12 years after the death of Nigerian Rapper, Oladapo Olaonipekun, popularly called Dagrin, Sierra Leone’s police has declared him wanted.
The Sierra Leone police released Pictures of wanted people that took part in the violent protest last week and late Dagrin was one of them.
Hundreds of people took to the streets on Wednesday 11 August to protest against economic conditions in the country. Both civilians and police officers were killed during anti-government protests on 11 and 12 August in Sierra Leone.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that 12 years ago, Dagrin rammed his newly acquired Nissan Maxima into a stationary truck at night in front of the Alakara Police Station in Mushin, Lagos on April 14, 2010.
On April 22, 2010, Dagrin died at the age of 25.
His death remains one of the biggest tragedies in the Nigerian music industry as his death shocked Nigerians and his fans alike.
Before rappers like Ycee, Ladipoe, and Falz came into the spotlight, there was Dagrin, a man whose rapping talents knew no bounds.
Having won the hearts of many Nigerians through his hit album, CEO, Dagrin proved he was a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry and a rap legend people would talk about for decades.
Dagrin was born into the family of Mr and Mrs Olaniyi Abolaji Olaonipekun on October 25, 1984. He was the fourth child of his parents.
The award-winning artist, upon completing his early education at Meiran Community Primary School, Meiran Community High School, and Egbado College, proceeded to pursue a career in music.
Fuelled with the passion to be a popular rapper in Nigeria, he travelled down to Lagos, where he met up with producers to record his songs and started his record label, Missofunyin Entertainment.
In 2009, Dagrin released the critically acclaimed album, C.E.O., which consisted of many hit singles like Pon pon pon, Ghetto Dream, and Thank God, among many others.
The album dominated the airwaves and heavily influenced Nigerian pop culture.
However, long before he became a national rap sensation, he released a debut album titled, “Still on the matter.”
It was while he was working on his debut album that he met his manager, Olamus, who encouraged his colleague, Satty C, to sign Dagrin to the record label, Salty Records.
Following a dispute between them, Olamus and Dagrin left Salty to start a record label called Missofunyin Entertainment.
Although the Chief Executive Omota (CEO) album was released under salty records, it slowly found itself a new home at Missofunyin.
With a sales record of over five million units, Dagrin soon became a household name for his indigenous appeal on each song.
He is popularly known for his usage of English, pidgin English, and Yoruba in his rap lyrics.
In his lifetime, he worked with the likes of Y.Q, 9ice, M.I, Iceberg Slim, Omobaba, Terry G, Code, MISTAR DOLLAR, TMD entertainment, Omowunmi, Chuddy K, Bigiano, and Konga.
Also, producers like Sossick, Dr Frabz, Sheyman, Frenzy, and 02 collaborated with the rap legend.
In addition to the commercial success his album, C.E.O, received, Dagrin was nominated in different categories at music awards.
In 2010, he was nominated for the Nigerian Entertainment Awards for Best Album, Hottest Single “Pon Pon Pon”, Best Rap Act, and Best Collaboration with vocals.
He was also nominated as the artist of the year and won the best rap album at the Hip Hop World Awards in 2010.
Dagrin’s impact on the rap scene in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised. His music paved the way for artists like Naira Marley and Zlatan to openly air their views on various social and political issues through music.
The Secret police noted that a gun duel that lasted for an hour offered Igboho the chance to escape.
