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, Don Jazzy 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.
Career
Mo' Hits records and GOOD music
In 2004, Don Jazzy collaborated with D'Banj to form Mo' Hits Records. In the next two years, Don Jazzy produced the albums No Long Thing and Rundown/Funk You Up. A third album, Curriculum Vitae, had also been started. Around this time, Don Jazzy developed a recognisable introduction, "It's Don Jazzy Again!"
In 2008, Don Jazzy 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 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. Don Jazzy provided vocal performance for Kanye West's songLift Off with Beyoncé on the Watch The Throne album.
In 2011, Don Jazzy was employed by Kanye West as a producer at Very Good Beatz. Don Jazzy 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.
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." 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.
On 5 November 2013, Ajereh had conflict with an artist, 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 called Arise.
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.
Film appearance
In 2012, Ajereh appeared in Moses Inwang's movie The Last 3 Digits in Nollywood. Inwang also castAli Baba, A.Y., Nonso Diobi and Dr. Sid.
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
- The Headies 2014 - Producer of the Year for Dorobucci
- City People Entertainment Award (2015) - special recognition award.
- The Beatz Award TM (2019) - New Discovery Producer.
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 Call5:13
- 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 Violence6:37
- 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
- Confused4:20
- Se Ope 3:22
- Now It's All Gone4:24
- Bumper 2 Bumper 3:44
- Who Born The Maga 3:04
- That's Wots Up4:42
- Bananas 3:59
- Taboo 4:24
- Jehovah4:02
- Ololufe4:56
- 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
- Something About You
- Winchi Winchi
- Pop something
- a Mi Jo
- Baby
- E Je Ka Jo
- Pillow
- Something About You
- Winchi Winchi
- MAVINS – Solar Plexus "MAVIN Records" (2012)
- Intro by MAVINS
- I'm A MAVIN by MAVINS
- Oma Ga by Tiwa Savage
- YOLO by Dr SID
- See Me Ri by Wande Coal
- Take Banana by D'PRINCE
- CPR by Dr SID
- Forever by Wande Coal
- Why You Over There by D'PRINCE
- Chocolate by Dr SID
- Pretty Girls by Wande Coal
- Amarachi by D'PRINCE
- Outro by MAVINS
Singles with Mo' Hits artists
- D'Prince
- Omoba
- I like What I See
- Ooze
- Give It To me
- 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)(2010)
- Oliver Twist (2011)
- Wande Coal
- Bumper 2 Bumper
- You Bad
- Kiss Your Hand
- Who Born the Maga
- Been Long You Saw Me(2011)
- Go Low (2011)
- Dr SID
- Something About You (2009)
- Winchi winchi (2009)
- Pop Something
- 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
- Ikechukwu – Wind am well
- Ikechukwu – Do
- Ikechukwu – All on Me
- Ikechukwu – Critical
- Ikechukwu – Now is the time
- Sauce Kid – Under G
- Kanye West & Jay-Z – Lift Off
- Weird MC – Ijoya