Strings of impromptu activities have pervaded this outgoing
week, all organised to celebrate the brief but impacting life of late
26 year old rapper Olaonipekun Olaitan a.k.a Dagrin, who passed
on 6pm, at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH),
penultimate Thursday after surviving a horrendous car crash.
The events held both at home and abroad were organised by
different stakeholders in the Nigerian entertainment industry and
many of Dagrin ’s ex-colleagues, fans and industry patrons took
time to attend these functions in memory of the dead.
After the press and fans besieged LUTH on Friday
(23rd April), hoping to see his body moved out of
the morgue, Dagrin ’s family and friends released
official burial plans for the late CEO. His father,
Comrade Olaniyi Olaonipekun appealed to
aggrieved fans- many who insisted on seeing the
deceased ’s body before leaving the hospital
premise, promising that he would not be buried
in secret.
He was quoted as saying, “I am not mourning
please. I want everybody to know that Da Grin is
a national loss. So it ’s Nigeria that is mourning”.
Organised activities in Dagrin’s honour began on Sunday with a
candle-light procession to his parents house in Meiran, Lagos from
the late rapper ’s last residence in Sunshine Estate, Agege.
Apart from friends’ changing their profile pictures to those of Da
Grin’s, many statuses have been dedicated to saying something
directly or indirectly, on Facebook and Twitter, all about the life
and time of the rapper and his untimely and painful demise.
Pre-burial activities began on Wednesday with ‘Industry Nite in
memory of Da Grin’ at popular Lagos club, Tribecca. It had in
attendance a couple of the CEO’s contemporaries like General
Pype, Sasha, Kaha and even seniors like Sound sultan, Baba Dee
and Ras Kimono, even though the popular A-listers, like D ’banj
and Darey were absent.
Donations were collected for the family of the dead. The Place,
another celebrity hang out spot in GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, held a tribute
party at 7pm, same day in the late rapper ’s memory. Thursday
was candle light procession from akogun’s one-time residence in
Surulere to popular hang out spot, Ojez at 6pm while his body
was laid to rest on Friday at the Ebony Private Vault in Atan
cemetery, Yaba, Lagos.
And today, at the Swe Bar & Lounge, Onikan, Lagos- a place Da
Grin frequented in his days as an artiste, an event tagged “Da Grin,
The Man & His Music” will begin by 6pm till dawn. The event
packaged by the management of the lounge in conjunction with
ACE magazine will feature special Karaoke editions of Da Grin ’s
songs.
“It’s a tribute to a man who was not only a friend of the house but
an extremely gifted artiste. We want to celebrate his
achievements, his life and all that he stood for ”, the statement by
organisers read in part.
Sunday has been set aside as the official visiting day at Mr and Mrs
Olaniyi Olanipekun ’s residence in Meiran, Lagos.
*Da grin’s official tribute song
To properly immortalize the Chief Executive Omo-ita (CEO),
barrack O ’Da Grin, colleagues have put together a two part song
as an all stars’ tribute to Da Grin. The song is titled ‘My Pain’ and
features Sheyman, Reminise, Durella, El Dee, Omawunmi,
Jahbless, Ajasa, Ruggedman, Banky W and T-Code in the first part
and in this order. The other part parades Dude Tetsola, Waje,
Bigiano, Kel, AY.Com and Jaywon all pouring out their hearts in
memory of the late rapper. The song is produced by Sheyman.
*His death and the HHWA
Even though living is better than dying, like Michael Jackson, like
Elvis Presley, Da Grin ’s death is whipping up massive sentiments
which just might help him wins his three nominations at this
year ’s Hip Hop World Awards; even if post-humus.
The late rapper is nominated in the Album of the Year, Artiste of
the Year and Best Rap Album categories. Intensive vote campaign
is on-going by fans on Facebook asking all to win the first award
(s) for the rapper ’s in memory of his impact on the Nigerian music
scene.
*Did he live expecting death?
Da grin worked tirelessly like he knew he had a short time to live.
In the few months of fame that music brought him while he was
alive, he recorded more collaborations than any other known
artiste in Nigeria.
And he didn’t just rap on others songs’, he asserted himself with
each word winning fans all the way and making such songs
become almost compelling each time they played on radio or
were shown on Tv. His first video appearance was on YQ ’s E fi mi
le, No wonder YQ is yet to come around since Dagrin’s demise.
Pon pon pon, Kondo, Mo ti gboro and lately Ghetto Dreams are
perhaps the most popular of his songs and now slowly but
gradually, ‘If I die’ is filtering in.
The song, If I die, a new track recorded by Da Grin perhaps for his
new album, leaked on the internet few hours after he passed on,
as though pre-planned. The lyrics are as gruesome as the rapper ’s
death with chorus lines like ‘If I die, make you no cry for me. E
je’n sinmi (let me rest).
If I die They pretending like my friend. But they wanna see the
end. Ko le ye won (They can ’t understand).’‘ The song suggests
that the rapper had many haters and that he perhaps, lived
everyday expecting and unafraid of dying.
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