Don Jazzy Biography
Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy, is a Nigerian record producer, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Don Jazzy was born in Lagos State. His family lived in Ajegunle, Lagos where Ajereh was raised. He was educated at the co-educational high school, Federal Government College Lagos.
He developed an interest in music early in life and at age 12, began to play the bass guitar. Don also gained knowledge of traditional and percussion instruments. He enrolled in business management studies at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo state.
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.
Don Jazzy visited London in 2000 to play the drums for a local church his unclew was the one who invited him. In London, Jazzy gained employment at McDonald’s and as a security guard. but he still continued his interest in music, associating with Solek, JJC, Kas, The 419 Squad and D’Banj. Don learned to produce from Emeka Infiniti at O-Town record company.
Don Jazzy Age
Don Jazzy is 36 years years old as of August 2019. he was born on 26 November 1982.
Don Jazzy Father
Don Jazzy’s dad is one Collins Enebeli.
Don Jazzy Photo
Don Jazzy Married
At some point in the past, Don Jazzy used to joke about being in a relationship with one particular “Onome”, a lady who remains unidentified until today. Many took that claim seriously until Don Jazzy, sometimes in early 2015, stated clearly that he might not marry after all. When asked why he said so, he replied that he had no idea himself.
In late 2015, Don Jazzy uploaded on Instagram, a picture of himself holding a lady by the hand in his office, with a caption that read “Yayyy meet @peac_hy she said yes…” While many of his fans took this to mean he actually proposed to the lady in the picture (Peace) and was going to marry her, he never made a public statement of clarification regarding that picture or his plans to marry anytime soon.
Don opened up about his relationship status in 2019 and said “I don’t bring up issues about my relationship status on purpose. People always talk about it.“It is not difficult to find a wife; there are many beautiful women out there. It is not like I am ready; I am not the perfect version of what I would like to be to my wife and family. “I want to work on myself until I am ready. By the time I am ready if someone still wants to be with me that would be great.
“It is not like I am looking for a wife and cannot find one. There are lots of nice and beautiful ladies out there. I don’t think I am there yet. I am not in a hurry. “If time passes and nobody wants to marry me, then so be it but for now, I don’t feel I have worked on myself enough.
“I don’t want a scenario where I would get married and my music or business would take me away and the next thing would be that my wife would start complaining that I am hardly around. Then people would start saying he doesn’t care about his family. I don’t need that type of talk in my life. “Let me be on my own, whenever I am ready, I am ready. I have a girlfriend; I have had different girlfriends in the last 10 years. I can’t just be single; I never said I was celibate. The relationship can break, she can leave me and go, and it is possible.
Don Jazzy Music Career
Mo’ Hits records and GOOD music
In 2004, Don Jazzy collaborated with D’Banj to found Mo’ Hits Records. In the next two years, 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 developed a recognizable introduction, “It’s Don Jazzy Again!”
Don Jazzy was credited in the production of The Entertainer by D’Banj in 2008. He 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 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 song Lift Off with Beyoncé on the Watch The Throne album.
Kanye West employed don Jazzy as a producer at Very Good Beatz in 2011. Kanye West made a surprise appearance at the Koko Concert in London. He showed support to D’Banj by giving him his chain. 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, Jazzy announced a new record label, Mavin Records. Ajereh said, “I see Mavin Records being the powerhouse 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. Don built a social network platform called “Marvin League” to complement and market his label.
On 5 November 2013, Don Jazzy had a conflict with an artist, Wande Coal who left the label two days later.
In September 2014, Don Jazzy 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, Don Jazzy artist. The winner of the award received a car. Apologies on both sides were posted afterward.
Don Jazzy Songs
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. Ajereh provided vocal performance for Kanye West’s song Lift Off with Beyoncé on the Watch The Throne album.
No Long Thing
No Long Thing is the debut album by Nigerian recording artist D’banj. It was released by Mo’Hits Records in 2005. The album was produced by Don Jazzy and supported by the singles “Tongolo”, “Socor”, and “Mobolowowon”
TRACKS
1. “Intro”
2. “Tongolo”
3. “Socor”
4. “Pastor (Skit)”
5. “All Da Way”
6. “Iya Mi”
7. “Mr. Olopa”
8. “Wiches (Skit)”
9. “Mobolowowon”
10. “Ika O Da”
11. “Ask Me” (ft. Kween)
12. “Na Lie” (ft. Nova & Raga Remi)
RunDown Funk U Up
RunDown Funk U Up is the second studio album by Nigerian recording artist D’banj. It was released by Mo’ Hits Records in 2006. The album was produced by Don Jazzy, and supported by the singles “Why Me”, “Do You Like the Koko? (Tongolo Remix)”, and “Run Down (Funk U Up)”, among others.
TRACKS
1. “Do You Like the Koko? (Tongolo Remix)”
2. “Why Me”
3. “Run Down (Funk U Up)”
4. “Loke” – 4:14
5. “Tono Sibe”
6. “Which Way 2 Go?”
7. “Serve The Lord (Bonus Track)”
8. “Run Down F**K U Up”
9. “Tongolo”
10. “Soco”
11. “All the Way”
12. “Mr Olopa”
13. “Iya Mi”
14. “Don’t Ask Me”
15. “Mo Bo Lowo Won”
16. “Ika O Da”
17. “Na Lie”
Curriculum Vitae
Curriculum Vitae is a compilation album by recording artists of Nigerian record label Mo’ Hits Records. It was released in 2007, by the label. Nigerian record producer Don Jazzy, head of the label, first revealed plans for a label collaborative album in 2006.
The album was supported by five singles—”Why Me” (Remix), “Pere”, “Ololufe”, “Booty Call” and “Move Your Body”. Upon its release, Curriculum Vitae received positive reviews from music critics. It was ranked seventh on Pulse Nigeria’s list of the 15 Best Nigerian Pop albums ever released between 1999 and 2016.
TRACKS
1. Anaconda
2. Booty Call
3. Close To You
4. Hey Girl
5. Igbe Mi
6. Masquerade
7. No Long Thing
8. Ololufe (Club Mix)
9. Stop The Violence
10. Why Me (Remix)
11. Jasi
Don Jazzy Awards
1. Nigerian Music Awards (2006) – Producer of the Year.
2. Nigerian Entertainment Awards (2007) – Music Producer of the Year.
3. The Headies 2011 – Producer of the Year for Over The Moon, Mr. Endowed and Pop Something
4. The Headies 2014 – Producer of the Year for Dorobucci
5. City People Entertainment Award (2015) – special recognition award.