From Beat Maker to Chart-Breaker: Young Jonn’s Bold Journey in Afrobeats
In an industry where producers often stay behind the scenes, Young Jonn has done the unthinkable. The maestro behind some of Africa’s biggest hits has emerged from behind the mixing board to become one of Afrobeats’ most compelling voices – and his story is anything but ordinary.
Born John Saviours Udomboso in Ibadan, Young Jonn’s musical journey began in the most Nigerian of ways – in a church choir, watching his mother master the guitar and violin. But while many musical stories start this way, few take the dramatic turns his would.
Like many African parents, Young Jonn’s mother pushed for university education over music. But the young producer had other plans. “I wasn’t built for safe — I was built for stardom,” he recalls in Swift Diaries. He found a middle ground, pursuing distance learning while chasing his dreams in Lagos’s competitive music scene.
His big break came through a chance encounter with Olamide. When asked if he could make a beat, Young Jonn – then just a studio apprentice – seized his moment. The result? “Story for the Gods,” a hit that would make “Young Jonn, The Wicked Producer” a household name in Nigerian music.
But life had other plans. In 2017, at the peak of his producing career, Young Jonn lost his mother – his first musical inspiration and biggest supporter. The loss left him questioning everything, including his role in music. In his grief, he found a new calling: he needed to step into the spotlight and tell his own stories.
The transition wasn’t easy. Without formal vocal training, he taught himself to sing, facing skeptics who urged him to stick to producing. But Young Jonn persisted, and today his hits like “Dada,” “Xtra Cool,” “Aquafina,” and “Big Big Things” prove his gamble paid off.
His story, featured in Martell’s Swift Diaries series alongside other Nigerian innovators like Chef Eros, Timini Egbuson, and Tubo, showcases what happens when talent meets audacity. It’s a testament to reinvention and the courage to evolve, even when success already seems assured.
Fans can catch Young Jonn’s full story on Martell Nigeria’s YouTube channel and upcoming broadcasts on MTV Base & BET this November. Follow the conversation on @MartellNigeria using #MartellSwiftOnes and #BeTheStandoutSwift to join in celebrating this remarkable transformation.
This feature is brought to you by Martell, the prestigious cognac house known for celebrating audacious spirits since 1715, and Pernod Ricard Nigeria, bringing premium experiences to Nigerian connoisseurs since 2012.
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