New Music: Dr SiD ft. Don Jazzy – Lady Don Dada

Dr SiD returns with a fresh single featuring the Mavin Boss, Don Jazz, Lady Don Dada.

Download HERE!

"I Miss D'Banj" - Don Jazzy

The split between two former co-label owners of Mohits Records; D'Banj and Don Jazzy, will be a year old in few weeks time. It is still surprising that they went their separare ways. Both parties have floated their own music labels: Mavin Records and DB Records and have moved on with their lives. At the AY Show held few nights ago in Lagos, while answering questions on the red carpet, Don Jazzy confessed that he missed D'Banj. 

"D'Banj is doing well wherever he is. You're putting words in my mouth; yes, but of course, I miss him."

Why I Never Reveal My Girlfriend’s Identity - Don Jazzy.

Mavin Records’ boss and Nigerian music producer Michael Ajereh popularly known as Don Jazzy has come open to reveal why he never made his romance public.

As we all know, Don Jazzy has never been spotted with his girlfriend by preying eyes.

See his reply to a tweet from a fan below; 

"Why I never reveal my girlfriend" - Don Jazzy

This was what the singer/producer tweeted about his girlfriend's identity. Do you agree with him, that every relationship in the limelight fails?

Kay Switch Disses Don Jazzy In DKM Album?

One of the most anticipated albums of the year has finally dropped “D’ Kings Men” compilation album which has contribution from D’Banj, Kay Switch and J Sol with beats from producers like El DeeVee and J Sleek.

No one expected shots to be taken by Kay Switch, but he opens up on how he was treated while he was still with Mo’Hit records in his song “For Example”. The label he joined in 2004 before Don Jazzy and D’Banj Broke up.

Kay Switch threw this few jabs at Don Jazzy!

1. “Won ri mi won ni pe mo sese bere, Bon se foju dimi mi o sese bere” – Saying Don Jazzy saw him and said he just started his music career when he joined mohit in 2004, and Don Jazzy looked down on him

2. “Won ri mi won ni pe mo sese bere, se obo ni mi abi mo je ogede” – Saying Don Jazzy saw him and said he just started his music career when he joined mohit in 2004, Kay Switch replied saying “Does he look like a monkey or was he found eating banana”

3. “I Can Give You This, I can give you that” – Don Jazzy promising he can give him this and he can give him that but he didn’t get anything from Don Jazzy!

4. “Emi Ni Dapo, Awon Angel Michael, Awon Tokunbo, Emi Ni Dolapo” – Direct translation “I am Dapo and they are Angel Michael, They are from abroad and i am mixed with wealth. – Kay Switch declaring loyalty to his brother D’banj whose first name is Dapo and Don Jazzy whose first name is Michael Claims he can provide it all, he is Angel Michael. Tokunbo means used product from abroad while he (Kay Switch) is Dolapo – A child mixed with Wealth.

Sources close to Kay Switch revealed that Kay Switch was not treated well while he was with Mo’Hit and he was never on Don Jazzy’s list of artist to work on to release an album ever since he joined them in 2004. But looling back, Kay Switch doesn’t actually have an official single under Mo’Hit except features…

Any response from Don Jazzy, we will definitely bring to you ;)

Don Jazzy signs Tiwa Savage, launches new label

Michael Collins popularly called Don Jazzy took to micro blog Twitter to announce his new record label Mavin in the early hours of May 6, 2012.

Jazzy, who suffered a ‘broken marriage’ with his Mo-Hit partner D’banj some months ago has broken his silence with an obvious effort to prove his competence to music lovers.

And here’s the coup: a Tiwa Savage signing. The gifted songwriter cum singer will now join Wande Coal, Dr SID, D’Prince to call Mavin home.

‘Hey people. need your help on this one once again. pls help me tell a friend to tell a friend. #MavinRecords God bless’ Don Jazzy wrote on Twitter.

Before now, Tiwa Savage was signed on Cecil Hammond’s Flytime. How did the signing happen? What are the deal particulars? No one knows for now, and we’re working to get comments from Hammond, Jazzy and Tiwa’s manager Tunji Balogun.

The new label now rests all speculation that Jazzy would continue to use the Mo’Hits brand name.

Meanwhile, Mavin’s first product, a compilation album already titled ‘Solar Plexus’ is due for release tomorrow – six days before the UK release of D’banj’s debut international single ‘Oliver’.

‘I didn’t scatter Mo’Hits’ – Don Jazzy

In the last few weeks, the world has seen the end of an era – the Mo’Hits era, but not without a full dose of drama – more drama than in those recycled South-American soap operas.

Drama backed with claims, counter claims, responses, counter responses, exclusive interviews, exposing facts and leaked E-mails. And if you think the drama is over, you are hereby advised to grab a bowl of popcorn, snuggle up in your couch and keep watching, because from the looks of it, this isn’t ending soon.

If you’ve followed the Mo’Hits brouhaha – a la the ‘D’banj VS Don Jazzy messy fight’, you’ve either been entertained, amused or downright irritated. Nevertheless, the drama continues with both parties still not letting their guards down…

It’s been the same old story for most persons with the title ‘Don’ in the mafia movies – unparalleled rise to success, years of reign and respect but then an ultimate crash. Name it – Godfather, Goodfellas, Scarface, Casino, Frank Lucas….it’s all the same. Is this the same fate of our beloved Don Jazzy?

Don Jazzy was hardly the fan favourite back then; sure, he was respected, but he wasn’t the one the fans clung to. He barely spoke, letting D’banj do all the talking (and gesticulating). Don Jazzy grew the persona of a real mafia don – you know, like the ones in Sicily that head the cartel, always feared and respected, known to bless careers with hits (songs) upon hits.

But when more and more money rolled in, D’banj somewhat alienated himself from the fans and media, leaving the ‘Don’ to take care of the multitude of fans. The once ‘shy guy’ became very vocal on micro-blogging site Twitter, often giving out airtime recharge cards, iPads and more gifts, even organizing an online music competition which trended on social networks for weeks.

Don Jazzy engaged the fans, positioned himself as an accessible celeb, and a media darling. He even went as far as granting radio and TV interviews, responding to E-mails, covering magazines and delivering acceptance speeches at award shows. Don Jazzy became more accessible; the one everybody could call on and be assured of prompt response. When the heat came upon both men during the ‘Occupy Nigeria’ period, Don Jazzy once again cried out to his people, dissociating himself from D’banj, who received brutal tongue lashings from Nigerians home and abroad for seemingly evading the issue.

But last week, the Don’s credibility was tested; his mystique torn apart, when D’banj, in an elaborate interview with NET, accused his former label partner of betraying him, leaving many of the producer’s loyal fans startled, and perhaps revising where they should stand in the whole matter.

‘He said to me in July last year ‘Let’s scatter Mohits. He told me there are two captains – two captains cannot be in a ship. I was like ‘that’s not possible, this is a marriage‘, D’banj said in the interview, among other revealing things.

If it’s anything to go by, in just a few days, the article received over 70,000 views on NET’s website, with over 380 comments – most of them in support of D’banj. A surprising twist of events, one might say…

‘I have lost all the respect I had for Don Jazzy. Just because you are a good producer doesn’t make you better than D’banj! D’banj fan for life!!!!!!!‘, Shade commented.

‘Following your destiny is not the main thing, but are you sure you are following it in the right path? D’banj, beware of those guys‘, Ifedayo also commented.

‘This was a well conducted interview, honestly thumbs up to the reporter. D’banj God bless you hustle, Don Jazzy…shame on you! I don’t even need to hear any sides again, I  could feel the honesty in this interview’, another comment read.

Thousands of fans across different blogs and social media are now praying for D’banj, hailing him as a saviour of sorts for the local music industry. Many are still asking valid questions about the break up; and of course, there are loads of Don Jazzy loyalists who remain steadfast.

So are D’banj’s fans back with him because the entertainer broke down his side of the story by opening up on the matter? Or is it because he’s gaining buzz in the UK and he seems to be flying the African flag proud, while Don Jazzy seems to be on a never-ending hiatus?

The questions are endless. Media analysts have exhausted their theories and everyone is waiting with bated breath to see how the saga will unfold.

A few days after the interview, former friend and music partner Abdul Rasheed Bello better known as JJC (Skillz) chastised D’banj after the latter stated that JJC cheated Don Jazzy. It got all messy again as JJC who sheltered the likes of Jazzy, D’banj, Kween and the 419 Squad under his Backbone Music label, opened another can of worms, claiming that the Koko Master (whom he described as the group’s jester) never really wrote his songs, and at a point, was wanted by the UK Police for credit card theft.

While JJC felt bitter and hurt, spilling the beans to Nigezie in a video interview, little did he know that the whole drama would end up on one of the USbiggest hip-hop websites Allhiphop.com. The website soon published a flimsy article titled ‘G.O.O.D Music Artists D’banj and Don Jazzy At Odds With Each Other; D’banj Accused Of Credit Card Fraud!‘. More drama…

Ever since the famous interview, Jazzy has kept mute, refusing to grant interviews, and tweeting only thrice since then. But now the silence has been broken, albeit briefly, and the Don has spoken…

In a very short but exclusive interview via Blackberry Messenger on April 22, Don Jazzy answers some very important questions and leaves many unanswered.

Did you leak the Mo’hits email?

No

Did you ask D’banj that you want to ‘scatter’ Mo’hits?

No

Have you signed any document relinquishing your shares in Koko holding, and giving D’banj his catalogue?

No

When was the last time you saw D’banj?

Not quite long

Will you still produce music for him, if he asks or not?

Yea

Why did you have to get a new apartment?

‘Pass’

Was D’banj ever told about the concluding part of the Samsung deal?

Why  all these questions?

Bros, it’s a tough interview but it’s what our readers (and your fans) want to know.

Pass

Okay. Have you been producing music during the last few months? And who have you been working with in the studio?

‘Pass’

Dr SID and Wande Coal have continually shown their love and bond for you over everyone else; how do you feel about their respect for you?

I respect them also cos they are like my brothers

Will you start a fresh label in the nearest future or stick with the name Mo’Hits?

Pass

The producer vehemently refused to have a sit down with us, despite repeated requests (his response to an interview request via email: ‘I’m so sorry but I am definitely not open for interviews for now. Doubt I would be ready for one anytime soon too. Pls I would appreciate if you can understand..).

Those close to him say he’s ‘not really interested in saying anything’. One associate told us last week that the producer has been busy working, and may be blessing fans with new songs soon.

But the industry is getting tired of the drama. Not only tired – many are hoping the estranged friends (and the camps around them) will actually settle their differences and come back together.

Long-time D’Banj and Don Jazzy associate Weird MC‘s submission captures it all : ‘I still have hope that they will kiss and make up. I strongly feel that way‘, she told us in an interview last Wednesday.

It is possible.

D’banj: How Don Jazzy betrayed me

 

 This is a very revealing interview of D’banj as conducted by TheNet’s Ayeni Adekunle. Quite incisive, revealing and entertaining. You can’t afford to miss it.  

‘There’s an important person in that building, right?’ the cab driver asked. ‘Important musician?’

I nodded, too tired to let any curious driver drag me into a conversation.

He got the message and left me alone the entire drive from Canary Wharfto the London Marriot Hotel, in Grosvenor Square.

Then, as I got down to get my suitcase from the trunk, he gave me a knowing look, smiled, and said ‘are you the musician?’

‘Of course not’, I said to him, smiling this time. ‘The musician is in Canary Wharf, his name is D’banj’.

Silence. Confused look.

‘D’banj?’

Yes, D’banj. He’s big in Africa. You know ‘Oliver Twist?’

Silence again, then as his final ‘no’ came, I said ‘Google him.’

It was 4am on Saturday, April 21. I arrived in London eight hours earlier, and had spent almost all of that time chatting with D’banj, in his first interview with a Nigerian newspaper in a long time, and his first interview on the Mo’Hits brouhaha.

London is D’banj’s town. He’s performed there over and over, his single ‘Oliver Twist’ is on the A-list at Choice FM, and enjoys heavy rotation on other stations. A day before I came, he spent hours doing interviews at the Universal offices in Kensington. Some might hail D’banj as the man championing the gospel of ‘Afrobeats’ across the world. But, just like the cab driver, Londondoes not yet know D’banj.

As we walk into the Choice FM building in the afternoon on Saturday, there are no heads turning or fans gazing. In fact, his lawyer, Elias, who wore a pair of loud snakeskin boots, attracted more attention than D’banj.

Who leaves a zone where they’re comfortable and celebrated; where they’re established and successful, for a place where no one seems to give the slightest care?

D’banj, that’s who.

The 31 year-old entertainer has spent nearly two years building structures he hopes will help take his music to new markets in Europe, and especially America. This move, he believes, cost him his friendship and business relationship with his long time partner Don Jazzy.

‘I’m a risk taker’, he says. ‘Life is all about risks. But you must never endanger yourself. I don’t endanger myself, which is why, even though I’m here, I’m still in Nigeriaall the time, performing’.

With incredible energy, and the kind of passion that endeared everyone to him when he first moved back to Nigeria in 2005, D’banj says his deal with Kanye West is a case of ‘preparation meets opportunity’.

‘I pulled up with my entourage at the Emirates first class lounge in Dubai. We were returning from Scott Tommey’s birthday.  I came down with Bankuli, my P.A. Chuchu, and my business manager Chidi. My entourage was large and I was looking fly. One of the hostesses ran to me with a Kanye West placard. I said I’m not Kanye o – then I told my guys ‘Kanye is around so no dulling.’ Chuchu and Bankuli spotted Kanye walking in to check in. They went to him and he said we could come over’.

‘As they came, I had my iPad with me, and my headphones. First thing Kanye said was ‘I like your T-shirt’. I wore a Zara T-shirt and a D&G ring. He liked my appearance and said he’d give me 5 minutes. I told him ‘I played with you in Nigeria during NB PLC Star Megajam. I’ve done a song with Snoop and we’re going to shoot the video now. I’d like to play you my songs.’ I played Oliver, Scapegoat, and Fall in love. He was dancing. He removed the headphones and said ‘I don’t mean to sound rude, but if anyone has to bring you out in the states, it has to be me, not Snoop. He asked when I was going to be in the US, and  I told him I was going there that day. Then he asked who my producer was, and I said Don Jazzy. He said ‘come with him.’

Three months later, D’banj, Don Jazzy and their crew were in New York, where, according to D’banj, it took almost forever before they could establish contact with Kanye. ‘It was only an email address he gave us at the airport. So when we got to NY, we sent several emails but got no response. Not a single one.’

‘Then we met someone that knew someone that knew another someone and we got another email address. We sent several messages again, no response. Then Bankuli sent a final one saying, ‘we have been in New Yorkfor some time and sent several emails. We have waited long enough and are now on our way to do the Snoop Dogg video’

And then the reply came. ‘Sorry to have overlooked your earlier emails. Mr. Kanye would like to meet with you tomorrow.’

‘We didn’t believe it. Don Jazzy, who had been reluctant all along, still did not believe it. Even when we got there (Wyclef’s studio) the next day, he stood outside. When Kanye came I went to call him ‘Oya come now, come play am the music now’. It was difficult to believe it was real and it was happening. Then when Kanye came in, with the GOOD music acts, I was like, ‘wow’.

From there everything happened fast. Next they were meeting Jay Z, making a presentation to LA Reid(At Electric studios), and discussing contracts. But while the label offered him a traditional recording contract, D’banj opted for a joint venture agreement structured to guarantee three things: retaining full control of his materials in Africa, signing Don Jazzy on board (on behalf on Mohits USA), and, he says, bringing the Universal/Def Jam imprint to Africa.

‘I’ve always thought of how I can be a useful vessel to the industry. A friend and colleague always says to me:  ‘D’banj, you’re the Jesus Christ of the industry.’ So having ran Mohits for nine years, I already had plans of how we could blow Mohits up.  I had plans of expanding, and most especially, bringing hope to that 11 year-old kid somewhere in Africa who may never have had the opportunity to get signed to major labels’.

‘So it was not really just about me.  There’s a big market in Africa.  I said to them, ‘I’ve sold millions of records in Africa, we’ve done millions of hits with CRBT, and I’ve run the most successful label on the continent. You take care of the US, but let me take you to Africa.‘  And I’m happy to tell you that we’re doing that. D’banj’s album will be the first under Universal/Def Jam Africa, and we’re already putting all the structures in place’.

‘I’m a businessman.’ I learnt from my mom, who’s a very successful businesswoman. So having run and funded Mohits for nine years, I knew we had to move to the next level. And everything we wanted was happening. Finally we could take African music to the world.’

Just like the lyrics of the song, D’banj was an Oliver Twist. Here’s a guy who had conquered a continent; was sitting on the top three list, and making more money than anyone else in his category. D’banj was a big player in Nigeria, where there are over 150 million people; a big player in Africa, with over 850 million people. But he wanted to play big globally, with 7 billion people to grab from.

And that’s where the problem started. ‘Don Jazzy was no longer comfortable. You know, we were like fishes out of water, in this new system, starting all over again, like when we returned home in 2004.   I got him a place in the US, set up a studio there, just so he’d be comfortable and be able to work without going to hang around the studios. In one year Jazzy did not make a song. I said, maybe you want to go back to Lagos, you’ll get inspiration there?’I was all about the work, I wanted us to make this happen, so we can bridge that gap and create a path for Africa. But Jazzy wanted us to go back home. And I understand. He’s my friend, my brother’.

‘But I never expected him to do what he did.’ He said to me in July last year ‘Let’s scatter Mohits. He told me there are two captains – two captains cannot be in a ship. I was like ‘that’s not possible, this is a marriage’. He said ‘then this marriage is no longer working’. I said then let’s go for counseling; I asked, so what happens to our children?’

Don Jazzy wanted Mohits, D’banj says. And that happened on April 16, 2012 – after months of a bitter feud, characterized by accusations and counter accusations, widespread speculation, leaked emails and failed reconciliation attempts.

‘You can see he has signed already’, he said, showing the agreement with Don Jazzy’s signature. ‘I have full rights to my catalogue and full ownership of my Koko Holdings, while he has full ownership of Mo’Hits, including the artistes and liabilities.’

Already judged guilty in the court of public opinion, and publicly disowned by his own boys Wande Coal and Dr SID, D’banj says he’s sad, but not bitter. Does he feel kind of lonely, alone in the cold?  ‘Asking me if I’m lonely because Wande or Jazzy has left me is like asking my first sister if she’s lonely now – she has two kids now, lives in Canada. Don Jazzy is still my brother – we just had to move on. We’ll still work together in future, same with my boys. In fact, just this week, he sent me the remix to Oliver Twist that we’re releasing in the UK on May 14. All the interviews I’ve had here, I kept hyping him. It’s already in my system – you know me, I’m a one-way soldier.  Jazzy is a very quiet person. Loyalty is key. My loyalty still lies in the friendship I had with him. He was cheated by JJC, and I was present. I swore never to cheat him. But I’d like to think our visions became different.

‘It was clear when we met that Jazzy wanted to be the biggest producer, I wanted to be the biggest African entertainer, not the biggest singer. I had my mind on money. In order to say I’m the biggest, I had to be the richest. So for a very long time, he was on the back end. He respected my act, I respected his music judgment. Every meeting that brought us money I went for. I’d say I need to confirm from Don Jazzy because that was the agreement, even though I knew it was my decision. First Glo deal was $500,000. That Landcruiser jeep was because of my demands. It was because of the skill and exposure that I used to bargain. I’m a businessman’

‘People say I’m less talented, I was known as a jester in the JJC squad. I’d make everyone happy and play the mouth organ, but I knew what I wanted. I decided to give Don Jazzy power in 2007 when we realized that after four years, they did not recognize us as a record label. We had signed artistes and done all this work. So we restructured, and restrategized. So I told him to chill, so he can be more respected and be the don. I’m older than him by one year, yet I respected him like a don. I remember when he came out at Ali Baba show, I knelt down for him, so people would say he’s the baba. All the talking in my ears and all, it was an arrangement. All the Soundcity advert and all, he did not tell me anything. It was all an arrangement.’

With his UK publicist Vanessa Amadi taking notes nearby, his manager Bankulli interjecting every now and then, and several legal documents surrounding us, D’banj spoke passionately of his former partner in the same way a man might go on about a cherished and respected, but estranged, lover. He’s on his sixth cigarette, and thinks the room is stuffy, even though no one complains. So he opens the sliding glass for ventilation. ‘Jazzy did his part’, he says, sitting down again and looking me in the face. ‘He made the music for nine years. But nothing stops him from making for twenty more years. We could have changed the formula. Why didn’t he want to change the formula? It was time to expand the business, Mohits was Motown reloaded. We always knew we would expand, he always said I had more swagger than anyone else he knows, And I know he’s one of the best producers in the world; we wanted to make Mohits the biggest in Africa. Other labels were springing up. So if we could conquer America, London when no one had done it before. Most of our people stop in Germany, or Paris. But this is America, this is the big league; it makes us the strongest, the biggest. We had already made the money. And who best to introduce me to the rest of the world? Kanye did not want to change anything about my music, my style of dressing, or my brand. It is God’s favour. But Jazzy was and is very scared. Something had worked for eight years, so he wanted to maintain the status quo. People are afraid to try new things.’

‘But’, he tells me, still maintaining eye contact while lighting another cigarette, ‘I’m not afraid. I’m a vessel that God is trying to use to help the industry. I’m a bridge. Once in a few years, one artiste comes from the UK to run the world, none has come from Africa. Fela was the closest. It’s been my own dream; I made my name from Nigeria, unlike Seal, Wale, and Tinie Tempah.  And I want to bring Universal, Def Jam and all to Nigeria. So if I can build that bridge, then we’re good, because it will give hope to the boys in Asaba, in Oshogbothat this thing is possible.’

The day after our Canary Wharfinterview, we meet up at Highbury Islington, where he’s shooting a documentary and the promo for the Oliver Twist competition for the UK. D’banj’s new crew: Semtex (a white A&R rep from the label), Bankuli and Vanessa, are on the ground, working with the production team. ‘This is why we’re here o. This is the work’, he says as he invites me into the dressing room.

‘And when people say why am I not talking, this is why. I’m focused on making this happen. It’s more important for me to make sure I don’t disappoint all those who have invested in me; all those who believe in me and are supporting the movement, than to be fighting over who’s right or wrong. Even now that I’m talking to you, I don’t even know if I should be doing this interview.’

It’s very unexpected that D’banj – the super aggresive D’banj – is speaking in this manner. He has fought many battles, cut off many former friend-associates, ignored the Nigerian media, and reportedly humiliated several Mo’hits members, including Ikechukwu and Dr SID. Temperamental, often impatient, and vocal, those who know him will tell you the D’banj they know, is not the one that’s speaking.

So I ask:

The perception is that you’ve become arrogant, unreachable, proud. You’re not the D’banj we used to know; not the D’banj I used to know – and most people in the media will say this is true

Obviously people will say stuff – but this is me. I can’t keep up with everyone, no matter how much I try.  But I understand where I’m coming from. I cant forget my roots – all the interviews I had yesterday, I was ‘bigging up’ DJ Abass, he gave me my first show in London. You saw me giving Jazzy props in my interview earlier. That’s me. If I was arrogant I wouldn’t have been the one even chasing Jazzy around since he told me last July that he wanted to scatter Mohits. Last time I saw him was on February 19 at Irving Plaza. He didn’t support the show, and he only came on stage when SID and Wande were performing. I wanted peace.

And even my mom, who had supported us from beginning, who gave us the house we stayed in (in Michael Otedola estate, Lagos), the Previa bus we used and paid for Tongolovideo, spoke to his parents last December; ‘this is what your son said o’. I remember my mom saying to me, ‘if you guys have been together all these years, and no wahala, then if you need to part, I hope there’ll be no wahala.’ She was very particular about that. I had enough proof to have come out and speak; this thing has been on for a long time, and we’re in April now. But I don’t want to cause any wahala. I don’t want to spoil anything. I don’t want trouble. Right now, I just want to be able to move on and do my business.’

That’s surprising, because when the leaked emails emerged, revealing private email conversations between the estranged partners, all fingers pointed at D’banj. Don Jazzy, a likeable celeb and social media addict, didn’t have anything to prove. D’banj was the one who looked bad, and, understandably, would want to make a move that could earn him public sympathy.

‘The signing (away of my shares in Mohits) was already being discussed before April 16. If I kept quiet from January till now, what would it benefit me to leak anything? Remember all the stuff about my password and all? We know where that was from, I really wouldn’t want to think it was from him, my brother, but it could be from anywhere, but I don’t want to call anyone’s name’

But were the emails forged?

Everything in those emails were facts. And I don’t even think the mails favoured me in any way. It’s not the exact mails that were sent and signed, but there were elements of truth in the mails that were published.’

Why did you tell Ebony you own Mohits?

My mom advised me not to speak. And the interviewer took it out of context. I co-owned Mohits.  We registered the business in 2004, and we owned it 50:50. So I spoke about that, but the interviewer took it wrong and the fans put pressure on them and they corrected it.

How about Sahara Reporters?

I never wanted to have any interview. It was on the eve of my US show. I was told I should do the interview, because they’re very troublesome. I had to do the interview for the sake of my show the next day. I was guaranteed that there’d be no politics questions. I had not been in the country. And I had been under pressure.  Sadly, when that happened and I was being attacked in the media, none of my guys came out to support me.

Looking at all this, what are your regrets?

The truth is that if nothing went wrong, you’d have still heard all this good news and Mohits would take the glory, I didn’t come out in eight years to say anything. Everyone made their contributions. There were no issues, as long as it worked. My mistake was thinking that we were one. People don’t question their brothers and sisters.

How do you feel about Wande Coal and Dr. SID taking sides with Jazzy?

I won’t be too quick to judge Wande Coal. I hear it was Jazzy that tweeted those Wande tweets. I don’t know how true that is, but I know he had our social media accounts. As at a month ago, I couldn’t access any of my accounts. My password was changed on Twitter and Facebook. Then Universal intervened. I’m about to be verified on Twitter now. I’m not really a social media person, so it was Don Jazzy and some of our other guys that were running it. Wande himself knows the truth. He cannot talk to me like that. The whole Mohits knew who ran the label businesswise. They knew who to come to when they needed to get money out, after we recorded the album. Who knows the factory where Dansa was made? But you will know the marketing manager. The car he’s driving, I bought him a brand new Prado from Phyllis and Moss after he crashed the car he won from Hiphop World awards. I bought six Range Rovers last year. I bought D’Prince an LR 3 last year, he crashed it, then I bought him a Range, and it’s true that I bought two Bentleys. Because of Jazzy. But after July last year, after the issue with Jazzy, I bought myself the Aston Martin.

You bought that? I thought that was a gift?

I bought it.

How were you able to fund all that?

In the last nine years, there are a few people and corporate bodies that God has helped me build relationships with, either individuals or banks, or even corporates that are involved in the growth of the industry. I’ve enjoyed their support, and even now that we’re going global, we’re pooling the funds together from all these places.

Could you possibly be Nigeria’s richest pop star? A billionaire?

Vanity upon vanity. Money is material. In terms of what we’re doing, you’ll call me a Trillionaire, because this vision is too big for only me. With the help of the industry, the government, people like you Ayeni, we will not only be billionaires, but trillionaires, and not just me, but every little kid that has same talent like Beyonce, or Nicki Minaj. And with the standard of the UMG worldwide, we can pass people out from our own Universal Music Group Africa, Universal Def Jam Africa, and everyone should jump on this ship with us. It’s not the Titanic.

There’s been a lot of confusion – what label exactly are you signed on?

My album comes out under my label/GOOD Music/Island Def Jam. I’m funding the D’banj album, in America, through GOOD Music/Island Def Jam. GOOD Music is Kanye West who is co-executive producing with me. The deal comprises of Island Def Jam, in US. But in UK, it is under Mercury. My first single will be released in Europe on May 14. My work will be released in Africa through Universal/Def Jam. We don’t have these structures in Africa, and they’ve seen how much money they’ve lost. They’ve seen what I’ve done with Mohits. I made my pitch to them; I’ve made them realize how much they were losing in the African region. Over 150m Nigerians, over 800m Africans. 2% of that is 8.5m. They were not making anything except from S.A, which has been the US of Africa. So we will be launching this label in Ghana, in partnership with Vodafone, launching in Nigeriain partnership with MTN. Def Jam Africa will be up soon; Kenya, SA, and North Africawill follow.

Why are you risking all this? What if you burn your fingers and lose everything you’ve worked for?

Lose out?  Well, I am happy I even have something to risk. To whom much is given, much is expected. Look at Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Jay Z, Kanye West, these people take it to the max, take it to where they believe that they can push it to. In the first instance, coming back to Nigeria with Jazzy was because I was a risk taker. And I wouldn’t say I’m throwing everything away. I would say I’m putting everything back in, in order to rip into the future. I get a broadcast from Tonye Cole everyday. He says when you tell people this your vision, know that it’s not for you alone – it’s for everyone. It’s like what Fela did. If what I’m doing doesn’t work, but sows that seed that will germinate in three, five years, it means my name will be written in gold.

Some people have tried this before you, unsuccessfully. Do you have doubts and fears  sometimes?

My last album was in July 2008 – no album in four years and I know what I still command in those four years. The momentum for me to be able to do this is because I see how much it took me, I saw the benefit, it’s God, and the favour of the relationships we’ve built. Plus, I don’t take no for an answer, I don’t take negativity. It will work in Jesus’ name. If not, I wouldn’t have landed in the UKand hear Oliver Twist on the radio. Nor would I be in the mainstream media with them saying I’m pioneering afrobeats. I said to them ‘Oh hell no, that’s Fela’s music. Fela is the legend.’ So I pray to God – I beg my fans, it‘ll be good to do half a million downloads. It’s possible, it’s a different market. Platinum in UKis 300,000. I believe with the support of my people in Redding, Coventry, Dusting, Hackney, Thamesmead, Abbeywood, we can do it.’

And so, as I say my goodbyes and flag down the cab that’ll take me to Heathrow Airport, I can’t help thinking out loud: should one man sacrifice the wishes of the collective on the altar of ambition and material wealth? But then, what should be expected of the man whose dreams and ambition grow beyond those of other – possibly myopic-  members of the collective: should an individual sacrifice his personal desires; derail his destiny, so to speak, in the interest of the collective?

In all of this, faithfulness and loyalty have been brutally murdered. And the jury is still out on who pulled the trigger.

Wande Coal tweets, says D’banj didn’t buy Bentley for Don Jazzy

Wande Coal has reacted to the Bentley case between Don Jazzy and D’banj in which D’banj claimed he bought a Bentley for Don Jazzy. Below are his tweets. 

Breaking News: D’banj shot dead in US by unknown gunmen, Don Jazzy fingered

Nigerian star singer, D’banj was few hours ago shot dead in the United States of Americaby unknown gunmen. Connoisseur.com learnt that he was returning from visiting his G.O.O.D Music label boss, Kanye West at his Atlanta house in Georgia.

A report emanating from top 24hour new channel, CNN has it that the unidentified gunmen who were numbered about 3 rounded up D’banj who was driving in a red BMW 2011 edition and shot sporadically in to the car.

D’banj was rushed to Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta, Georgiawhere he died some minutes later as a result of complications from wounds of the gunshots.

The US police have launched investigation in to the death of the ‘Mr. Endowed’ crooner and Connoisseur.com learnt that his former friend and Mo’Hits co-owner Don Jazzy who was in South Africa as at the time the dastardly act was perpetrated has been invited for interrogation. Kanye West has also been quizzed by the metropolitan police.

It could be recalled that D’banj was with Kanye West for the Paris Fashion Week last month. Some days later, Don Jazzy confirmed via twitter that he and D’banj have parted ways after a series of unnamed misunderstandings.

Connoisseur.com promises to feed you with more details on the story as it unfolds but thanks for being one of my fools on April 1. Happy April Fool!! Hahahahahaha!!!!