Nigerian music producer and Mavin Records boss, Don Jazzy, has revealed that he almost quit music following the collapse of Mo’Hits Records in 2012.
Speaking in a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Don Jazzy said the split between himself and co-founder D’banj left him discouraged to the point where he considered relocating abroad and abandoning his career.
“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.
Mo’Hits, which dominated the Nigerian music scene in the 2000s with hit-making acts such as Wande Coal, D’Prince, and Dr SID, dissolved following internal disagreements.
Don Jazzy went on to found Mavin Records, which rebuilt his legacy and produced a new wave of Nigerian stars including Tiwa Savage, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, and Di’Ja.
Today, Mavin boasts some of the biggest global Afrobeats exports, including 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, further boosting the label’s expansion into international markets.
The Mo’Hits split, once seen as a major setback, is now viewed as a turning point that shaped Don Jazzy into one of Africa’s most influential music executives.
