He came in like a tsunami. He didn't have an entourage, but the energy he emanated could easily have come from 10 people. He was that charismatic. Naturally people noticed him - who wouldn't - and he lept at the chance to mix with adoring fans. He was like a cat that had just discovered a large bowl of milk - he lapped up the adulation. It was clear he was enjoying this, that this was what he lived for.
His partner, on the other hand, snuck into the departure lounge. I and my colleague wouldn't have noticed him had he not made a beeline for the bench we were sitting on, which was conveniently set apart from the other benches in the lounge. It was clear Don Jazzy thought exactly like Femi and I, though our professions couldn't be more different; we were consultants coming from a site visit to a client's factory, he was a musician cum music producer flying back home the day after a concert in another soon-to-be-forgotten city
Professions aside, Don Jazzy was clearly like us, personality wise. His partner was anything but. I watched Dbanj as he practically went from one person to the next, shaking hands, cracking jokes, laughing out loud, and enjoying being the centre of attention. Just watching him tired me. Looking back now, I can see how he managed to get Kanye interested in signing him up to his record label, when their paths crossed at the Dubai airport. I guess you could say Dbanj has a way with people at airports, and probably anywhere else, for that matter.
Don Jazzy's airport manner was more cautious, more introverted. He didn't speak with us or make eye contact, much less acknowledge our presence. He watched Dbanj work the crowd, and looked at a device in his hand every now and then. The contrast between the two celebrities couldn't have been starker. Femi and I didn't know what to make of it, so I did what I thought was the sensible thing - I tried to strike up a conversation with Don Jazzy. "Don Jazzy, you no go greet us?" I heard myself say. He looked up and let out a tired "Bros, I hail o," and went back to his device. That was as much as we were going to get from him. Meanwhile, the self acclaimed "Koko Master" was still dishing out love.
To be continued...
