Record producer JJC Skillz has opened up about a major fallout that occurred years ago with Nigerian music stars D’banj, Don Jazzy, and music executive Ayo Sonaiya, accusing the trio of conspiring to leave his record label, Backbone Records.
Speaking on the Echoroom podcast, JJC Skillz recounted that his first connection with Don Jazzy was facilitated by Sonaiya during his prominent years in the United Kingdom.
He said he later took Don Jazzy under his wing, mentoring him in music production.
“To expand my reach into the Nigerian market, I strategically leveraged Don Jazzy’s local presence,” JJC explained. The plan, he said, culminated in a pivotal 2004 Nigerian tour.
He also enlisted media personality Bankuli to help promote his artistes, including the then-upcoming duo of D’banj and Don Jazzy.
JJC Skillz described the tour as a major success, effectively propelling the pair into the spotlight.
However, tensions soon emerged. JJC claimed that rapper Ruggedman had alerted him to whispers suggesting that D’banj and Don Jazzy were planning to leave Backbone Records over alleged financial disagreements.
According to JJC, the breaking point came when he presented his artistes with an official label contract proposing a 50/50 revenue share.
He said the terms were rejected not only by D’banj and Don Jazzy but also by his own squad, who all declined to sign.
“As soon as I gave them the contract, they all started running around. And all of them didn’t sign. Even 419 Squad. Remember there’s JJC and 419 Squad. Even the boys did not sign.”
Expressing his frustration, JJC Skillz countered the cheating claims by highlighting his investments in his artistes’ careers.
“I heard something from Rugged Man saying the band said something about not paying them. I am cheating them. I am the one who takes you to the show. I buy your clothes. You live in my house. I take you everywhere,” he recalled.
The estrangement, JJC said, persisted years later. In 2009, while working on the remix of his hit song ‘We Are Africans’, he reached out to the now-established Mo’Hits crew for a feature, but his request was denied.
Reflecting on the experience, he added, “All of those people. I hear Ayo speak about those times. For me, it was like everyone exposed themselves. Don Jazzy, D’banj, Ayo, DJ Abass conspired against me. They knew what they were doing.”
“Then I called up some people. Da Grin jumped on it. You know, DJ Zeez, Femi Kuti. And boom. Smash hit. The song blew up. So now we have a show in London,” JJC Skillz added.
