Twitter

Profile of Don Jazzy: Get to know everything about the CEO of MAVIN Records here...

Michael Collins Ajereh (born 26 November 1982, Umuahia, Abia State), known as Don Jazzy, is a Nigerian record producer, singer-songwriter and musician.

He has been the chief executive officer of Mo' Hits Records and is the current chief executive officer of Mavin Records. Ajereh has also produced tracks for Dr SID, Wande Coal, Emeka Infiniti, D'Prince, Darey, Naeto C, Olakunle Excel et Zanga, Sauce Kid, Ikechukwu and Tiwa Savage.

Personal life and education

Ajereh was born in Umuahia. His family moved to Ajegunle, Lagos where Ajereh was raised. He was educated at the co-educational high school, Federal Government College Lagos. Ajereh found an interest in music early in life and at age 12, began to play the bass guitar.

                              Photo: Young Don Jazzy (Michael Collins Ajereh)

He also gained knowledge of traditional and percussion instruments. Ajereh enrolled in business management studies at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo state.

Photo: Don Jazzy celebrating his Cherubim and Seraphim roots with his father (Collins Enebeli) and siblings

In 2000, Ajereh visited London. His uncle had invited him to play the drums for the local church.[2] In London, Ajereh gained employment at McDonalds and as a security guard. He continued his interest in music, associating with Solek, JJC, Kas, The 419 Squad and D'Banj. Ajereh learnt producing skills from Emeka Infiniti at O-Town record company.

                   Photo: 'Little' Don Jazzy holding a staff of the Cherubuim and Seraphim church

Ajereh uses Twitter to interact with his followers. He has an appreciation of African fabrics and male Indian gowns and other individualistic fashions.

His Career

Mo' Hits records and GOOD music

In 2004, Ajereh collaborated with D'Banj to found Mo' Hits Records. In the next two years, Ajereh produced the albums No Long Thing and Rundown/Funk You Up.

                             Photo: Left to right: DBanj, Snoop Dogg and Don Jazzy

A third album, Curriculum Vitae, had also been started. Around this time, Ajereh developed a recognisable introduction, "It's Don Jazzy Again!"

In 2008, Ajereh 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.

                           Photo: Don Jazzy relaxing in his studio

Although Ajereh 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.

                             Photo: Don Jazzy, Jay Z and Kanye West

In 2011, Ajereh was employed by Kanye West as a producer at GOOD Music. Kanye West made a surprise appearance at the Koko Concert in London.

He showed support to D'Banj by giving him his chain. Ajereh 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.

Samsung Endorsement

MAVINS

Soon after Ajereh's split from D'Banj, the Samsung company introduced to the market "Built for Africa" products. These included an Afro-Pop home theatre. Its EQ tuning is via a sound optimised equaliser. Ajereh endorsed the product. The product was launched in Cape Town.

Mavin records

                         Photo: Don Jazzy (extreme right) with his MAVIN crew

On 7 May 2012, Ajereh announced a new record label, Mavin Records. 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 said, "I see Mavin Records being the power house of Music in Africa in the shortest possible time."

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 Nollwood. Inwang also cast Ali Baba, A.Y., Nonso Diobi and Dr. Sid.

Production Discography

                              Photo: Don Jazzy and P-Square

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
Booty Call
Close To You
Hey Girl
Igbe Mi
Masquerade
No Long Thing
Ololufe (Club Mix)
Stop The Violence
Why Me (Remix)
Jasi

#Wande Coal – Mushin2Mohits (2008)

I Know U Like It
You Bad
Se Na Like This
Kiss Ur Hands
Confused
Se Ope
Now It's All Gone
Bumper 2 Bumper
Who Born The Maga
That's Wots Up
Bananas
Taboo
Jehovah
Ololufe
Ten Ten
My Grind
Been long you saw me
Private trips
Go low
The kick
Rotate

#Dr SID Turning Point (2010)

When This Song Comes On
Over the Moon (feat. K-Switch)
Something About You
Winchi Winchi (feat. Wande Coal)
Pop something (feat. D'Banj)
a Mi Jo (feat. Ikechukwu, M.I & eLDee
Baby
E Je Ka Jo (feat. D'Banj)
Pillow
Something About You (Silva Stone Remix)
Winchi Winchi (feat. Wande Coal, Sway DaSafo & Dotstar)

#MAVINS – Solar Plexus "MAVIN Records" (2012)

Intro by MAVINS (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)
I'm A MAVIN by MAVINS (Michael Ajereh, Tiwatope Savage, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojosipe, Charles Enebeli)
Oma Ga by Tiwa Savage (Michael Ajereh, Tiwatope Savage, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojosipe)
YOLO by Dr SID (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)
See Me Ri by Wande Coal (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojisipe, Towa Ojosipe)
Take Banana by D'PRINCE (Michael Ajereh, Charles Enebeli)
CPR by Dr SID (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)
Forever by Wande Coal (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojosipe, Towa Ojosipe)
Why You Over There by D'PRINCE (Michael Ajereh, Charles Enebeli)
Chocolate by Dr SID (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri, Charles Enebeli)
Pretty Girls by Wande Coal (Michael Ajereh, Wande Ojosipe)
Amarachi by D'PRINCE (Michael Ajereh, Charles Enebeli)
Outro by MAVINS (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)

Singles with Mo' Hits artists

#D'Prince

Omoba
I like What I See (feat. Wande Coal)
Ooze (feat. D'Banj)
Give It To me (feat. D'Banj)

#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) (feat. Snoop Dogg) (2010)
Oliver Twist (2011)

#Wande Coal

Bumper 2 Bumper
You Bad
Kiss Your Hand
Who Born the Maga
Been Long You Saw Me (feat. Don Jazzy) (2011)
Go Low (2011)

#Dr SID

Something About You (2009)
Winchi winchi (2009)
Pop Something(feat. D'Banj)
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 (feat. Wande Coal)
Ikechukwu – Wind am well (feat. Don Jazzy and D'Banj)
Ikechukwu – Do (feat. D'Banj)
Ikechukwu – All on Me
Ikechukwu – Critical (feat. D'Banj
Ikechukwu – Now is the time (feat. Don Jazzy)
Sauce Kid – Under G
Kanye West & Jay-Z – Lift Off (feat.Beyoncé)
Weird MC – Ijoya

Awards Won

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.

CREDIT: Wikipedia.org