Break-ups are not restricted to romantic relationships alone. Sometimes, despite the rarity of finding a producer whose chemistry and style is in perfect sync with the artiste, the understanding walls of professional and personal relationships still crumble. And subsequently, even creative partners must part ways. Nigerian music has similarly witnessed some of the most jarring splits between dynamic duos of producer and artiste relationships over the years
Let’s examine some of these break-ups
Wizkid leaves Samklef behind.
Pop stars all over the world often require a plethora of producers with hands buried deep in the production of their albums and singles. While Wizkid similarly worked with a host of such beat makers on the production of his Superstar debut album, producer Samklef had the most with production credits on 6 songs. Wizkid was introduced to Samklef by former label mate, Skales. But Wiz and Samklef didn’t really hit-it-off creatively until he produced the instrumentation for his second major label single, Tease Me. This set the ground work for a sonic bond between them that transcended music until differences sent Wizkid sprawling in the direction of younger calibre producers like Legundary Beats and Maleek Berry. While the cause of their split is still unclear, unconfirmed reports reveal, Wizkid’s longstanding chaotic relationship with Skales who facilitated his meeting Samklef in the first place had a part to play.
Burna Boy moves to a space ship without LeriQ.
Between LeriQ and Burna Boy are a million hits and a half as evidenced over the two LPs they worked on between 2010 and 2013. LeriQ revealed in an interview that Burna was introduced to him in Port Harcourt by a friend in 2010. Burna had just returned from an extended stay in the United Kingdom and was looking to record. Theirs was a true love at first ear story as the duo immediately recorded a freestyle titled Freedom off the Burn Notice mixtape the night they met. The close contact they had over the next year gave them enough time to record 5 more songs for Burna Boy’s 11-track Burn Notice mixtape and subsequently 15-tracks off his debut major label collective, The Burn Identity mixtape. LeriQ coined his signature, It’s LeriQ call the paramedic and the duo took their relationship further by working on Burna’s acclaimed debut album L.I.F.E. With both of them already signed to AristoKrats record, Burna Boy was forced to part ways with LeriQ after his contract with the label expired in 2014.
Choc Boiz without any Jesse Jagz.
After producing a bulk of the songs on two major label LPs for his brother M.I and label mates Ice Prince and Brymo, Jesse Jagz eased himself out of Chocolate City due to differences fans still have difficulty wrapping their heads around. Signed to Chocolate City alongside his brother, Jude Abaga, Jesse Jagz was both a recording artiste and the label’s in-house producer who was encumbered more with production duties for this label mates ahead of his own music. The resulting frustration led to his exit from the label. Fans and music pundits have cited the absence of Jesse Jagz’ production magic fingers as the cause of the critical flop of Ice Prince’s Fire of Zamani album. Thankfully he is back right where he belongs.
D’banj, Wande Coal and Don Jazzy head different ways.
Still listed as one of the most disheartening events in Nigerian music till date is the split of Nigeria’s one time biggest sonic superpower Mo’Hits. With Don Jazzy as the in-house producer, the trio made up most of what the label Mo’Hits was, so as expected the end of the label, signified, the end of their sonic relationship. While Wande Coal fared better after the split, D’banj’s incessant misfires seem to be an endless attempt to trying to rediscover a new sound with the same level authenticity and uniqueness that Don Jazzy helped him curate.
And then it was no longer Dtunes again for Iyanya.
Despite being the winner of the first edition of Project Fame West Africa in 2008, Iyanya didn’t get a breakout single until 2011 with a Dtunes produced, mixed and mastered song Kukere. This marked the birth of a relationship that spanned over a myriad of number 1 chart topping hits and a 12-track production credit for Iyanya’s 19-track sophomore album, Desire. Though Iyanya has repeatedly revealed there was no animosity after their split as it was a purely professional move, fans and the media have speculated otherwise.
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