Michael Collins Ajereh, widely known as Don Jazzy, has shared insights into his creative collaboration with former Mo'Hits artists D'Prince and D'Banj. Speaking on a recent episode of the Crea8torium podcast, Don Jazzy described how living together influenced the creation of some of Afrobeats' most memorable songs. He recounted the origin of D'Banj's hit track 'Olorun Maje', explaining that the lyrics emerged during a tense moment involving D'Prince and their former manager, Sunday Are. According to Don Jazzy, Sunday Are had complained to him about D'Prince refusing to attend radio interviews, but he was too focused on studio work to respond.
Don Jazzy directed Sunday Are to report the issue to D'Banj instead. D'Banj, described as strict, confronted D'Prince and began shouting at him. After the confrontation, D'Prince returned to the studio where Don Jazzy was working and began miming dusting equipment while singing the now-famous lines: "Some people they want make I cry, some people they want make I die, why? Olorun Maje oooo." Don Jazzy said the lyrics matched perfectly with the beat he was producing at the time and asked D'Prince to pause so he could record the idea. He credited the shared living environment as a catalyst for spontaneous creativity.
He also recalled how another hit, 'You Bad, You Want It', came about when Dr Sid walked into the studio unannounced and began rhyming over a beat Don Jazzy was crafting. Don Jazzy emphasized that while music production methods have evolved, he remains deliberate in his beat-making process. He maintained that proximity and shared experiences among artists during the Mo'Hits era played a significant role in shaping the sound of Afrobeats at the time.
Don Jazzy credits shared living spaces for hits like 'Olorun Maje', yet now works in isolation from the artists he once lived with. The song born from D'Prince's radio interview refusal became a classic, while D'Banj enforced discipline like a commander. D'Prince sang about suffering after being shouted at, turning conflict into melody. The same environment that produced those records no longer exists, and the music has changed with it.
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