Veteran Nigerian music producer and record label boss, Don Jazzy, has revealed that he almost gave up on music entirely following the shocking breakup of the iconic Mo’Hits Records in 2012.
Speaking in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the Mavin Records founder reflected on one of the darkest moments in his career, the end of Mo’Hits, which he co-founded with his longtime partner and friend, D’banj.
Don Jazzy disclosed that the fallout left him emotionally drained and uncertain about his future in the industry. He admitted that he even considered relocating abroad to start over before being convinced by close friends to remain in Nigeria and rebuild from the ashes.
“When Mo’Hits ended, I thought that was it. I almost packed up to move abroad,” he said. “But friends encouraged me to stay and start again, and Mavin Records was born. Since then, I’ve learned not to let anything break me.”
Mo’Hits, which once dominated the Nigerian music scene with hits like Oliver Twist, Booty Call, and Pere, was home to major stars including D’banj, Wande Coal, Dr SID, and D’Prince. The label’s abrupt split left fans heartbroken and raised doubts about the future of Nigerian pop.
However, Don Jazzy’s resilience paid off. In the aftermath, he launched Mavin Records, a label that quickly rose to become one of Africa’s biggest music powerhouses. Mavin has since produced global sensations such as Tiwa Savage, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, Di’Ja, and more recently, Rema, Ayra Starr, Crayon, Boy Spyce, Magixx, Bayanni, and Johnny Drille.
In 2024, Mavin Records took a major leap forward after global music giant Universal Music Group acquired a majority stake in Mavin Global, a move that cemented its place on the world stage.
With over a decade of consistency, innovation, and artist development, Don Jazzy’s story remains a testament to perseverance and vision, proof that setbacks can become stepping stones to greater success.
