DJ Jimmy Jatt Celebrates 40 Years Career Milestone

Ace Nigerian disc jockey, DJ Jimmy Jatt born as Oluwaforijimi Adewale Amu in Lagos, Nigeria needs little or no introduction in the music world. Jimmy Jatt started his career as a rapper by the name of Master J before finding his way into DJing.

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.

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A post shared by Jimmy Jatt (@djjimmyjatt)

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.”

May 18, 2024