I didn’t know my late son would be remembered –Dagrin’s dad

Two years after the death of Oladapo Olanipekun, aka Dagrin, his father seems to be overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for the rapper from music fans across the country.

In an interview with LIFE&BEAT, Mr. Olaniyi Olanipekun said that though he knew his son would make an impact on the music scene, it never occurred to him that he would continue to live in the hearts of many Nigerians even in death.

Olaniyi said, “Dapo had always loved music and tilted towards it. He loved music, just like I did. I knew he would be popular but I didn’t know he would be remembered after his death.”

He said that it was not the custom among the Yoruba for a father to immortalise his own son. But he says the best he could do was to support any initiative dedicated to the memory of the rapper.

To commemorate Dagrin’s death, his father has agreed to the release of a posthumous album in his honour. The album will be released by mobile music powerhouse, Spinlet. The content comprises new and remixed songs from Dagrin’s Rhyme Book.

LIFE&BEAT learnt that the first song to be released would be a remix of Dagrin’s controversial song titled, If I die. Many Nigerians believed the song was proof that the rapper had a premonition of his death.

But Olanipekun dismissed the speculation, saying that his son sang the song out of ignorance. Also, Dagrin’s former manager, Tunde Peters, said the song had no underlying meaning.

He said, “If I die was recorded out of Dagrin’s curiosity. The producer of the song, Frenzy, said that he was in the studio about to do collaborations with other artistes when he began do to freestyle.” It was not planned. The essence of the remix is to do it properly. The song was released to the public because Dagrin’s fans mounted pressure on the producer.”