Background and career
Michael Collins Ajereh (born 26 November 1982), known professionally as Don Jazzy, is a Nigerian music executive, record producer, singer, songwriter, businessman, and philanthropist. He founded the record label Mavin Records in 2012, as a subsidiary of Mavin Global Holdings, through which he has signed artists including Rema, Ayra Starr, Magixx, Bayanni, Johnny Drille, Ladipoe, Lifesize Teddy, DJ Big N, and Boy Spyce. He co-founded Mo' Hits Records with D'banj in 2004, and was an in-house producer for Kanye West's GOOD Music from 2011 to 2013.
Don Jazzy was born Michael Collins Ajereh in Umuahia, Abia State, on 26 November 1982, the son of Collins Enebeli Ajereh and Mrs Ajereh. His father is from Isoko in Delta State. His mother is an Igbo princess from Abia State and his father is a member of the Isoko people. Ajereh's family moved to Ajegunle, Lagos, where Don Jazzy was raised. He was educated at the co-educational high school, Federal Government College Lagos. Don Jazzy found an interest in music early in life and at age 12, began to play the bass guitar and piano. He also gained knowledge of traditional and percussion instruments. Don Jazzy enrolled in business management and studied at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo state. In 2000, Jazzy's uncle invited him to play the drums for a local church in London and that was his first visit to London. Don Jazzy gained employment at McDonald's as a security guard. He continued his interest in music, associating with Solek, JJC Skillz, Kas, Jesse Jagz, The 419 Squad and D'Banj.
In 2004, Don Jazzy collaborated with D'Banj to form Mo' Hits Records. In the next two years, Don Jazzy produced the albums No Long Thing and Rundown/Funk You Up. Around this time, Don Jazzy developed a recognizable producer/artist tags, "It's Don Jazzy Again!". In 2008, Don Jazzy was credited in the production of The Entertainer by D'Banj. He also contributed to the production of Wande Coal's Mushin 2 MoHits, an album that was described as one of the best albums to ever come out of Nigeria. In 2011, Don Jazzy was employed by Kanye West as a producer at Very Good Beatz. Don Jazzy worked with Jay-Z and Kanye West on the production of Lift Off, featuring Beyoncé on the album Watch The Throne which was released on 8 August 2011. In March 2012, Don Jazzy and D'Banj confirmed their breakup citing artistic differences.
On 7 May 2012, Don Jazzy announced a new record label, Mavin Records. He said, "I see Mavin Records being the power house of music in Africa in the shortest possible time." On 8 May 2012, he released an album featuring the artists signed to his label. The songs on the album included: "Amarachi", "Forever", "Oma Ga", "Take Banana and Chocolate", "YOLO" and the anthem "I'm a MAVIN". Mavin records signed the vocalist, Tiwa Savage. Don Jazzy built a social network platform called "Mavin League" to complement and market his label. On 5 November 2013, Don Jazzy publicly accused Mavin Records artist Wande Coal of intellectual property theft following the release of the single "Baby Face", which Wande Coal said was produced by Shizzi. The accusation followed reports that Wande Coal had earlier released and promoted the single "Kilaju" without the label's support. Jazzy shared a studio demo of "Baby Face" online, which he said had been recorded the previous year, while Wande Coal denied the claim and shared what he described as the original version of the song. Mavin Records formally announced Wande Coal's departure on 7 November 2013, shortly after the public exchange. In September 2014, Ajereh produced a Nigerian social activist song with Reekado Banks and Di'Ja called "Arise". At the Headies Awards 2015, Ajereh argued with Olamide. The two disagreed about who should have won the "Next Rated" award. Lil Kesh of YBNL records lost to Reekado Banks, Ajereh's artist. The winner of the award received a car. Apologies on both sides were posted afterwards. After Reekado Banks departure from the Mavin Records label, Don Jazzy said he is still part of the family and wished him nothing but success in his career as he thanked him for the time spent with Mavin Records. In 2019, he signed Rema and later went on in 2020 to sign Ayra Starr into Mavins Record Label. In 2021, he announced a new artist, Magixx. On 7 April 2021, he revealed why he never signed Davido. He stated that he didn't need to because he "knew he was going to be big."
In 2012, Don Jazzy appeared in Moses Inwang's movie The Last 3 Digits in Nollywood. Inwang also cast Ali Baba, A.Y., Nonso Diobi and Dr SID. In April 2023, Don Jazzy joined the cast of 'Introducing The Kujus' for its sequel.
In 2022, Don Jazzy teamed up with Nigerian entrepreneur Richard Chinedu Nnadi to launch Jazzy Burger.
