Don Jazzy Says Friends Stopped Him From Quitting Music After Mo’Hits Split

Don Jazzy

Legendary Nigerian music producer and record executive Don Jazzy has revealed that he almost gave up on music following the unexpected end of Mo’Hits Records in 2012.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the Mavin Records boss opened up about how the fallout between him and D’banj left him disheartened to the point of considering relocation abroad. However, the encouragement of close friends convinced him to stay and rebuild his dream from scratch.

“When Mo’Hits ended, I thought that was it. I almost packed up to move abroad. 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,” he said.

According to Don Jazzy, the experience shaped his resilience and inspired him to create Mavin Records — a label that went on to redefine the Afrobeats sound and nurture a new generation of superstars.

Following the Mo’Hits breakup, he established Mavin Records, signing both old collaborators like Dr SID and D’Prince, and fresh talents including Tiwa Savage, Korede Bello, Di’ja, and Reekado Banks.

Today, the label stands as one of Africa’s most influential music powerhouses, housing top artists such as Rema, Ayra Starr, Ladipoe, Crayon, Magixx, Boy Spyce, Bayanni, Johnny Drille, and DJ Big N.

In 2024, Universal Music Group acquired a majority stake in Mavin Global — a major investment that further strengthened its global reach and industry influence.