How Kanye West ruined Mo'Hits

Kanye West & D'banj

 The chronicles of Mo’Hits crisis hit a rock bottom last week.  After weeks of silence during which fans groped in the dark, Don Jazzy’s 106 words tweet brought a ray of light to the whole business: “Good day friends. So sorry I have been away for long as I have been going through some changes in my life.
It is with a heavy heart that I announce the end of along era and the beginning of a new one, some of the rumours you have all heard recently are sad but true. The way forward now is to make sure I keep bringing you guys more of the beautiful music y’all love to dance to. And to end the old era I will be donating d proceeds of my production catalogue from day 1 till date to 5 charity organizations. Thanks, IDJA.”
Coming on the heels of D’banj’s faux pas interview with Ebony, it was a big revelation. Recently, the picture became clearer with the release of the “Oliver Twist” video. In previous videos, from “Tongolo” to “Why Me” to “Mr. Endowed” remix (featuring with Snoop Dogg) it has always been the two buddies cavorting together. But in the new video, the first to be released under G.O.O.D. Music, Don Jazzy is missing. And guess who makes a cameo appearance: the new big boss, Kanye West, and the duo of Pusha T and Big Sean who are also members of the G.O.O.D. Music. Don Jazzy was not in anyway in the picture.
The Don Jazzy tweet evoked an outpour of sympathy, with a few fan dissing D’Banj. But a tweet by Obi Asika, CEO of Storm Records, harped on a cold fact: “I was extremely sad to see @donjazzy’s tweet today. I just want to salute @donjazzy @iamdbanj and the entire mo hits crew, amazing memories!”
Indeed, with the two friend gone separate ways, memories are what remain of Mo’Hits.
 

The curse of G.O.O.D. MUSIC

The whole crises started with Mo’Hits’ dream affiliation with G.O.O.D. MUSIC. A media hype and hysteria greeted the partnership when the news broke in 2011.
It was hailed as unprecedented, a milestone. A photo of Don Jazzy, sandwiched between Jay Z and Kanye, trended on the internet, liquidated rumours that the signing was no more than a publicity stunt. Later, a footage showing D’Banj being anointed by Kanye during his Koko Concert in London dispelled all skepticisms. When Don Jazzy’s name appeared on Watch The Throne Album’s as a co-producer of the “Lift off” track (which feature Beyonce), all doubts whatsoever fizzled out. Indeed, Mo’Hits has a bona fide contract with G.O.O.D. Music. But from then on, Mo’Hits has never been the same again.
Because of a foolproof Omerta, which made getting information from the Mo’Hits Crew as easy as getting a direction from a deaf mute, the terms of the contract remained under wraps until recently when unconfirmed information was leaked to the effect that a sum of $3m is involved, with G.O.O.D. Music being the beneficiary.
Since the strife drama became rife, unfolding in piecemeal every week, observers have been left no choice but to make intelligent guesses. Against the backdrop of Kanye West’s keen interest to invest in Afrobeats and his successful coup of capturing two of Africa’s finest front runners - a producer extraordinaire and an eccentric entertainer - coming to parting of ways doesn’t imply that Don Jazzy will still not produce D’Banj’s music. This time around, it’s going to be purely business. And G.O.O.D. MUSIC (and of course, Kanye West) calls the shot. If Kanye is serious about his investment in afrobeats, we will likely continue to hear a Don Jazzy-produced D’Banj’s single (if not an album).
Most likely what we might not be hearing is that signature tune “Its Don Jazzy again.” And very likely, we may have seen the last of Don Jazzy in D’banj videos. But it’s no long thing. What fans should be prepared for is the new era of G.O.O.D. Music where the former best of friends will square out as professional colleagues under Kanye West.