David Ochayi
(Don Jazzy. new telegraph nigeria)
Legendary Nigerian music producer and Mavin Records founder Don Jazzy has revealed that some of Afrobeats’ most iconic tracks emerged from the close-knit creative environments of label houses during the genre’s golden era.
During an engaging conversation on the Crea8torium podcast, the hitmaker recounted how D’Banj’s fan-favorite “Olorun Maje” was born from an unexpected studio session at the Mo’Hits residence. The track’s creation stemmed from a playful exchange between D’Prince and their then-manager Sunday Are regarding promotional commitments.
Don Jazzy vividly described the creative spark that ignited when D’Prince casually hummed a melody that seamlessly blended with an instrumental he was crafting. This spontaneous collaboration resulted in one of the most memorable Afrobeats anthems of the 2000s.
The music mogul also shared another creative breakthrough moment when Dr. Sid walked into the studio and effortlessly laid down vocals for what became the chart-topping “You Bad, You Want It” over an unfinished beat.
While acknowledging the evolution of music production methods, Don Jazzy emphasized that his personal creative process remains artist-focused. He still approaches each production session with a specific vocalist’s style and strengths in mind.
The industry veteran extended valuable advice to emerging talents, stressing the importance of collaborative spaces where artists can feed off each other’s energy organically – a practice he believes was fundamental to the genre’s early success.
