10 years After:Remembering Dagrin: His life,death,legacy
Today makes it 10th year since the death of Nigerian Indigenous rapper Oladapo Olaitan Olaonipekun, better known as Dagrin, after a vehicle accident in Lagos.
Apr 22, 2019 Frabz, Frenzy. Oladapo Olaitan Olaonipekun, also known as Dagrin (25 October 1984 – 22 April 2010), was a Nigerian rapper from Ogun, Nigeria.
A film of his life entitled Ghetto Dreamz was released in April 2011.
The rapper, who lived in Meiran, Alagbado, Lagos infused Yoruba English and Pidgin in his songs, which ensured that all types of Nigerian music lovers could relate with his sound.
Dagrin was a rap star. His sophomore album ‘was the hottest thing on the streets late 2009 and 2010. He was widely regarded as the new rap messiah.
His brand of reality rap- a hustler’s dream, ambition and nightmares resonated with millions of young Nigerians who were going through the same struggle.
Dagrin was their mouthpiece. Dagrin’s trajectory was however cut short. On April 14, 2010, he had a ghastly motor accident.
His vehicle rammed into a stationary truck at night. There were reports that Dagrin was drunk. He never saw the truck that was parked opposite a police station.
Dagrin went into a coma as a result of the collision.
Themes of his songs were centred around how it feels to be a ghetto child with no food, no help from the government and nothing but dreams.
Songs like ‘Ghetto dreams’, ‘Pon Pon Pon’, and ‘Thank God’ paint a vivid picture of his tales. In 2009, he released his album ‘C.E.O.” an acronym for ‘Chief Executive Omoita’.
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‘Pon Pon Pon’, a song off the album, went on to get nominated for the Nigerian Entertainment Awards for Best Album (C.E.O.), Hottest Single, Best Rap Act and Best Collaboration with vocals, in 2010.
On twitter some fans wrote;
Dagrin made such a huge impact in a short space of time that you wonder how huge (possibly) he would have been had he been around longer. Dropped a dope debut album too with tracks that still bang till today. Almost all rappers talk about him as an inspiration. Genius.
— E (@iamOkon) April 22, 2020
Late DaGrin's Legacy Special | Interview w/ Reminisce, Sossick + Associates#Throwback clip of our special in 2015 on the rap icon Olaitan 'DaGrin' Olanipekun. Keep resting on DaGrin.#RIPDaGrin pic.twitter.com/9d3FFioGKQ
— SOUNDCITY AFRICA! (@SOUNDCITYtv) April 22, 2020
May his Soul Rest in Peace.
