How I Moved From Managing Don Jazzy To Working With Beyoncé, Jay-Z And Kanye West – Bankulli

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Nigerian music executive Abisagboola Oluseun John, popularly known as Bankulli, has shared how he contributed to some major international music projects, including Jay-Z and Kanye West’s joint album Watch the Throne and Beyoncé’s 2019 project The Gift.

In an interview with Tochi Talks Diaspora, Bankulli explained that he worked on two songs from Beyoncé’s The Gift album — “Find Your Way Back” and another track where he infused Yoruba vocals and a Fuji-inspired sound with an Amapiano feel.

“I worked on Jay Z’s album Watch the Throne; I also worked with Beyoncé,” he said.

“I worked with Beyoncé on the Gift album. I worked on two songs, ‘Find your way back’ and the other side; I sang in Yoruba there. The other one, I did some sort of Fuji Vibe, it is like an amapiano vibe.”

Describing his experience working with global stars, he called it a “beautiful story” and recounted how he initially joined sessions in a non-creative role before unexpectedly contributing musically.

According to him, he travelled to New York with Don Jazzy, originally in a management capacity, but ended up playing a creative role during studio sessions.

“We flew into New York, me and Don Jazzy. It was supposed to be me, D Banj and Don Jazzy. At that time, I was in the capacity of a manager. I was supposed to be their manager, but of course, they know I’m equipped with music talent in terms of writing, creating music,” he said.

He explained that during one of the studio sessions, Kanye West invited everyone to contribute ideas freely.

“One of those sessions, Kanye was there, and they were trying to figure out a particular song for him.

“He said to everybody in the room, can we stop what you are doing? I am going to play a song, and anything that comes to your mind, you can sing.”

Bankulli said he eventually began singing during the session, which led to his direct involvement in the final track.

“I was not in the room to help them in the creative process, I was just there to manage the situation with Don Jazzy and when they played the music, and I started singing. What I sang was the solution they were looking for.

“So immediately they told me to come and record the song. That was how I was on that particular track.”

He also recalled hearing multiple top artists on one of the early sessions.

“The first day we came, the first song they played was ‘Lift off’. Beyoncé was on the track, Rihanna was on the track, John Legend was on the track. There were so many people on the track.”

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