After nine years of collaborating and entertaining their fans worldwide, Mo’Hits bosses Michael Collins aka Don Jazzy and Dapo ‘D’banj‘ Oyebanjo may soon be ending their hitherto ‘untouchable’ partnership.
Multiple
sources say, following protracted disagreements, both parties may have
reached a mutual agreement on ending their business partnership,
although they haven’t come out to say anything to the public.
Reports, including that of Nigerian daily, The Vanguard,
say Don Jazzy and D’banj’s relationship has gone terribly sour, with
possibility of the acclaimed producer launching another label, which
will see him have full authority and sole ownership. Don Jazzy currently
co-owns Mo’Hits with D’banj. The pair formed the label in London after
working out of JJC’s Backbone Music in 2004.
A barrage of unanswered questions from
fans have long been flocking the enigmatic producer’s page on popular
micro-blogging site Twitter, but in stark contrast to his usual responsiveness, Don Jazzy has been quiet. He hasn’t tweeted since the story came to light.
Before
now, the famous duo were never seen anywhere without each other, but
at the time of writing this report, Don Jazzy is in Nigeria without his
hitherto ever present pal D’banj, who is promoting his brand in
America while he works on his forthcoming fourth album ‘Mr Endowed’.
On the other hand, we’re told the Mo’hits producer has temporarily moved into Dr. SID‘s 1004 Victoria Island apartment, where Wande Coal also resides, having deserted the multi-million Naira Lekki mansion he moved into with D’Banj in early 2011.
Insiders
say this new development, if not arrested before things totally
crumble, could spell the end of what’s probably the biggest music
powerhouse and label ever seen in Nigeria.
GENESIS
The
now evident cracks became obvious around the time the producer who is
also the President and CEO of Mo’Hits, bagged the Kanye West G.O.O.D Music
deal which also influenced a $3m JV deal, with D’Banj as key
beneficiary. The Kanye project catapulted both stars to a whole new
pedestal in their careers, where they now rubbed shoulders with the
biggest names in the international music scene. But the problems had
emanated before then.
From then
on, insiders say ‘D’banj’s ego, which was already causing tension
within the label, only got bigger and harder to check’. Sources claim
this new feeling of invincibility on the singer’s part began to make
him question his continued association with his long-time friend and
collaborator, who didn’t seem to be ‘representing’ on this new found
wavelength.
The recent Occupy Nigeria
protest also saw the acts take separate sides – while D’banj did
little to save himself from accusations of collecting money from Goodluck Jonathan,
Don Jazzy readily denounced the government and identifed with the
people; saying, in what would become a famous tweet, that he ‘regrets
voting for Goodluck Jonathan’
FALLOUT
It appears D’banj, whose Don Jazzy produced 2005 ‘No Long Thing‘
album instantly brought him to the limelight, is uncomfortable with
the continued delay in the release of his fourth studio album ‘Mr Endowed‘, which was initially supposed to be released late 2011.
Trusted
sources allege that D’banj no longer remits payments from any shows he
attends into the label’s general account. As one source puts it ‘he feels Don Jazzy isn’t putting the right kind of energy into the business right now’.
A Daily Times report claims D’banj is now represented by the label’s A&R – Oluseun ‘Bankulli’ Abisagboola while the other Mo’Hits acts, including Don Jazzy, are still being represented by long-time manager Sunday Are.
All efforts to reach Bankulli proved abortive, and while Mr. Are
picked up our phone calls, he didn’t answer our inquiries, neither did
he reply our text messages asking the same questions. Don Jazzy had not
responded to our emails as at the time of going to press.
CONSEQUENCES
As
already reported, Don Jazzy has now chosen to stay with other artistes
on his label, specifically putting up with Dr. Sid at the moment,
leaving the Lekki Mansion deserted.
D’Banj, on the other hand, has been seen in the United States, and Paris recently, living it up with music heavyweights like Diddy, Swizz Beatz, Common
and other stars who came to support his new boss, Kanye West at Paris
Fashion Week. Those close to him also say he’s bought himself a home in
Los Angeles where he now hopes to reside fully. He’s also reportedly
building himself a new team – made up of trusted associates like Bankuli
and a former Mtech boss who’s heading his business team.
One source told us: ‘The
camp has definitely split up – D’banj and younger brother K Switch are
shuttling to and fro the US and UK, while Dr SID (who’s had repeated
spats with D’Banj in the past) and D’Prince have stuck with Don Jazzy.
‘Dr. SID feels indebted to Jazzy as he blew up his career‘.
It
is uncertain where Wande Coal stands for now. And while many are
already taking sides, we’re told those who understand the implications
of the pending break-up, are working day and night to make sure it
doesn’t happen. ‘Several people are working to make sure it’s
resolved’ a top industry source told us, Saturday. ‘Friends and
partners will always quarrel. I dont see anything happening between
them that can not be resolved. They stand to benefit more by remaining
together than if they go their separate ways…’
However, one Mo’Hits insider claims ‘sadly this thing has gone beyond repair’. He refused to elaborate.
POST BREAK-UP PROJECTIONS FOR THE MO’HITS DUO
So
with the breakup of the duo looking like a reality, what lies in store
for both power partners if they decide to go their separate ways? NET
examines the possible scenarios.
D’BANJ:
This
music maverick’s career is not likely to be over, at least not in the
foreseeable future. With increasing international exposure opening
doors for him from London to New York, multi-million dollar deals
begging for his star endorsement, close associations with the biggest
names in musical entertainment; Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Jay Z and more, there is little evidence to support the notion that a split will stop his career in its’ tracks.
However,
‘breaking free’ from his long-time producer and friend, if not
properly managed, may mark the beginning of a long and painful journey
into a reckless and irresponsible lifestyle, culminating into personal
and career decline.
DON JAZZY:
The
producer is in no danger of being out of relevance musically, since
his G.O.O.D music deal will no doubt task him on bringing out more
creative material fit for his new family’s primarily American audience,
thereby boosting his profile. His ever building clientele also doesn’t
seem to be much threatened, as even now, he commands some of the
highest production fees in the continent.
However,
his visibility in the media may suffer, thereby confining him
permanently to the booth. The combined force of Wande Coal, Dr. Sid,
D’Prince and possibly K-Switch, taking nothing away from their
commercial viability and talent, don’t seem enough to ensure his visual
presence, at least not like his Don Jazzy/D’Banj duo formular. One
good thing for him though: Don Jazzy is a star maker who can pick up
another talent and create a star in the mould of D’banj in a few years.
He also appears to be a more disciplined act; and in showbusiness,
with discipline comes focus and longevity…
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