 |
| Image: PmNews |
Filmmaker and music executive Ayo Shonaiya has recounted what he described as one of the biggest missteps of his career—passing on the opportunity to manage the late rapper, Dagrin.
Sharing the story on X (formerly Twitter), Shonaiya said his former assistant, Destiny, had introduced the young rapper to him during a visit to a hotel in Opebi, Lagos. According to him, Destiny was confident Dagrin would become a major name in Nigerian hip-hop due to his distinct Yoruba lyricism.
They sat beside the swimming pool as Destiny played a few rough demo tracks from a CD player. But despite Destiny’s enthusiasm, Shonaiya admitted he wasn’t convinced.
“I was not really feeling it like that,” he confessed, adding that they still took a photo before going their separate ways.
He explained that within a year, Dagrin had released Kondo, produced by a young Sarz, and was fast gaining attention. Shonaiya ran into him again at a lounge in Ikeja, where the rapper playfully reminded him of their earlier encounter.
“He made sure he reminded me that I passed on him. Lol,” he recalled. They posed for another photo that night, which would turn out to be their last together.
Not long after, Dagrin passed away in a car crash in 2010. Reflecting on the moment, Shonaiya wrote, “Rest in peace Dagrin. Only God knows the heights you would have reached.”
Dagrin, whose real name was Oladapo Olaitan Olaonipekun, is remembered for his groundbreaking contribution to indigenous rap, with songs like Pon Pon Pon and Kondo helping to redefine Nigeria’s hip-hop sound. His death at 25 remains a major loss in the music community.
#Dagrin
#AyoShonaiya
#TrendingNow
No comments:
Post a Comment