Nobody should get carried away by Don Jazzy’s chronically-online, playful social media influencer personality. That’s all recent development.
This isn’t an attempt at inducing nostalgia. But when Don Baba J returned to Nigeria from London two decades ago, it was the beginning of a journey to becoming one of Nigerian contemporary pop’s greatest contributors, and he changed the soundscape forever.
Don Jazzy seems to have taken a break from actively producing music, but not before making multiple impacts on Nigerian pop music. These eight songs Jazzy produced across music eras prove this.
Tongolo – D’Banj
At a time Don Jazzy and his previous business associate and artist D’Banj were still testing Naija music waters, the latter’s debut album came out with Tongolo as its lead and biggest single. Not only did this song introduce D’Banj’s arrival to Nigerian listeners, it birthed his “Koko Master” persona.
Ijoya – Weird MC
Two years after stepping into the motherland, Don Jazzy produced Weird MC’s Ijoya alongside JJC. This song was Weird MC’s reintroduction to the Nigerian audience in 2006. Till date, Ijoya remains the biggest single from a Nigerian female rapper.
Why Me — D’Banj
Why Me transformed D’Banj from potential entertainer into a national hitmaker. Don Jazzy’s production did that.
Jebele — Kween
Kween had lovers in chokehold with this 2007 jam. Its music video won the Soundcity Music Video Award for Best Female Video and Best Highlife Music Video at the Nigerian Music Video Awards in 2008.
“Mushin 2 Mo’ Hits”
In 2009, Wande Coal released his debut “Mushin 2 Mo’ Hits”, creating a template for how a Nigerian pop album is made. This album has popular hits like Move Your Body, Bumper2Bumper, You Bad, Taboo, Private Trips, Ten Ten, etc. Wande Coal did his thing on this album, but we have Don Jazzy to praise for its stellar production work.
Wind Am Well – Ikechukwu
This song is one of the singles that secured Ikechukwu’s spot in the mainstream. Guess who produced it? It’s Don Jazzy again.
Oliver Twist – D’Banj
Before Don Jazzy and D’Banj parted ways in 2012, they made their last collaboration titled Oliver Twist count. This song climbed charts and did wonders for Afrobeats appeal, even pushing its potential into global space.
Godwin – Korede Bello
It took Godwin three days post-release to become an anthem among Nigerians in 2015. Due to Korede’s resonating lyrics and Jazzy’s production, Godwin is a party jam to some listeners and a testimony song to others.
