D' Banj & Don Jazzy...6 Months After

About 6 months ago, the one-time dynamic duo of D'Banj and Don Jazzy let the world know they were going their separate ways. After 8 years of non-stop ground shaking hits from the two, it was hard to believe that the day would come when they would stop working together. D'Banj was the ultimate entertainer, and Don Jazzy was the brain behind the hits...the studio genius.





A lot was learnt about their business and personal relationship as a case of this split, and things almost turned ugly. It was only natural that people would take sides. Team D'Banj and Team Don Jazzy were all of a sudden birthed on twitter. And old fans of the two became divided and started making conclusions on who would go down, and who would fare better after they went their separate ways.







It is important to note that, from the news supplied from both parties, they actually had to part ways cos they nolonger shared the same vision. D'Banj felt it was time for him to take up a greater challenge, and swim in bigger waters; Don Jazzy was comfortable with the success their Mo Hits records had attained here in Nigeria, and felt that getting established overseas was too big a risk. They tried to reach a compromise for many months, but their could be no half-stepping for each individual, and they decided to share their stakes in the company they jointly owned, and go separate ways.



This is the 6th month, and I personally think the two are doing great considering the aim they have set to achieve. Don Jazzy, within weeks of the split, released a new collaborative album, Solar Plexus with his newly formed Mavin Records; which had old Mo Hits Crew members like Da Prince, Wande Coal, Dr Sid, and a new addition from Miss Tiwa Savage. The album got mixed reviews from fans, as they said the sound was foreign to what they were used to. But, with time, they embraced it, and most of the tracks off the album now get constant radio play, and are jammed in the clubs.



D'Banj is also not doing badly. As far as his goal, he is doing great. A couple of weeks after the split, he dropped the video to his hit song, Oliver Twist. The video went viral on the internet, as it had cameos from Pusha T, Big Sean and Kanye West. The jam was top 10 on U.K music chart. I did a little research on twitter, and was surprised to see Europeans (not Nigerians in diaspora) commenting on the track. D'Banj had finally gotten the international recognition he craved for, and now performing at bigger concerts...the latest of which was him opening for Rita Ora at her recent concert in London.



I would conclude that the two are not doing badly at all...they are both living their dreams to the fullest, and there seem to be no bad blood between them. The two are still signed under Kanye's G.O.O.D Music label; Don Jazzy as a producer/beat maker, and D'Banj as an artist.