Two days ago marked fourteen years since the music world lost one of its brightest stars, rap icon, Dagrin. His passing left a void in Nigerian music that still reverberates today. Yet, despite his physical absence, his impact on the music industry and his fans remains as strong as ever. Known for his unique blend of Yoruba-infused rap and gritty storytelling, Dagrin left an indelible mark on the Nigerian music scene during his short but impactful career. As we reflect on the 14 years since his passing, we reached out to various figures in the music industry to share their favourite memories of Dagrin and the songs that continue to resonate with them.

Osagie Alonge

My favourite memory of Dagrin is when he performed at a show in Egbeda, Lagos, in 2008, a year before he released his sophomore album, ‘C.E.O’. He performed his hit single “Raprules Anthem” off his debut album and turned the place out. You could just tell he was going on to become a superstar.

My favourite Dagrin song has to be ‘Ghetto Dream’ because it captures the ambition of every young Nigerian.

Motolani Alake

I didn’t exactly have personal interactions with Dagrin himself; rather, my interactions were with his music. While I was in school in Ado-Ekiti, some of my friends, who were from Lagos, came back one day and were discussing this artist named Dagrin. But being in Akure, I didn’t know who he was, because Dagrin wasn’t really popular over there at that time. Although ‘Democracy’ was somewhat popular, I didn’t realize it was Dagrin’s song back then. Before Dagrin came into the industry, artists like Lord of Ajasa, Reminisce, and 2phat, had already begun gaining traction. But when Dagrin emerged, he felt like the best of them all, aside from maybe Reminisce. His voice was incredible, and he seemed to draw inspiration from 50 Cent; his cadences were incredible. This was either shortly before or after Jimmy’s Jump Off. It was during Jimmy’s Jump Off that I genuinely started to appreciate and respect Dagrin. Because he was flowing so well and the beat was insane, he was killing it. However, it was after he died that I fully got into his music.

Lord Gem

My favourite memory of Dagrin was the day he bodied Jimmy’s Jump Off. He went bonkerssssss! He totally decimated the microphone with no survivors. 

My favourite joint will always be ‘Pon Pon Pon’. That song was real to the max and the video, directed by Gini, was too real. One of the few sepia-toned that had the undiluted griney street appeal. 

RIP to the CEO Missofunyin Entertainment.

Chuka Obi 

My favourite memory of DaGrin was when he was on Jimmy’s Jump Off. That was the best session on the show in that era. My second favourite memory of DaGrin was when he was punked on Candid camera that he stole in a shop. Third was him performing in a stadium (I think it was Teslim Balogun). It was an impromptu performance and he had the crowd eating out of his hands.

My favourite DaGrin memory that’s not really a DaGrin memory per se was when I went to buy suya one night from the Mallam at the street junction. Two young boys were there and they came to buy bread and eggs from the Mishayi beside the Suya seller. One broke into a line from ‘Make Doe’: 

“Misofuyin entertainment, emi ni CEO”

The second boy completed it without blinking:

“Mi o like olopa, mi o sere pelu DPO”

And they continued buying what they were buying. It was all so natural. That showed how much he was connecting with his audience.

My favourite DaGrin song is between ‘Ghetto Dreams’  and ‘Every day’

Ade Adeayo 

I discovered Da Grin’s music circa 2009 after he released the CEO album. I remember watching ‘Pon Pon Pon’ on TV and even learning the song. He became very popular after his death and although I knew him before his untimely demise, I never figured out just how big of a star he was. My favourite memory of Da Grin is watching him dazzle on Jimmy Jump off. It was a crazy rap performance. My favourite Da Grin song is ‘If I Die’ because it was as if he predicted his own demise and came to terms with it.

Basito

My favourite memory of Dagrin was him dominating Nigeria’s rap scene with indigenous language when the whole country was buzzing with English and American swags. My favourite Dagrin song is ‘Thank God’ ft. Omawunmi and Iwofa with Bigiano. 

Shakez Baba

My favourite memory of Dagrin was when I was in university in Nsukka (UNN). It was a Friday night and me and my guys went to a party where they played “Pon Pon Pon” and I remember being blown away by the people singing it word for word all the way in the East. I had to go look Dagrin up the morning after and I listened to a couple more songs and watched some videos and I became a fan. My favourite song of his is of course, ‘Pon Pon Pon’ 

R.I.P Dagrin. Your memory lives on.

Ten10

Dagrin is special as fuck. I remember when I saw the news; I left my family at the dinner table and went to cry. It was personal, I was a kid. He touched the sky with ‘Pon Pon Pon’ but I liked what he did on ‘123’.

Vader the Wildcard

 My favourite memory of Dagrin would be this interview where he kept repeating the word “baby”. At some point, he even said, “I no even know wetin I wan talk baby, everything baby” For my favourite Dagrin song, I can’t choose between ‘Thank God’ ft Omawumi & ‘Every day’ ft Ejay.

One jobless boy 

My favourite memory of Dagrin would be the picture of him with a rifle over his neck. And my favourite song of his is ‘Thank God ft Omawumi’

YomYom

My favourite memory of Dagrin was his Jimmy’s Jump Off Freestyle. The attitude! And my favourite song of his is ‘Thank God’ featuring Omawumi

Millar

My favourite memory of Dagrin has to be his Jimmy’s Jump off freestyle. For someone ‘like him’ (doing his thing in Yoruba) to do something like that at that time, was mad inspiring. It made me feel like anything and everything was possible. My favourite song is ‘Democracy’. Mostly because it’s conscious. ‘Ghetto dreams’ is real as fuck too. Maybe ‘Kaba kaba’ as well. Matter of fact, there’s a ‘kaba kaba’ interpolation on  Alubarika.