Don Jazzy, D’banj betrayed me – JJC Skillz

Nigerian music veteran Abdulrasheed Bello, famously known as JJC Skillz, has voiced a series of startling allegations against his former colleagues, Don Jazzy and D’banj. During a recent interview with Echo Room, JJC claimed that the duo, along with several others, conspired to betray him during the early years of their careers in the United Kingdom. Despite his role in providing for them during their time as struggling artists, JJC expressed deep disappointment over what he described as a calculated move to undermine his position just as he sought to establish a foothold in the Nigerian music industry.  

Recounting the origins of their relationship, JJC detailed how he initially brought the group together and sought their assistance for his professional transition back home. He stated, “Don Jazzy, Dbanj, Ayo, DJ Abass; all of them conspired against me. Taz brought a guy called Don Jazzy to me, and Ayo came through Abass. I met them because they were running a TV station.” He further explained that he approached them for networking help, noting: “One day I came to them and said, ‘You guys are obviously well connected to Nigeria, and me, I am a JJC. I just need somebody to introduce me to the right people to work with in Nigeria.’ And they accepted that they were going to help me and they connected me to Bankulli.”

However, JJC claims that while he was trusting his associates to help him navigate the Nigerian market, a secret plot was already in motion. “Don Jazzy and D’banj were under me then. So, these people who were supposed to introduce me back home to Nigeria, had plans that I didn’t know about,” he revealed. The singer expressed that the situation took a painful turn when he began hearing rumors regarding his professional integrity through third parties, specifically regarding his treatment of the duo while they were based in the UK.

The betrayal became public for JJC when he received unexpected feedback from another industry peer. “Then I heard something from Ruggedman saying that D’banj said I cheated them when they were working with me in the UK and that they are leaving my group,” he recounted. This accusation was particularly jarring for JJC, who maintains that he was the primary benefactor for the group during their lean years before they achieved mainstream fame.

In his defense, JJC highlighted the significant financial and personal support he provided when the artists had no standing in the industry. “I was shocked because nobody knew them back then, I was the one taking them to shows, accommodating, feeding and clothing them. So, how can I be cheating when you haven’t made any money?” he questioned. As of this time, D’banj, Don Jazzy, and the others mentioned in the interview have yet to react to these allegations