Nigerian singer and music executive D’Prince has officially confirmed his departure from Mavin Records, ending a long-standing professional relationship with his brother and label founder, Don Jazzy. The revelation came during a conversation on Twitter Spaces, where D’Prince disclosed that his contract with Mavin expired on 8 May 2020.
A year after releasing his extended play Lavida, which featured only Rema, D’Prince broke the news in response to a question about the relationship between his label, Jonzing World, and Mavin Records.
“Jazzy has been a key player in my career and a mentor,” he said. “However, my record deal with Mavin Records ended on 8 May 2020, and it has been an amazing 16 years under my brother Don Jazzy.”
D’Prince, whose real name is Charles Enebeli, joined Mavin Records in 2012 during the label’s second wave of expansion, alongside Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal, and Dr SID. He had previously been part of Mo’Hits Records, the precursor to Mavin, which Don Jazzy co-founded with D’Banj.
When asked whether he planned to renew his contract with Mavin, D’Prince replied, “I don’t plan on renewing my deal, and we parted ways in good faith. But we’re still in business, as a joint force in marketing Rema.”
Now at the helm of Jonzing World, the label he founded in 2019, D’Prince is shifting his attention to talent discovery and global expansion. “At this point, I just want to focus on building Jonzing World into a global entity, and a gateway to connect Afrobeats with the world,” he said.
Reflecting on his longevity in the industry, he added, “Name a Nigerian artist who has spent 16 years under a record label? You can’t find anyone aside from me. So, let’s build a legacy with Jonzing World, as we discover unique talents and break them out.”
While his departure may have come as a surprise to some fans, the artist maintains that the split from Mavin Records was amicable. His continued collaboration with Don Jazzy and Mavin in supporting Rema highlights the evolving nature of the Nigerian music industry, where partnerships are increasingly replacing traditional long-term contracts.
