Michael Collins Ajereh, known as Don Jazzy, believes shared living spaces created magic for Afrobeats. The music executive made the claim during a recent appearance on the Crea8torium podcast.
Don Jazzy pointed to his Mo'Hits mansion days as proof of his theory. He said artists and producers working under one roof with studios produced their best work.
A chance moment involving D'Prince sparked the creation of D'Banj's hit song "Olorun Maje." According to Don Jazzy, their former manager Sunday Are had complained that D'Prince refused radio interviews.
Sunday Are reported the issue to Don Jazzy while he worked in the studio. Don Jazzy didn't pay attention and told him to speak with D'Banj instead.
D'Banj, he noted, was stern like a military commander. D'Banj confronted D'Prince about his attitude toward promotional duties.
D'Prince later returned to the studio where Don Jazzy was working. He pretended to dust equipment, then began singing a melody.
"Some people they want make I cry, some people they want make I die, why? Olorun Maje oooo," D'Prince sang out.
The lyrics matched perfectly with the beat Don Jazzy was crafting at that exact moment.
Don Jazzy asked him to stop immediately. He'd found the missing piece for his production.
Another hit, "You Bad, You Want It," came together similarly. Dr Sid walked randomly into Don Jazzy's studio and started freestyling over a beat in progress.
Don Jazzy acknowledged that music creation has changed dramatically since his era. Still, he hasn't abandoned his original working method or approach.
He told reporters he enters the studio with a specific artist in mind. His process remains intentional, not haphazard or improvised without direction.
Don Jazzy's advice to younger creatives was direct and clear. They must spend more time together to strengthen the bonds between their individual crafts and visions.
