Mavin Records boss and acclaimed music producer, Don Jazzy, has revealed that parting ways with former signee Di’ja remains one of the most emotionally difficult moments of his career.
Di’ja joined Mavin Records on February 14, 2014, and went on to release several songs and an EP during her time with the label between 2014 and 2017, contributing to some of the imprint’s early post-relaunch successes.
Although she later clarified in 2023 that she did not formally exit the label and described her departure as a case of “life happened,” Don Jazzy has now opened up about the emotional strain surrounding her transition.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Crea8torium podcast, the music executive said the situation was deeply personal and difficult for everyone involved, describing his relationship with his artistes as familial rather than purely professional.
According to him, every artiste under Mavin Records is treated like family, a dynamic that made decisions around exits particularly painful when they arise.
Don Jazzy admitted that the moment Di’ja was leaving was overwhelming, noting that emotions ran high during the discussions and that it remains one of the hardest experiences he has had to manage as a label head.
He further revealed that he no longer handles artiste exits directly, explaining that senior executives within the label now take responsibility for such decisions when necessary.
“Tega and Rima handle that now if they need somebody to leave the label,” he said, adding that he prefers to stay emotionally removed from such processes going forward.
Reflecting on the experience, Don Jazzy said the bond within the label made the moment especially tough, recalling that even Di’ja was unsettled by his involvement in the conversation.
He added that the discussion became highly emotional, with tears shared by those present as the reality of the decision sank in.
“She even questioned the guys in the room why they had to involve me in that. All of us started crying. It was hard,” he said.
The revelation offers a rare glimpse into the emotional side of artist–label relationships within Nigeria’s music industry, where professional decisions often intersect with deep personal bonds.
