Veteran Nigerian music producer Michael Collins Ajereh, widely known as Don Jazzy, believes that the golden era of Afrobeats was fueled by artists and producers sharing living spaces in label-owned houses equipped with studios. He shared this reflection during a recent appearance on the Crea8torium podcast.
Don Jazzy recounted how a mundane disagreement at the Mo’Hits mansion unexpectedly gave birth to D’Banj’s hit D’Banj – Olorun Maje. According to him, manager Sunday Are complained that D’Prince was skipping radio interviews. When Don Jazzy, busy in the studio, told him to take the matter to D’Banj, D’Banj scolded D’Prince. Moments later, D’Prince returned to the studio, pretending to clean equipment, and began singing the now-famous lines: ‘Some people they want make I cry, some people they want make I die, why? Olorun Maje oooo.’ The lyrics synced perfectly with the beat Don Jazzy was crafting, and the song was born on the spot.
Similarly, Dr Sid’s hit Dr Sid – You Bad, You Want It originated when he casually walked into the studio and started freestyling to a beat Don Jazzy was working on. These spontaneous collaborations, Don Jazzy argued, were a direct result of the communal living arrangement.
The music mogul acknowledged that the current music-making process differs from that era, though he personally still approaches production by creating beats with a specific artist in mind. He urged today’s creatives to spend more time together to foster synergy between their crafts.