Nigerian Musicians

Full Name: Michael Collins Ajereh
Stage Name: Don Jazzy
Date of Birth: 26 November 1982.
Origin: Delta State
Genres: Pop, R&B, Afro pop, African hip hop.
Years active: 2002 – present.
Nationality: Nigerian
Labels: Mo’ Hits Records, GOOD Music, Mavin Records.
Residence: Lagos
Occupation: Singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur.
Website: www.mavinrecords.com
Twitter: @DONJAZZY
Facebook: facebook.com/OFFICIALDONJAZZY




The CEO, founder and resident producer of Mavin records is an enigmatic personality. Michael Collins Ajereh, although not a solo recording artist himself, has quickly become one of the most gifted, futuristic and prominent showbiz celebrities in Africa. In less than three years of establishing Mavin records, the genius hit music producer who has been dubbed the undisputed king of beats has changed the way Nigerians listen to music with timeless hit tunes of various genre without replicating beats and has revolutionized the industry.
He has been called Africa’s answer to Timbaland, another producer with flamboyant beats and a distinctive style. Forbes magazine listed him as the 36th most powerful celebrity in Africa.

Born 1982 in Umuahia, Abia state where his mother comes from and his father from Delta state Nigeria. The young Michael Collins’ family relocated to Lagos where he went through primary, secondary and high school. It was in secondary school that he first acquired the moniker, Don Jazzy. His dad had a background in music business entrepreneurship and was at the fore front of veterans who worked untiringly for the establishment of professional artiste management and corporate music business structures in Nigeria.

Although Don Jazzy followed a conventional educational path, he very quickly developed a passion for music and started playing the drums before the age of 4. He went on to start experimenting with various instruments at a tender age, a trait that was to become the hallmark of his later career.

After his high school in 2000 with a business degree, Michael moved to the UK at the invitation of an uncle who wanted him to play the drums for his local church. Various odd jobs followed including working at McDonalds and as a security guard. Already imbued with an intimate knowledge of traditional and percussion instruments, Don Jazzy further built on his musical knowledge during his UK stint.
Finding fellow kindred sprits in the likes of Solek, , Kaz,JJC and The 419 squad and D’Banj who was also a member of the group. The group would spend unrelenting hours practicing, recording and performing different types of music.

Jazzy’s appetite for a full time career in music could no longer be satiated when, in 2004, he partnered with D’Banj to set up the Mo’Hits label. Within two years, the prolific producer had wrapped up two albums (No Long Thing and Rundown/Funk You Up) with his former Mo’Hits partner and was working on a third, Curriculum Vitae.

By this time, he had already started becoming a household name with the trademark intro – It’s Don Jazzy again!In 2008 there were further production credits for the best selling album of that year, The Entertainer. Don Jazzy repeated the feat with Wande Coal’s Mushin 2 MoHits, an album that was described as one of the best albums to ever come out of Nigeria.

In 2011 his talents got him noticed by Kanye West who signed him up as a producer on his G.O.O.D music label. He did a collaboration with Jay-z and Kanye West on the production of the song Lift Off featuring Beyonce on the album, Watch the Throne which was released on the 8th of August, 2011.

The producer also bagged multi-million naira endorsement deals from Multinationals such as MTN, Samsung and Loya Milk.On the 15th of December, 2013, Don Jazzy was recognized and presented with the Flytime Entertainment Legend Award at the annual Rhythm unplugged Concert.
Other awards include Nigerian Music Awards (NMA) 2006 Producer of the Year, Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2007 Music Producer of the Year, The HEADIES (2011) – Producer of the year, with a host of nominations for the World Music Award for World’s Best Video, World Music Award for World’s Best Song.

With over a 100 production tracks to his name, the understated genius has worked with a host of local and international celebrities. In spite of his whirlwind superstardom, Don Jazzy has never forgotten his humble beginnings and is very passionate about charitable causes.

By founding Mavin records in May 2012, the multiple award winning producer is looking to further raise the bar both domestically and internationally. With his aim of making Mavin records a production “power house of African music,” he has set up a highly professional structure of business hotshots as well as musical mavericks.

Buoyed by his army of Twitter followers and fans all over the globe who hinge on his every word, the prodigious 32-year-old has carved a niche for himself in the pantheon of musical greats.

Production discography

Albums
D’banj – No Long Thing (2005)
D’banj – RunDown Funk U Up (2006)
D’banj – The Entertainer (2008)
Mo’ Hits All Stars – Curriculum Vitae (2007)
Anaconda 3:34
Booty Call 5:13
Close To You 3:43
Hey Girl 5:08
Igbe Mi 5:40
Masquerade 4:02
No Long Thing 3:15
Ololufe (Club Mix) 4:21
Stop The Violence 6:37
Why Me (Remix) 5:16
Jasi 2:50
Wande Coal – Mushin2Mohits (2008)
I Know U Like It 3:10
You Bad 4:05
Se Na Like This 4:12
Kiss Ur Hands 3:54
Confused 4:20
Se Ope 3:22
Now It’s All Gone 4:24
Bumper 2 Bumper 3:44
Who Born The Maga 3:04
That’s Wots Up 4:42
Bananas 3:59
Taboo 4:24
Jehovah 4:02
Ololufe 4:56
Ten Ten 3:47
My Grind 4:48
Been long you saw me
Private trips
Go low 3:50

The kick 3:10
Rotate 3:20

Dr SID Turning Point (2010)
When This Song Comes On
Over the Moon (feat. K-Switch)
Something About You
Winchi Winchi (feat. Wande Coal)
Pop something (feat. D’Banj)
Ba Mi Jo (feat. Ikechukwu, M.I & eLDee
Baby
E Je Ka Jo (feat. D’Banj)
Pillow
Something About You (Silva Stone Remix)
Winchi Winchi (feat. Wande Coal, Sway DaSafo & Dotstar)
MAVINS – Solar Plexus “MAVIN Records” (2012)
Intro by MAVINS (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)
I’m A MAVIN by MAVINS (Michael Ajereh, Tiwatope Savage, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojosipe, Charles Enebeli)
Oma Ga by Tiwa Savage (Michael Ajereh, Tiwatope Savage, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojosipe)
YOLO by Dr SID (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)
See Me Ri by Wande Coal (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojisipe, Towa Ojosipe)
Take Banana by D’PRINCE (Michael Ajereh, Charles Enebeli)
CPR by Dr SID (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)
Forever by Wande Coal (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri, Wande Ojosipe, Towa Ojosipe)
Why You Over There by D’PRINCE (Michael Ajereh, Charles Enebeli)
Chocolate by Dr SID (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri, Charles Enebeli)
Pretty Girls by Wande Coal (Michael Ajereh, Wande Ojosipe)
Amarachi by D’PRINCE (Michael Ajereh, Charles Enebeli)
Outro by MAVINS (Michael Ajereh, Sidney Esiri)

Singles
Mo’ Hits Artists
D’Prince
Omoba
I like What I See (feat. Wande Coal)
Ooze (feat. D’Banj)
Give It To me (feat. D’Banj)
D’banj
Tongolo (2005)
Soko (2005)
Mobolowowon (2005)
Why Me (2006)
Run Down (2006)
Kimon (2008)
Olorun Maje (2008)
Gbono Feli (2008)
Entertainer (2008)
Suddenly (2008)
Fall in Love (2008)
Igwe (2008)
Mr Endowed (2010)
I do This
Scape Goat (2010)
ashanti (2010)
Mr Endowed (Remix) (feat. Snoop Dogg) (2010)
Oliver Twist (2011)
Wande Coal
Bumper 2 Bumper
You Bad
Kiss Your Hand
Who Born the Maga
Been Long You Saw Me (feat. Don Jazzy) (2011)
Go Low (2011)

Dr SID

Something About You (2009)
Winchi winchi (2009)
Pop Something(feat. D’Banj)
Over The Moon (2010)
Chocolate
Y.O.L.O
C.P.R
Afefe
Chocolate West African Remix (ft Ice Prince Sarkodie Elom Adablah Lynxxx)
Chocolate East African Remix (ft Musik Maestro)
Lady Don Dada
Love Mine
Talented
Baby Tornado
Baby Tornado Remix (ft Alexandra burke)
Surulere (ft Don Jazzy)
Mo’Hits Allstars
Ten Ten
Non–Mo’ Hits Artists
Darey – Escalade part 2
Darey – Stroke Me
Shank – Never Felt
Naeto C – Asewo
Ikechukwu – Like You (feat. Wande Coal)
Ikechukwu – Wind am well (feat. Don Jazzy and D’Banj)
Ikechukwu – Do (feat. D’Banj)
Ikechukwu – All on Me
Ikechukwu – Critical (feat. D’Banj
Ikechukwu – Now is the time (feat. Don Jazzy)
Sauce Kid – Under G
Kanye West & Jay-Z – Lift Off (feat.Beyonc�)
Weird MC – Ijoya

Awards
2006 Nigerian Music Awards (NMA) – Producer of the Year
2007 Nigerian Entertainment Awards – Music Producer of the Year
The Headies 2011 – Producer of the Year for the songs “Over The Moon”, “Mr Endowed” and “Pop Something”
The Headies 2014 – Producer of the Year for the song “Dorobucci”