Renowned music executive Michael Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy, has shared a fascinating perspective on what truly fueled the golden era of Afrobeats. Reflecting on the heights reached during the Mo’Hits era, the veteran producer noted that the industry’s most iconic records were born from a unique living arrangement where artists, producers, and managers all shared the same roof. According to him, the constant proximity and shared daily lives of the team created a creative spark that is often missing in today’s more fragmented industry.
During a recent appearance on the Crea8torium podcast, Don Jazzy explained that many of the hits fans still dance to today were not the result of stiff, scheduled sessions, but rather spontaneous moments of inspiration. He recalled how D’Banj’s classic track Olorun Maje came to life following a minor domestic disagreement at the Mo’Hits mansion. The legendary manager Sunday Are had been complaining about D’Prince skipping radio interviews, leading to a heated scolding from D’Banj.
The tension from that moment took a creative turn when D’Prince walked back into the studio, where Don Jazzy was already working on a beat. In a moment of sheer artistic reflex, D’Prince began humming lyrics about people wanting him to fail or succeed, perfectly matching the rhythm Don Jazzy was craftng. That raw emotion and immediate reaction were captured right then and there, resulting in a chart-topping hit.
Similar stories trail other fan favorites, such as Dr Sid’s You Bad. Don Jazzy noted that the song emerged simply because the artist walked into the room while a beat was being made and began to rhyme naturally. Zoyols News reports that this level of organic chemistry was a hallmark of their success, as the studio was always buzzing with life and talent ready to jump on a melody at any second.
Now 43, the Mavin boss admits that the landscape has changed significantly. While he still enters the studio with a specific artist in mind, he observes that the modern creative process is much more isolated. With fewer teams living and working together in the same physical space, the collaborative energy has shifted. To counter this, he encouraged the new generation of creatives to find ways to collaborate more closely, stressing that building a strong, cohesive bond is still the most effective way to produce timeless music.
