Nigerian Afrobeats star, Ayoleyi Solomon, popularly known as Reekado Banks, has reflected once again on his exit from Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records, describing the decision as “premature.”
Speaking on the Echo Room Podcast in a clip shared via Instagram on Tuesday, the “Easy (Jeje)” crooner explained that his departure was not caused by conflict but by a youthful desire to pursue independence.
“It wasn’t a conflict situation. I was pretty young and pretty fixated on what I wanted to do. I wanted to leave,” he said. “My contract had ended two years prior. I signed a three-year deal and let it ride for another two years, so I was there for five years. When it was time, I just thought, ‘I want to do this now.’”
Reekado admitted, however, that he soon realised the move was hasty. “I thought I could do it now and I just embarked on the journey. Many people viewed it as premature, and as soon as I jumped into the sea, I realised how premature it was,” he confessed.
When asked about the most valuable advice Don Jazzy ever gave him, Reekado recalled a lighthearted but memorable exchange. “It wasn’t even advice. He just said, ‘I’m not going to beat you. Nobody go beat me,’” the singer said, laughing.
This is not the first time Reekado has spoken about the lessons from leaving Mavin. In July 2025, he told The Esther Show that the move forced him to grow up quickly, teaching him accountability and self-reliance. According to him, staying longer under Don Jazzy’s wing might have made him feel entitled and less willing to accept responsibility for setbacks.
Reekado Banks announced his exit from Mavin Records in 2018, describing it at the time as an amicable split filled with gratitude. He praised Don Jazzy for treating him like a son and giving him the platform that launched his career.
