It’s official. All the speculations and rumours, fuelled by reports of the supposed feud between Mo’Hits producer extraordinaire Don Jazzy and Koko master D’banj, can finally be laid to rest. The once enviable and highly admired partnership between the seemingly inseparable pair is now a subject of Nigerian musical history.
Most of it was revealed by Don Jazzy himself on twitter on Saturday, March 17, 2012, After apologizing for his long absence on the site, he tweeted the following:
‘It is with a heavy heart I announce the end of a long era and the beginning of a new one. Some of the rumours you have all heard are sad but true… and to end the old era I will be donating the proceeds of my production catalogue from day 1 till date to 5 charity organizations. Thanks. IDJA’.
It has also been gathered that the producer and Mo’Hits president has symbolically ended the nine year partnership by moving out of the Lekki mansion he once shared with D’banj for a new pad in NICON Estate, around the peninsula.
D’banj, on the other hand, has reportedly relocated, at least for now, to the US. Last week, he made a brief and very secret visit to the country apparently to put a few things in order. Up till D’banj boarded his return flight to the United States on Friday, March 16, 2012, we’re told the pair did not meet, despite desperate efforts by close friends to bring them together.
Things have now gone beyond reconciliation, with both parties already setting in gear preparations to float separate record labels; leaving friends, fans and followers in shock and confusion, and an entire industry sad. It's now confirmed that D’banj is looking at starting his KOKO Music, another subsidiary of his KOKO Ventures, while Don Jazzy will follow suit with his own label, which remains unnamed for now. Both acts are to continue their separate deals with G.O.O.D. Music.
The question now is: What is going to happen to the rest of the Mohits Family Dr SID, Wande Coal, D’Prince and Kay Switch? Apparently, for them to move on, both label heads have to reach an agreement as to how to wind down their contracts. The acts are unsure of where their careers are going at this point.
Apart from Don Jazzy who spoke out through his Twitter page, Saturday, no one is speaking officially on the situation. But several insiders have told us the situation is ‘worse than you can ever imagine’.
D’banj’s mom, ego, money and gossips are key factors responsible for the wahala.
An insider confirmed that there have been cracks in Mo’Hits for some time, not just between D’banj and Jazzy, but even within the acts and so many other issues. It was only a matter of time before things completely collapse’,‘It’s sad to see things turn out this way, because theirs was a winning formula. But I knew it was always going to happen’.
Over the weekend, D’banj released the highly anticipated video to his monster Don Jazzy-produced single ‘Oliver’. Directed by usual suspect Sesan Ogunro (who has become the official Mo’Hits media expert) it doesn’t feature any Mo’Hits artists, but his G.O.O.D Music colleagues Big Sean, Pusha T and label boss Kanye West himself, are prominent. Kanye is seen at the end at D’banj’s side, a position once occupied by Don Jazzy. That pointed us to a Post Mo'hits regime.
HOW THEY MET
Everyone knows their story – how Don Jazzy was a musician with the Solek Crew, and D’banj, a wannabe artiste who eagerly wanted to be heard. As members of JJC’s 419 Squad based in London, they rolled and performed together, waiting for the big break.
After a couple of major awards and signs of promise, they left JJC’s squad after refusing to sign a contract with his Backbone Music. It remains uncertain who convinced who, but the pair agreed on a partnership and would soon move back to Nigeria…
REAL REASONS FOR BREAK UP
No one can say for sure that there’s one main reason the hitherto inseparable partners are breaking up. From what i hear it’s ‘more complicated than anyone can imagine’, with many talking about issues ranging from women and money, to breach of trust, ego, and outside influence
THOSE WHO INTERVENED
There are several people who wanted to make sure the Mo’Hits partnership never went down. Many influential Nigerians, within and outside the entertainment industry allegedly waged in, hoping to nip the crisis in the bud and save what many have referred to as the most successful music industry partnership of this generation. From Lagos to Abuja and New York, mutual friends and associates – including one Mo’Hits investor, and Don Jazzy’s father – worked the phones and made desperate moves, but it all came to naught…
WHO OWNS MO’HITS?
That’s the billion Naira question. Following D’banj’s controversial Ebony interview, and Don Jazzy’s announcement of the end of a long era and the beginning of a new one, many are now desperate to find out what the CAC documents on Mo’Hits actually say. The company’s website credits Don Jazzy as founder and CEO, even the Mo’Hits logo carries Jazzy’s signature walking stick – but could a coup have happened?
HERE'S A RUNDOWN MO’HITS DISCOGRAPHY OVER THEY YEARS.
D’banj - No Long Thing (2005)
Singles - Tongolo, Socor, Mobolowowon
D’banj - Rundown/Funk You Up (2006)
Singles - Why Me, Run Down,
D’banj - Anaconda (2007)
Singles – Anaconda, Jasi, No long thing
Mo’ Hits All Stars - Curriculum Vitae (CV) (2007)
Singles– Move your body, Booty Call, Pere, Close to you,
D’banj - The Entertainer (2008)
Singles – Mo gbona feli feli, Igwe, Olorun Maje, Suddenly, Fall In Love, Kimon
Wande Coal – Mushin2Mohits (2008)
Singles – Ololufe, Taboo, Ten Ten, Bumper to bumper, You Bad, Who Born The Maga, Bananas
Dr SID - Turning Point (2010)
Singles – Over the Moon ft Kay Switch, Something about You, Winchi Winchi ft Wande Coal, Pop something ft D’banj, Ba Mi Jo ft Ikechukwu, M.I, eLDee
D’banj – Mr Endowed (Unreleased)
Singles - Mr Endowed, Mr Endowed ft Snoop Dogg, Scape Goat, OliverTwist
At this point i really beginnig to wonder if D'banj can survive without his voice because that is wat Don Baba J was like to him.I love D'banj and all but without Don Baba J there wouldn't be any D'banj.
At this point i don't remembers that the most of he's fans loved his songs cos of the edge Don Jazzy gave to it.So long to nine years of partnership.
It's really sad to see this era come to an end.But i'm hoping they'll rethink this decision.
No comments:
Post a Comment