Drama backed with claims, counter claims, responses, counter responses,
exclusive interviews, exposing facts and
leaked E-mails.
And if you think the drama is over, you are hereby advised to grab a
bowl of popcorn, snuggle up in your couch and keep watching, because
from the looks of it, this isn’t ending soon.
If you’ve followed the Mo’Hits brouhaha – a la the ‘
D’banj VS Don Jazzy messy fight’,
you’ve either been entertained, amused or downright irritated.
Nevertheless, the drama continues with both parties still not letting
their guards down…
It’s been the same old story for most
persons with the title ‘Don’ in the mafia movies – unparalleled rise to
success, years of reign and respect but then an ultimate crash. Name it –
Godfather, Goodfellas, Scarface, Casino, Frank Lucas….it’s all the same. Is this the same fate of our beloved Don Jazzy?
Don Jazzy was hardly the fan favourite
back then; sure, he was respected, but he wasn’t the one the fans clung
to. He barely spoke, letting D’banj do all the talking (and
gesticulating). Don Jazzy grew the persona of a real mafia don – you
know, like the ones in Sicily that head the cartel, always feared and
respected, known to bless careers with hits (songs) upon hits.
But when more and more money rolled in,
D’banj somewhat alienated himself from the fans and media, leaving the
‘Don’ to take care of the multitude of fans. The once ‘shy guy’ became
very vocal on micro-blogging site Twitter, often giving out airtime
recharge cards, iPads and more gifts, even organizing
an online music competition which trended on social networks for weeks.
Don Jazzy engaged the fans, positioned himself as an accessible celeb, and a media darling. He even went as far as
granting radio and TV interviews,
responding to E-mails, covering magazines and delivering acceptance
speeches at award shows. Don Jazzy became more accessible; the one
everybody could call on and be assured of prompt response. When the heat
came upon both men during the ‘Occupy Nigeria’ period,
Don Jazzy once again cried out to his people, dissociating himself from D’banj, who received brutal tongue lashings from Nigerians home and abroad for seemingly evading the issue.
But last week, the Don’s credibility was tested; his mystique torn apart, when
D’banj, in an elaborate interview with NET,
accused his former label partner of betraying him, leaving many of the
producer’s loyal fans startled, and perhaps revising where they should
stand in the whole matter.
‘He said to me in July last year
‘Let’s scatter Mohits. He told me there are two captains – two captains
cannot be in a ship. I was like ‘that’s not possible, this is a marriage‘, D’banj said in the interview, among other revealing things.
If it’s anything to go by, in just a few
days, the article received over 70,000 views on NET’s website, with
over 380 comments – most of them in support of D’banj. A surprising
twist of events, one might say…
‘I have lost all the respect I had
for Don Jazzy. Just because you are a good producer doesn’t make you
better than D’banj! D’banj fan for life!!!!!!!‘, Shade commented.
‘Following your destiny is not the
main thing, but are you sure you are following it in the right path?
D’banj, beware of those guys‘, Ifedayo also commented.
‘This was a well conducted
interview, honestly thumbs up to the reporter. D’banj God bless you
hustle, Don Jazzy…shame on you! I don’t even need to hear any sides
again, I could feel the honesty in this interview’, another comment read.
Thousands of fans across different blogs
and social media are now praying for D’banj, hailing him as a saviour
of sorts for the local music industry. Many are still asking valid
questions about the break up; and of course, there are loads of Don
Jazzy loyalists who remain steadfast.
So are D’banj’s fans back with him
because the entertainer broke down his side of the story by opening up
on the matter? Or is it because
he’s gaining buzz in the UK and he seems to be flying the African flag proud, while Don Jazzy seems to be on a never-ending hiatus?
The questions are endless. Media
analysts have exhausted their theories and everyone is waiting with
bated breath to see how the saga will unfold.
A few days after the interview, former friend and music partner
Abdul Rasheed Bello better known as JJC (Skillz) chastised D’banj after
the latter stated that JJC cheated Don Jazzy. It got all messy again as
JJC who sheltered the likes of Jazzy, D’banj, Kween and the 419 Squad
under his Backbone Music label, opened another can of worms, claiming
that the Koko Master (whom he described as the group’s jester) never
really wrote his songs, and at a point, was wanted by the UK Police for
credit card theft.
Ever since the famous interview, Jazzy
has kept mute, refusing to grant interviews, and tweeting only thrice
since then. But now the silence has been broken, albeit briefly, and the
Don has spoken…
In a very short but exclusive interview
via Blackberry Messenger on April 22, Don Jazzy answers some very
important questions and leaves many unanswered.
Did you leak the Mo’hits email?
No
Did you ask D’banj that you want to ‘scatter’ Mo’hits?
No
Have you signed any document relinquishing your shares in Koko holding, and giving D’banj his catalogue?
No
When was the last time you saw D’banj?
Not quite long
Will you still produce music for him, if he asks or not?
Yea
Why did you have to get a new apartment?
‘Pass’
Was D’banj ever told about the concluding part of the Samsung deal?
Why all these questions?
Bros, it’s a tough interview but it’s what our readers (and your fans) want to know.
Pass
Okay. Have you been producing music during the last few months? And who have you been working with in the studio?
‘Pass’
Dr SID and Wande Coal have
continually shown their love and bond for you over everyone else; how do
you feel about their respect for you?
I respect them also cos they are like my brothers
Will you start a fresh label in the nearest future or stick with the name Mo’Hits?
Pass
The producer vehemently refused to have a
sit down with us, despite repeated requests (his response to an
interview request via email: ‘I’m so sorry but I am definitely not
open for interviews for now. Doubt I would be ready for one anytime soon
too. Pls I would appreciate if you can understand..).
Those close to him say he’s ‘not really
interested in saying anything’. One associate told us last week that the
producer has been busy working, and may be blessing fans with new songs
soon.
But the industry is getting tired of the
drama. Not only tired – many are hoping the estranged friends (and the
camps around them) will actually settle their differences and come back
together.
Long-time D’Banj and Don Jazzy associate Weird MC‘s submission captures it all : ‘I still have hope that they will kiss and make up. I strongly feel that way‘, she told us in an interview last Wednesday.
It is possible.
