It is common knowledge in the Nigerian music industry that D’Banj isn’t doing well as far as hits are concerned after he parted ways with Don Jazzy. His several singles such as CASHFLOW, BOTHER YOU and O YATO among others haven’t made the impact we have come to know him for in the past. OLIVER TWIST and SCAPEGOAT were the last singles he did that were produced by Don Jazzy and both were hits. OLIVER TWIST was a smash hit that was an international sensation as well as making an impact on iTunes downloads.
It doesn’t require rocket science to know that Don Jazzy took along with him the magic when both of them parted ways. Singles and after singles by D’Banj have failed to make the expected impact despite rotations on radio and television. Mo’ Hits has metamorphosed into Mavin Records since D’ Banj’s departure and Don Jazzy has spurned out hits such as SURULERE, EMINADO, DOROBUCCI while D’Banj is making modestly successful music. D’Banj had said it on occasions that he really isn’t a good songwriter but more of an entertainer. He needs to find his way back to Don Jazzy to get that spark back into his music and revive his dwindling career.

He isn’t the first artist to experience this drought. The death of Tupac Amaru Shakur caused an exodus of artist from DeathRow Records. Among them was Snoop Dogg who left DeathRow Records for Master P’s No Limit Records to begin a downtime period in his career. It was during Snoop’s sojourn in No Limit that Dre made the revolutionary move of signing Eminem on his Aftermath label and still went on to churn out hits after hits, living proof that maverick producers always reinvent themselves when their star artists leaves(just like Don Jazzy is doing with Mavins records after D’ Banj left).

The Dogfather’s sojourn in No Limit had considerable success as he still made platinum sales on his albums there (The Game Is To Be Sold Not To Be Told, Top Dogg, Last Meal) but it was clear his creativity, style and expression were being stifled by No Limit’s dirty south sound. The biggest hit on his Top Dogg album, BITCH PLEASE featuring Xzibit and Nate Dogg was produced by Dr. Dre to prove that he still needed Dre while still away in No Limit.. His return to Dre in 2001 culminated in the release of the smash hit STILL DRE from the album 2001 with the highest point being the ‘’Up In Smoke Tour’’ which is regarded as the most successful hip hop tour ever.

The King of Pop, Michael Jackson met the legendary Quincy Jones when he was about to quit Jackson 5 and launch his solo career and Jones produced his ‘’Off The Wall’’ (1979), ‘’Thriller’’ (1983) and ‘’Bad’’ (1987) albums. Quincy Jones’ magic touch and genius was evident in launching MJ’s career to unprecedented heights. It was a marriage of two geniuses. Michael Jackson later parted ways with Jones in his quest for younger producers in the late ‘80s to early ‘90s during the New Jack Swing era and worked with the iconic Teddy Riley on the Dangerous album but it is a fact that none of his subsequent albums (Dangerous, Invincible etc) ever made the impact of his previous efforts with Quincy Jones.

Another classic example is Justin Timberlake. All his albums (Justified 2002, Future Sex Love Sounds 2006, The 20 20 Experience 2013, The 20 20 Experience 2 of 2 2013) have all been produced by the same producers. The Neptunes (Pharrel Williams and Hugo) produced most of the tracks on the Justified album with Timbaland producing some tracks. The subsequent albums in 2006 and 2013 have all been produced by Timbaland. It isn’t hard to see why all these albums have been very successful despite the time gaps between the release of all these albums due to Justin Timberlake‘s acting career creating a hiatus in his music.

The moral of the story is that every artist needs to find and recognise that producer who can interpret his sound and help him express his creativity and music. And when he finds that producer or those producers he should stick with them and work with them for the continuous and lasting success of his careers. Some producers know and can interpret your musical DNA while some can’t.

tobtap: rubbish again....please free dbanj....must he die with don jazzy....