In the past decade, Mavin has produced several chart-topping hits that have dominated the Nigerian music scene and beyond. With an impressive roster of artists including Tiwa Savage, Korede Bello, Ayra Starr and Rema, Mavin has cemented its place as one of the most successful music labels in Nigeria.
In this article, we take a look at the top 10 songs, in no particular order, that have defined Mavin and contributed to their immense success:
Dorobucci
There’s no song that better demonstrates Don Jazzy’s musical ingenuity than Dorobucci. The song was so huge, it became a lingo on social media.
Despite the fact the meaning of the word “Dorobucci” was unknown, the song which featured Don Jazzy, Dr. Sid, D’Prince, Tiwa Savage, Di’ja, Reekando Banks, and Korede Bello had listeners hooked because of its infectious beat and melody. The song describes a “Doro” as a man or a woman of many parts; an icon, a record label boss, a billionaire, a superstar, and many others. It’s not a surprise that the song tops the list of the outputs by Mavin Record because it displayed a fine synergy among the members of the record. Don Jazzy’s bass voice complemented the distinct voices of his label mates.
The video showed the visuals of a Doro, the pomp, pageantry and the celebration of the good things of life has since amassed almost fifty million views on YouTube.
Overloading
The Mavin crooners lent their vocals on the hit Overloading released in 2022 off their collective album Project X. Ayra Starr, Ladipoe, Crayon, Magixx and Boy Spyce all took turns to express their thoughts on a romantic venture. There’s also the signature starter of Don Jazzy announcing himself in a manner faintly reminiscent of how the executive producer and label owner branded himself back in the day of Mo’Hits Records. Here, on Overloading, the persona embodied by the singers is that of one intoxicated by love, and the creamiest part of the song particularly captures this: “Overdose me/Your love dey overdose me/Na you I want/Me love, you I think of, oh-lo-lo”.
Since its release, the official video has recorded a whopping 90 million YouTube views. It is no surprise, then, that the song made this list because its popularity among fans of Afrobeats is irrefutable.
Calm Down
Rema released Calm Down in February 2022 as he set the stage for the release of his debut album Rave & Roses. The afropop jam, produced by Andre Vibez and London, has Rema singing about a love interest, even though he is hesitant to approach her. The song plays out as Rema moves from admiring his love interest in the background, to plucking up the courage to approach her at a party and dance with her under the twinkling of the dance floor lights.
Over the song’s rhythmic production, Rema sings “Baby calm, this your body dey put my heart for lockdown,” on the song’s infectious hook, inviting his love interest to give into his advances with an irresistible boyish charm. In his usual manner, Rema throws in lyrics in pidgin English to convey his affections and emotions.
Calm Down has gone on to become a hit across the world. The song was the first Nigerian song to reach the top 5 on the Hot 100. The song also has diamond certifications in different countries, including Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Germany, The US, the UK, and others. With over 2 billion streams across all streaming platforms and over 700 million views on YouTube, Rema’s Calm Down is undoubtedly one of the biggest Afrobeats tunes out there.
Won Da Mo
Produced by Andre Vibez, Won Da Mo was released by Mavin Records in late 2022 ahead of their Chapter X anniversary project. The record which featured Boy Spyce, Rema, Crayon, Bayanni, Ayra Starr, Johnny Drille, LADIPOE, and Magixx was a follow up to their previous single, Overloading.
The record which has an upbeat and fast paced swing to it also featured impeccable verses from every artist on the track. The impressive intro and outstanding hook from Rema and Crayon respectively became an instant fan favourite. Won Da Mo shot up to the number 1 position in the Nigerian streaming charts, and according to TurnTable it was number 3 on the top songs across all platforms in Nigeria for the first quarter of 2023 list. Released 5 months ago, the official video for Won Da Mo has garnered almost 10 million views on YouTube.
Godwin
Korede Bello’s debut song Godwin in 2014 took the Nigerian music industry by storm. The Afro-pop song featuring Don Jazzy was everywhere in 2015 largely because the song appealed to demographics far and wide due to its positive and optimistic message; It preached the importance of God as the wheel of man’s progress.
The blend of Korede Bello and Don Jazzy’s voices, and the lyrical composition with the instruments created a beautiful body of work. It was a great fusion of voice and instruments. Godwin is one of Mavin’s best performing outputs as seen by the way it resonated with Nigerians, with its energy and religious theme. Nigeria is a religious country, and Godwin appealed to every faith.
The video which has twenty-two million views on YouTube illustrates God coming through for different people for different reasons.
Adaobi
Released in 2014 and featuring Mavin Records protégés, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, Di’ja and the label owner Don Jazzy himself, Adaobi was a hit at the point of release and became a suitable song for teasing a female lover. Its lyrics couched in English and Igbo, the song addresses a hypothetical belle of same name and praises her for charm and dance movements.
The song, with his fast-paced beats and turn-taking manner of vocal rendition, was, at the point of release, a toast to the efflorescence of the label. With the release of the sonically alluring hit produced by both Don Jazzy and Baby Fresh, the record arrowhead Don Jazzy fostered oneness among his signees.
As of this moment, the official video has 59 million views on YouTube, which is a testament to how widely received the song was upon its release. It is a song worthy of throwback as it highlights an important point in the development of Mavin Records.
Ma Lo
Ma Lo is the standout song in Tiwa Savage’s EP Sugarcane. Released in 2017, the RnB song features Wizkid. It is the duo’s second collaboration, after Bad which was released in 2016. The song is produced by the heavyweight producer Spellz. Upon its release, it became one of the biggest songs in Nigeria in 2017.
The two singers roleplay as lovers and trade lines in the slow-paced romantic song. They each plead that their lover shouldn’t leave them. “Ma lo” is a Yoruba phrase for “don’t leave.”
The song is accompanied by a music video which was shot in Fela Kuti’s New Afrika Shrine and directed by Meji Alabi. With its 65 million views on YouTube, it is one of Tiwa Savage’s most-viewed music videos.
Dumebi
Produced by Ozedikus in 2019, Rema’s Dumebi was unlike any other debut single we had seen in a while; the sound was different and hard for many listeners to wrap their heads around. Termed an “Indian sound” at the time of its release by many confused listeners, Dumebi went on to become a smash hit record that ultimately gave Rema a successful introduction into the Nigerian music industry.
With Dumebi, Rema gave Nigerians an eclectic take on the Afrobeats sounds they were used to. When the young and talented singer, who had initially started off doing rap, came out with a song like Dumebi in 2019 and started it with the line “another banger,” you could tell that he was confident in the current musical prowess he possessed. Directed by Ademola Falomo, the music video of Dumebi, featuring a cameo appearance from Diana Eneje, helped skyrocket the song’s popularity and it currently has 65 million views on YouTube.
Bloody Samaritan
Ayra Starr’s Bloody Samaritan is a testament to the pop star’s immense talent and creativity. The track which is a unique blend of pop and Afrobeat serves as a great canvas for Ayra Starr’s unique vocals. Produced by skilled beatmaker London in 2021, the song begins with a sharp and pulsating beat that immediately draws the listener in, setting the tone for a stylish and daring song. Ayra Starr’s vocals and lyrics here are clear and confident, with an authenticity and clarity that is rare in today’s music scene.
The song would later receive an official remix in 2022 featuring American R&B superstar, Kelly Rowland, an announcement and release that generated a buzz on social media and caused a lot of excitement among fans of both Ayra Starr and Kelly Rowland. The remix, which was well received and praised for the two singers’ vocal chemistry and vocal direction, further heightened the popularity of the song, creating more fans for both singing sensations.
Eminado
Produced by Don Jazzy in 2017, Tiwa Savage’s hit single Eminado is a great blend of afrobeats with modern electronic elements which makes it an infectious and catchy tune that captivated audiences both locally and internationally.
Don Baba J’s impeccable production provided a strong beat that complemented Tiwa Savage’s smooth vocals, and the catchy chorus was the kind of ear-worm that remains lodged in the listener’s mind. It is also one of the best representations of Tiwa Savage’s versatile artistry as a singer-songwriter and performer, earning her a nomination for ‘Song of the year’ at the 2014 Headies Award, amongst other accolades and music award nominations.
With the song’s energetic sound and upbeat energy, it is not surprising that the song continues to be a fan favorite even years after its release. Tiwa Savage and Don Jazzy really came through with a memorable and joyous song that is fondly thought of as a classic.