“They Were Under My Wing” – JJC Skillz Accuses Don Jazzy D’banj of Betrayal

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Veteran Nigerian music producer and performer JJC Skillz has spoken openly about a long-standing dispute involving two of Afrobeats’ biggest figures, Don Jazzy and D’banj.

During a conversation on the The Echo Room, JJC Skillz revisited the early period when several Nigerian artists were trying to establish themselves while living in the United Kingdom.

Early Connections in the UK Music Scene

According to him, their relationship began through shared contacts connected to a television platform operating in the UK at the time.

He explained that he believed the young artists had strong links to influential figures within Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

Because of this assumption, he said he approached them with the hope of strengthening his own reconnection with the Nigerian music scene.

A Plan to Reconnect With Nigeria’s Industry

JJC Skillz recalled that discussions eventually led to introductions within the industry.

He mentioned that he was linked with music executive Bankulli, whom he believed could help create opportunities for collaboration back in Nigeria.

At the time, he said he trusted the arrangement and expected the partnership to help all parties involved.

Claim of Mentorship and Support

Reflecting on those early days, JJC Skillz insisted that both Don Jazzy and D’banj were working closely with him during that period.

He described their relationship as one in which he played a guiding role while they were still relatively unknown artists.

According to him, he provided various forms of support that helped them pursue music while based in the UK.

Allegations of Betrayal

However, the producer claimed the relationship later deteriorated when accusations surfaced suggesting he had treated them unfairly.

He expressed shock at claims that he had taken financial advantage of them.

JJC Skillz rejected those allegations, arguing that at the time there was little or no income being generated from their activities.

In his words, it would have been impossible to cheat anyone financially when there was no money coming in from their work.

Details of the Support He Says He Provided

The veteran musician stated that he had personally handled many of their basic needs while they were pursuing music abroad.

He said this included helping with accommodation, transportation to performances, and other daily necessities.

For him, those contributions made the later accusations particularly surprising.

Silence From Those Mentioned

As of now, neither Don Jazzy nor D’banj has issued a public response to the claims raised during the interview.

The remarks have nonetheless sparked renewed interest in the history of Nigerian music’s rise in the diaspora and the relationships that shaped it.

Commentary and Analysis

The story shared by JJC Skillz highlights how many early Afrobeats pioneers built their careers while navigating personal alliances and professional partnerships abroad.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Nigerian musicians in cities like London often relied heavily on collaborative networks for survival and exposure.

Disagreements over credit, financial arrangements, or recognition were not uncommon in those formative years.

Whether or not the allegations lead to responses from the other artists involved, the discussion offers insight into the complex personal dynamics that existed behind the emergence of Afrobeats as a global movement.