The Kokomaster Syndrome

A prospective Client and I got talking about the value in Partnerships, over drinks at Base Lounge, Silverbird Galleria yesterday evening.

Not surprisingly, our chief Case Study was none other than the successful partnership between the Kokomaster, D’Banj, and his Producer, Don Jazzy.

My Client was of the opinion that without Don Jazzy, there can be no D’Banj; it’s interesting how he didn’t also see that as being vice-versa.

I instinctively agreed with him when he said that, but on a second note, I actually decided to think about it a little bit more before fully agreeing with him. I will be the first person to say that I’m scared about what might happen to D’banj’s career in the next two years, or even next year.

And I’m terrified of this because as much as I love D’banj, and see him as one of the most distinctive brands to have emerged from the Nigerian Entertainment Industry, he seems to be lacking in the one thing that assures of Longevity in any creative field.

D’Banj lacks quality Content.

I mean check out the ‘Endowed’ single; those beats were MAAADDD!! There is nowhere in the world that you’d hear that song and not want to gyrate!! (LOL..alright I can’t believe I just used that word..’gyrate’)

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As much as I thought it was a nicely produced track, I was already tired of it within the first two minutes of listening to it. The lyrics could not engage me and get me wanting to hear the song again. It’s a nice song to have blasting loudly in my car when I want to drown myself in sound, but that’s as far as it goes.

Art and Music is about making a connection with the audience through every piece that is put out. No matter what anyone chooses to say about Tuface, one solid fact is that he never fails to make a connection (except when he's trying to 'Enter the Place') through his lyrics. His Content, most times gets me thinking about whatever he's talking about, whether I have experienced it or not.

The way it seems to me now, is as though it’s only the Don Jazzy end of the D’banj/Don Jazzy partnership that is making any connection right now.

It saddens me that D’banj has completely lost me at this point. I don’t even get excited anymore when I see him endorsing a product or hear that he’s going to be a part of something, because his delivery has become the same monotonous mantra.

And this is one Artiste I truly believed in..and well, probably still do; otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this.

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So back to my Client’s statement that without Don Jazzy, there can be no D’banj:

The Activist in me was ready to fight for D’banj and say “how can you say that”, but even the arguments I produced in his favor, to counter my Client’s belief, seemed futile.

I said, “But he was in Ikechukwu’s ‘Critical’ track, and he was great in it!!”

Ahhh...but wasn’t that a Don Jazzy again beat?

The only headway I seemed to make was by saying that D’Banj’s verse of Banky W’s ‘Lagos Party’ remix was my favorite of all and that wasn’t a Don Jazzy track?!

But this gets me thinking, just like in Marriage when two have to come together to make a complete single unit, is it possible that in Life and Business, there are just some people whom we will be unable to reach our full potential without?

If D’banj steps up on his lyrical Content today, and decides to walk away from Don Jazzy, would that be the end of his career, just because they split?

But if this principle applies, then how come whether or not Don Jazzy is producing a track for D’Banj, he ALWAYS makes a Touchdown?!

You know what, I’ve actually now convinced myself that it has nothing to do with a Partnership approved by the gods, but more of the strength each person is bringing to the table. If two people in a Partnership are giving their best, then they will do a fantastic job of COMPLEMENTING each other, not Completing as we’d like to believe.

So my dear Client, I disagree with you.

There is a D’banj without Don Jazzy; and vice-versa.

The only way this can be proven wrong is if D’Banj chooses to remain mediocre in his Content; then, he will forever be NEEDY of Don Jazzy to make up for what he lacks.

Kai..Tariere, you can like to take Panadol for another man’s headache!!!

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