Mavin Records (also known as the Supreme Mavin Dynasty) is a Nigerian corporation and record label founded by record producer Don Jazzy on 8 May 2012. The label's inception came to fruition following the closure of Mo' Hits Records, a record label jointly founded by Don Jazzy and D'banj. Mavin Records is home to recording artists such as Rema, Ayra Starr, Crayon, Johnny Drille, Ladipoe, Magixx, Boy Spyce, Bayanni, and Lifesize Teddy. It also houses producers such as Don Jazzy, Altims, London, Baby Fresh, and Andre Vibez. In 2014, DJ Big N became the label's official disc jockey. D'Prince, Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal, Reekado Banks and Iyanya were all formerly signed to the label. The label released its debut compilation album, Solar Plexus, on 8 May 2012. Chapter X, the label's second compilation album, was released on 2 December 2022.
History 2012–2019: Founding, signings, and endorsement deals Mavin Records started as a result of D'banj's departure from Mo' Hits. It was alleged that D'banj signed over Mo' Hits to Don Jazzy. In an interview with Sunday Punch, Don Jazzy addressed D'banj's departure from the label, saying, "We were working together, and all was going well. It got to a point where I looked at the situation and we both decided that it was not working, and we had to move on". Don Jazzy alluded to being hesitant about a name change. According to BellaNaija, the term "Mavin" describes someone who is gifted and skilled in any field. Mavin Records launched its official website and social networking site, the Mavin League, a day before its founding. After rebranding Mo' Hits to Mavin, Don Jazzy signed Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage in June 2012. In November that year, Pulse Nigeria reported that Mavin Records signed producers Aluko "Altims" Timothy and Sunday "BabyFresh" Enejere.
Don Jazzy signed endorsement deals with Samsung and Loya Milk after establishing the label; Savage also signed an endorsement deal with Pepsi. Within a year of becoming a revamped brand, Mavin Records released "Take Banana" and "Oma Ga" as singles from its debut compilation album, Solar Plexus. In February 2014, Don Jazzy signed Di'Ja, Reekado Banks and Korede Bello to Mavin Records within a week of one another.* On 1 May 2014, Mavin Records released the hit single "Dorobucci" to critical acclaim. On February 25, 2015, both Don Jazzy and Savage signed endorsement deals with Konga.com. On 31 October 2016, several media outlets in Nigeria reported that Iyanya signed a record deal with Mavin Records. Both Iyanya and Don Jazzy confirmed the report on Instagram. On 28 February 2017, Don Jazzy announced the signings of Johnny Drille, Ladipoe, and DNA to Mavin Records. In January 2019, the label secured a multi-million dollars investment from Kupanda Holdings, a subsidiary of Kupanda Capital and TPG Growth. Rema's record deal with Mavin Records was announced in March 2019. On 31 May 2019, the label unveiled the signing of Crayon and released the collaborative single "All is in Order" the following day.
2020–present: Chapter X and UMG Acquisition In 2020, Billboard magazine named Mavin Records one of the gatekeepers of the Nigerian music industry. On January 21, 2021, the label unveiled the signing of Ayra Starr. In December 2022, Mavin Records announced plans to hold an all-star concert and release its second compilation album, Chapter X. The album was executively produced by Don Jazzy and commemorates the label's 10-year anniversary. Chapter X comprises ten tracks and was released on 2 December 2022. The label's all-star concert, which occurred at the annual Livespot X Festival, was held on 16 December 2022. In February 2024, Universal Music Group acquired a majority share in Mavin Records. In October of the previous year, Billboard magazine revealed that Shot Tower Capital had valued the label above $125 million. Under the terms of the new deal, Don Jazzy and Tega Oghenejobo will continue to serve as the label's CEO and COO, respectively.
Departures Wande Coal Reports about Wande Coal's departure surfaced after he released and promoted the single "Kilaju" without the support of Mavin Records. On 5 November 2013, Wande Coal released the single "Baby Face" and said Shizzi produced it for him. Shortly after the song's release, Don Jazzy accused Wande Coal of intellectual property theft. He uploaded a studio demo of "Baby Face", which was supposedly recorded the previous year. Wande Coal debunked Jazzy's accusations against him and tweeted a link to the "original" version. In an interview with Premium Times newspaper, entertainment lawyer Demilade Olaosun spoke about the incident. Olaosun said Mavin Records owned the intellectual property because the song was produced, orchestrated, and voiced by an employee of the label. The lawyer also stated that since Wande Coal's recording contract was not made available to the public, speculations cannot be made about the song's intellectual property. Mavin Records formally announced Wande Coal's departure in a press release dated 7 November 2013. The press statement was issued not long after Don Jazzy and Wande Coal's Twitter feud.
Iyanya, Reekado Banks, Tiwa Savage, and D'Prince In a radio interview with Beat FM in February 2018, Iyanya announced his exit from Mavin Records, saying, "I'm now signed to Temple Music, but I'm a Mavin for life. It was not a beef. I was there, and it was time to move on". On 7 December 2018, Reekado Banks announced his departure from Mavin Records and launch of his independent outfit, Banks Music. In May 2019, Universal Music Group announced the signing of Tiwa Savage. During the announcement, it was revealed that Savage left Mavin Records. Don Jazzy congratulated Savage on her UMG signing and said she will forever be remembered at Mavin. On 9 May 2020, Guardian Life Magazine reported that D'Prince exited the label following the expiration of his eight-year contract; he established Jonzing World prior to leaving. In an interview with Ifeanyi Ibeh on Twitter, D'Prince said, "My record deal with Mavin Records ended on 8 May 2020, and it has been an amazing 16 years under my brother Don Jazzy".
Accolades Year Awards ceremony Award description(s) Results Ref2014City People Entertainment AwardsBest Record Label of the Year20132024TurnTable Music AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Creative Direction in Music
Artists
Current acts
ActYear signed !Releases under the labelDr SID20121Ladipoe20172Johnny Drille4DNA1Rema20197Ayra Starr20214Magixx3Boy Spyce20221Bayanni2Lifesize Teddy20232
Former acts ActYear signedYear leftReleases under the labelD'Prince201220202Tiwa Savage201220193Wande Coal20122013 —Reekado Banks201420181Iyanya201620171 Korede Bello20142022 1Di'Ja20142023 2
Producers
Current producers Don Jazzy Altims Babyfresh London Andre Vibez
DJ's DJ Big N
Discography
Albums ArtistAlbumDetailsThe Mavins Solar PlexusReleased: 8 May 2012 Chart Position: — Certification: — D'PrinceFrenzy!Released: 5 November 2012 Chart Position: — Certification: —Tiwa SavageOnce Upon a TimeReleased: 3 July 2013 Chart Position: — Certification: —Dr SIDSiductionReleased: 20 December 2013 Chart Position: — Certification: —Tiwa SavageR.E.D Released: 19 December 2015 Chart Position: — Certification: —Reekado BanksSpotlightReleased: 1 September 2016 Chart Position: 10 (Billboard's World Album chart) Certification: —Korede BelloBellovedReleased: 11 March 2017 Chart Position: — Certification: —IyanyaSignature (EP)Released: 28 March 2017 Chart Position: — Certification: —Tiwa SavageSugarcane (EP)Released: 22 September 2017 Chart Position: — Certification: —Di'JaAphrodija (EP)Released: 15 December 2017 Chart Position: — Certification: —PoeT.A.P Released: 5 October 2018 Chart Position: — Certification: —RemaRema (EP)Released: 22 March 2019 Chart Position: — Certification: —D'PrinceLavida (EP)Released: 3 May 2019 Chart Position: — Certification: —RemaRema Freestyle (EP)Released: 17 June 2019 Chart Position: — Certification: —Di'JaDi'Ja (EP)Released: 5 July 2019 Chart Position: — Certification: —Ayra StarrAyra Starr (EP)Released; 22 January 2021
Chart Position: — Certification: —19 & DangerousReleased: 6 August 2021 Chart Position: — Certification: —MagixxMagixx (EP)Released: 24 September 2021 Chart Position: -- Certification: --Boy SpyceBoy Spyce (EP)Released: 15 April 2022 Chart Position: -- Certification: --MagixxAtom (EP)Released: 22 July 2022
Chart Position: -- Certification: --BayanníBayanni (EP)Released: 24 August 2022
Chart Position: -- Certification: --The MavinsChapter XReleased: 2 December 2022
Chart Position: -- Certification: --Lifesize TeddyLifesize Teddy (EP)Released: 9 August 2023
Chart Position: -- Certification: --RemaRave & Roses UltraReleased: 27 August 2023
Chart Position: -- Certification: --RemaRavage (EP)Released: 26 October 2023
Chart Position: -- Certification: --Lifesize TeddyPoisn (EP)Released: 21 November 2023
Chart Position: -- Certification: --
Singles