Nigerian music executive and producer Don Jazzy has reflected on the early days of the legendary Mo’Hits Records era, revealing how living together with artists like D’Banj and D’Prince helped shape some of Afrobeats’ most memorable records.
Speaking during a recent appearance on the Crea8torium Podcast, Don Jazzy explained that the close-knit environment within the Mo’Hits camp created a natural creative chemistry that made hit-making feel effortless.
According to him, some of the biggest songs from that era were born of ordinary moments and spontaneous interactions in the studio and in the house they shared.
“I have a theory that says that most of the great music that we made in Afrobeats was when all of us were living together,” he said.
The veteran producer went on to recount the story behind Olorun Maje, revealing that the inspiration for the hit track actually came from a tense exchange involving D’Prince and former manager Sunday Are.
“For instance, D’Banj’s ‘Olorun Maje,’ the idea was from D’Prince and Sunday Are, who was our manager then. Sunday Are was complaining that D’Prince didn’t want to go to radio interviews. He came to report to me but I didn’t even listen because I was working in the studio.”
Don Jazzy explained that he redirected the complaint to D’Banj, whom he described as more strict and disciplined within the group dynamic.
“So, I told him to go and report to D’Banj because he is like a military man. After he reported, D’Banj started shouting at D’Prince. Then D’Prince now came back into the studio where I was with Sunday Are and pretended like he was dusting some equipment and then began to sing, ‘Some people they want make I cry, some people they want make I die, why? Olorun Maje oooo’,” he stated.
The producer said the melody instantly caught his attention and naturally blended with the instrumental he was already working on.
“The lyrics just fell precisely to the beat I was making at that time. I told him to pause that I like it. That was how the song was born,” he added.
Don Jazzy also shared another example of how spontaneous creativity shaped the Mo’Hits sound, revealing that the popular phrase “You bad, you want it” originated from Dr SID casually freestyling over one of his beats in the studio.
Reflecting on today’s music industry, the Mavin boss suggested that modern recording processes have changed significantly, but noted that he still tries to remain intentional and emotionally connected when creating music.