The most revered and pioneering Afrobeats hip-hop disc
jockey in Nigeria celebrated his four decades of spinning the vinyl on Friday.
Jimmy Jatt alerted his fans and celebrities of the milestone
in his career on his Instagram page with a display of pictures showing how he
began his career in 1984.
Jimmy Jatt started his music career as a rapper under the
sobriquet, Master J, but delved into disc jockeying after failure in getting
signed by a record label.
He wrote: “40 years of being behind the decks and still
spinnin’ strong… Drom Vinyl to Digital… Still rockin’ them gigs….
“Old School… News School…. No School
rules OG… Oracle…Agba Awo… Fresh as ever 1984 to 2024….
Jimmy Jatt
#beentheredonethat #recognize #consistency #premiumdj.”
The thought of spinning turntables did not immediately appeal to him. But that career happenstance is not only putting bread on his table. It has made the man known as DJ Jimmy Jatt a bonafide hip-hop head and world-renowned turntablist.
With four decades in the business that has seen him
release albums, write an autobiography
appropriately titled Avant-Garde, headline some of the biggest shows the
country has ever seen and mentor others, Jimmy’s time as the top echelon of
deejaying in Nigeria is well storied and it is not about to end.
There is more to the man than his turntables. But music has
always been important to him.
Jimmy grew up in an environment filled with music, but there
was no prevalent air of electrifying hip-hop. Blues, soul, jazz, juju, apala,
Fuji, highlife, funk, R&B, pop and disco were, however, not in short
supply. But hip-hop was his first love and only choice. Hence, he set out to be
a rapper.
That career tanked even before it started. But there was no
regret, especially when there was another path waiting to be charted.
Like many kids growing up in his environment, the
socially-constructed noble images of lawyers, engineers and doctors held some
appeal. But the appeal was not strong enough to blunt the lure of music which
saw Jimmy opt to become a DJ.
In spite of deejaying not being a recognised profession, and
definitely not as lucrative or decent enough in the late 1980s and early 90s to
be mentioned in the same breath as doctors and lawyers, Jimmy got his parents’
nod. His father, a musical instrument dealer, and mother, a teacher, were not
worried their ‘well-trained’ son would turn out bad.
But he was scoffed at by his extended family and neighbours.
“People were hostile and would not want their sons to be associated with me
because I chose to be a DJ,” he says.
After tanking at being a rapper, Jimmy was not ready to fail
at turntabling. The odds were there, but they were not big enough to smother
his drive to succeed. He had to find a way of making the job pay his bills and
also fight the stigma.
Coincidentally, demands for DJs began to spiral upward and
more opportunities to earn a decent living emerged. And in the early 1990s,
Jimmy became fully focused on deejaying.
That resolution and the latent rebellious streak — solely
aimed at proving those who thought being a deejay was a social misnomer wrong —
were the impetus he needed to push on.
But there were times he felt like dumping the turntables in
the dustbin and moving to something else. The passion for music sustained him
through his difficult moments. There were times he had to claim ‘staff’ on
buses to avoid paying fares. In fact, that stage of his life is captured on
Stylee, one of his most successful singles off his debut album, The Definition
Volume 1.
Jimmy is the first Nigerian disc jockey to release a
full-length LP in modern times. The Definition Volume 1 was released in 2007.
The video for the lead single off the album, Stylee featuring Modenine, Elajoe
(of the defunct The Thorobreds) and Tuface, earned him a Channel O Music Award
nomination.
His sophomore album, The Industry Volume 1, a 24-track album
rated as the “biggest collaborative album in Africa” was released in 2014 with
about 66 artists featured.
The two albums were alternative platforms for his associates
and artists to do things unusual. For instance, on The Definition, he got
Modenine, whom he tagged as Nigeria’s best lyricist, to do a successful
commercial track. On the second LP, Banky W dumped his singing for rap bars.
Both albums also featured more budding artistes than the
established ones with Jimmy orchestrating some of the unusual collaborations
the Nigerian music industry has seen. Moreover, music to him should not always
about the feel-good factor. As an art form, it should also be dedicated to
speaking on social ills.
Today, Jimmy is more than ready to always be the beacon of
hope aspiring disc jockeys look up to. He also has a DJ academy, where he can
school aspiring turntablists in the art and business of deejaying, in the
works.
Some celebrities and fans took to the comment section to
celebrate him and the longevity of his career.
@Do2dtun, who is also know as the Energy Gad, wrote: “You
started the year I was born. Like I always say, “He is so good; they named him
thrice”.. you are legend that’s still killing it.”
Okey Bakassi added, “My mentor, brother and friend, a
gentleman and king.”
Dj Consequence said, “Only One Jimmy Jatt”, while VjAdams
commented by saying “King”.
Steve Onu, popularly known as Yaw, commented “Baba oooooo”,
while Nikki Laoye said “Congratulations Egbon. Our very own Legend. You are a
great blessing indeed. More grace to you and many more years of greater
achievements in Jesus name, Amen.”
Actor Kunle Remi said, “Ancestor!!! Amadioha” while Music
Producer, Sarz, said, “Wow”, and Dj Neptune commented, “No one come close to
the master.”
Actor Alex Ekubo added, “ Egbon toh sure”, while Actress
Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi said “Legend”, with Musical group, StylPlus, saying
“Legendary”.
Koffi Tha Guru, a comedian, said “More grease and grace
Baami. More spins to your needles.”
Orezi, who is also known as Mr Raggamofin, added, “Legendary
international Dj Jimmyyyyy. Baba na master.”
A fan, Kunle Ibrahim, whose instagram handle is chief_
_kay_, said “ I give you my own Grammy of all time, more blessed life to live
insha Allah.”
Another fan who goes by papychucky on instagram, said, “Why
don’t we have hall of fame in our industry? The likes of Jimmy changed our
industry and they really need to be honoured.”
Obaijostar commented, “Godfather of all time, senior man,
you valid, surulere to the world.”
Dejaygfunk wrote: “Father father, I prostrate flat on the
floor again and again sir. Bless God for keeping you strong so far, wish you so
many
more happy years ahead.”