Veteran Nigerian music producer and Mavin Records boss, Don Jazzy, has expressed pride after securing six production credits on Billboard’s Top 50 Best Afrobeats Songs of All Time list.
The list, released earlier this week, highlights the most iconic tracks that shaped Afrobeats into a global phenomenon.
Among the chosen songs are several produced by Don Jazzy during his years leading Mo’Hits Records and later Mavin Records.
Taking to his X handle, the 41-year-old producer reacted with excitement. “Inside the 50 I sha produced 6. I try Abi I no try,” he wrote, drawing praise from fans and fellow artists who lauded his enduring influence on the genre.
Don Jazzy’s fingerprints are all over the list. His production credits include Wande Coal’s ‘Bumper 2 Bumper’ and ‘Kiss Your Hand’, D’banj’s ‘Oliver Twist’ and ‘Fall In Love’, and two of his celebrated works with Tiwa Savage, ‘Eminado’ and ‘Dorobucci.’
With six entries, Don Jazzy stands out as the Afrobeats producer with the highest number of production credits on Billboard’s list.
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The recognition reinforces Don Jazzy’s role as a cornerstone of Afrobeats. Since co-founding Mo’Hits Records in the mid-2000s alongside D’banj, he has been behind some of the most enduring records in Nigerian music history. From club anthems to soulful love songs, his versatility has made him one of the most respected figures in the industry.
Wande Coal’s Bumper 2 Bumper and Kiss Your Hand helped define an era of Afropop that bridged the late 2000s and early 2010s. D’banj’s Oliver Twist, which became an international smash, introduced global audiences to Afrobeats before the genre’s full explosion. Fall In Love, another D’banj classic, remains one of Nigeria’s most beloved wedding songs.
With Tiwa Savage, Don Jazzy helped shape the sound of modern Afropop. Eminado and Dorobucci were chart-topping hits that cemented Mavin Records as a powerhouse after the Mo’Hits split in 2012.
Billboard’s Top 50 list ranked 2Face Idibia’s timeless ballad African Queen as the greatest Afrobeats song of all time. Other tracks in the top five include Wizkid’s Ojuelegba, Flavour’s Nwa Baby, Rema’s Calm Down, and CKay’s Love Nwantiti.
While the list has sparked debate among fans and artists over exclusions and rankings, Don Jazzy’s inclusion six times underscores his consistent impact across decades. For many, it is a fitting acknowledgement of his role in laying the groundwork for Afrobeats’ global rise.
Beyond nostalgia, Don Jazzy continues to shape the future of Afrobeats. Under Mavin Records, he has launched the careers of new stars such as Rema, Ayra Starr, Ladipoe, and Crayon. These artists are carrying Afrobeats into new global territories, a testament to Don Jazzy’s ability to evolve with the times.
Even as the genre expands worldwide, his legacy remains central to its story. From Lagos nightclubs to international charts, Don Jazzy’s productions have defined eras and bridged generations.
For a producer who often downplays his achievements, his quiet acknowledgement of Billboard’s recognition resonated deeply. In his own words, he simply asked, “I try Abi I no try?”
For fans and industry observers alike, the answer was unanimous: Don Jazzy did more than try, he set the standard.