Biography of DaGrin, Oladapo Olaitan Olanipekun (1987 -2010). Plus Dagrin's Unreleased Track Titled " If I Die"

DaGrin was born Oladapo Olaitan Olanipekun (25/10/1987 -22/04/2010). Mr. Olaitan Olanipekun  stage name is DaGrin. He also goes by other aliases such as Original Omoita, DaGrin Lomo Na, Lyrican Trouble, Fimilejo, Omo Onile, Solder Boy, Lyrical Wayray, Molenubi, Misofuyin, Omo Ogun, Akogun, Barack O'Grin, Chief Executive Omoita and other.

Education

DaGrin went Rosemary Nursery and Primary School and Good Shepherd Nursery and Primary School before attaining his secondary school education at the Community High School, Egbado College. Mr. Olaitan's attempts to gain admission to Nigeria’s tertiary institutions hit the rock due to financial and family issues. He did however study in a computer institution somewhere around Lagos State. He later decided to invest his time and effort in music since he loves doing music and writing lyrics with great passion.

Personal Life

He was born to a polygamous family; life was never rosy for Olaitan. Olaitan’s mother was the second of his father’s three wives.

Musical Career

DaGrin was a recording artiste, songwriter, rapper and performer. Like any other artiste, the start was rough for DaGrin. Olaitan’s first album titled “Still On the matter” came and went without much impact in the music industry. He was never deterred by the ratings of his first album; he was determined to make a lasting footprint in the music industry. He went back to the studio and re engineer is God given talents. The result of his hard work and persistence was his sophomore album titled "Chief Executive Omoita (C.E.O) and surely, it was a party banger. He was signed to his own label Missofunyin Entertainment and managed by Edlyne Records. 

His imprint Mi So Fu Yin Entertainment was gradually taking shape; Dagrin had a performance in and out of Lagos every other week. Everybody wanted him on their album, mixtape, single… it didn’t matter; everybody just wanted a piece of Dagrin.

Just two days before the horrific accident that took away his life occurred; Dagrin was putting together his last song, Show Me the Money, for Lineo ‘Elepepe Master’. On April 14th, just a few hours before the accident, Dagrin paid a visit to the Hip Hop World office in Ikeja. The awards were drawing closer and with three nominations to his name, the hustler’s dream was finally coming true.

Collaboration and Duet

During his brief presence in Nigeria's music industry, DaGrin  featured dozens of musicians including Kenny Saint Brown, 9ice, Oluwe, YQ Isolate and others within is short presence in Nigeria Hip-Pop scene. Dagrin is a three-time hip-pop awards nominee; he was nominated in the Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Best Rap Album categories of the 2010 Hip-Hop World Awards.

DaGrin’s Quotes

1. “You know what it is, you knew what it was baby.”
2. ‘I just realized that I’m married to this game… and me and my b*tches never break up…’
3. God is my creator; Fela is my mentor. Money does not drive me; money is my conductor.
4. Ta Won eyan bari mi ni street, won pe mi lomo buruku.
   
   
   Won ni life ti moun live, mon ni pe ku. Ti olorun ko ba pa mi, kin lo tun kun.
5. ‘Aimoye igba ti awon eyan ni ki lo give up… Won ni mo local, pe o no mi o’nse hip-hop… But mo wa determined, mo de wa focus…T’orie ni oruko mi se spread bi staphylococcus’ -

Translation of Quotes in 4 and 5 to English Language

• 
  
  • 
    
    When people see me on the street, they called me bad boy. 
  
  
  
  They say I may not live long with my kind of lifestyle, If God does not kill me, what else?
• ‘How many times have people told me to give up…They say I’m local, that I’m not hip-hop. But I was determined and focused… Because of this, my name has spread like staphylococcus’. 

DaGrin’s Ghetto Dream

Mo ni dream lati fi Ajah se residence

Mo ni dream lati di Nigerian president,

Owoti awon president nje lo encourage mi

Epe ti awon eyan she fun won lon discourage mi

Mo ni dream lati di pastor but everytime ni mo n mu shepe, mo de n fa polli

Mo ni dream lati believe bi Pastor Chris but mo wa carried away pelu effizy Ludaris

DaGrin's Last Moments

According to Nigerian Entertainment Today's website, the last time he logged on to twitter was on April 8th at 1:01 pm. His last tweet was to a fan, Yewande Sobamowo - it simple said ‘lol’ (Laughing Out Loud).

According to report filed by The Nation, a Nigerian Newspaper, DaGrin’s last statement before he passed on  was, ‘Tell My Fans I Love Them.’ He made this statement in the presence of other musicians such as DJ Zeez, Dekunle Fuji, Tunde Peters (his manager), Lexydoo and Shebaby,

Although DaGrin is gone, he would not be forgotten for how he artfully blends his native language, Yoruba with English language to rap. I would like to thank Dagrin for his inspiring so many people that are frustrated and  have lost in Nigeria system.

Oladapo Olaitan Olanipekun a.k.a DaGrin. May your gentle soul Rest In Peace (RIP).


DaGrin's Unreleased Track Titled "If I Die."

Related Posts

• Tribute to Oladapo Olaitan Olanipekun a.k.a DaGrin
• DaGrin's Unreleased Track Titled " If I Die"