This is one artist that a lot of people have asked me to REP! His REP and highly anticipated album: C.E.O, is finally here!! His songs and flow are so on-point and catchy, and let’s not even talk about his lyrics and rhymes. Too gbaski! Don’t believe me? Check out his freestyle on Jimmy’s Jump Off. My favorite song of his is “Kondo” and some lines are below!!
Mummy mi o si ni le
Daddy mi o si ni le
Egbon mi o si ni le
Emi ni kan mo wa nile
Wa gba kondo, kondo, kondo
Wa wo commando, mando, mando
Rep Naija Artists had the pleasure of chatting with DaGrin and we present below some information he shared with us!
Born Dapo Olaonipekun, DaGrin is no newcomer to the game. Referred by many as the 50 cent of Yoruba music, he’s one of the hottest indigenous Yoruba rappers to emerge from Nigeria and you’ll see why once you listen to his tracks below! DaGrin, C.E.O of Misofunyin entertainment has 6 years of professional experience as a rapper though he wasn’t recognized until he emerged with collaborations with several artists due to lack of adequate promotion of his first album. His first album titled “Still on the matter” was released in 2006 under Leo Entertainment. His collaboration list includes but not limited to “Efi mile” with YQ, “Idi Nla” with Lala, “Call the Police” with TuStep, “Iyalaya won” with Sheyman and J. Holiday, “Hola Hola” with T-Frizzle, “Owo ati Swagger Remix” with Cartiair, Eva and Terry Tha Rapman, “2 much money” with Fresh, and “Jump” with Azadus and Lord of Ajasa.
His road to stardom was definitely not a smooth ride. Nonetheless, DaGrin comes forth with his sophomore album titled C.E.O, Chief Executive Omoita, released under his own record label.
Like most artists, DaGrin realized his passion for music while singing in the children’s choir in his younger days before he went out into the streets and adapted a different twist to merge Yoruba language and music. With music influences like Alhaji Agba Kollington, King Sunny Ade and the late legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, we asked why he chose Yoruba as the language of choice rather than English or Pidgin. He explained that Yoruba which he regards as his first language followed by English, is the best way to reach people of his ethnic background. When asked about the reason and origin of his stage name: DaGrin, he explained the reason behind the name: before his verses, he always has a big grin/smile before flowing and mocks the beats before dropping his lines; hence DaGrin.
C.E.O, the name of his album which hits the streets today: 8/25/09, was named as such because he is always on the streets and the reasoning that if you don’t sleep at home, you are an omoita. Additionally, he’s the boss of Misofunyin Entertainment which makes him the C.E.O. Hence, these two facts when merged are roots of his album name. As imagined, you can expect collaborations with other artists on his new album! He worked with established and underground artists to help expose their talents and showcase what they had to offer. Some artists featured on his album includes but not limited to Dark Poet Cartier, Isolate Arafada, T-Frizzle, Omawunmi and his producer, Sossick.
Even though he has collaborated with a lot of artists, DaGrin still has some artists in mind that he hopes to work with in the future. He hopes to one day work with Mr. Incredible himself: M.I., Tuface Idibia and the Paris-born but Nigerian raised jazz and soul sensation: A?a (pronounced Asha). As to what his fans can expect from this album, DaGrin says they can expect street oriented tracks, mad hits, and their money’s worth! You can review some tracks off his C.E.O album below!
This is definitely one artist to watch out for now and in the coming years!! He’s FIRE!!!!
I REP DaGrin!
Listen to “Ghetto Dream”
Listen to “Pon Pon Pon”
Listen to “Kondo”
Listen to “Thank God” ft. Omawunmi
Listen to one of his collabo: “Pari Popo” with Owen Gee
You can download the featured songs in the FREE Mixes and Download Section.
For more information about DaGrin, join his facebook fanpage at:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=61521951758
loving the post…nice to see da grin being repped…
Da grin keep on the Good work…..
guy 3 gbosas 4 u…i pray U blow d Musin Industry…thumbs up…
Lyrical were, Dat guy is hill not sick… WA GBA KONDO O KONDO O WAWO COMMANDO
thats my Guy…i love his musik, his lyrics and his Swaggs..he is kool keep it up Da grin
Ok i love you’re repping DaGrin but I have an issue with he’s the 50cent of yoruba rap. I think thats an insult to him…. lol. It should have been “Referred by many as the **insert a rapper that’s actually talented** of Yoruba music. Besides that, great post! Dagrin is definitely turning out to be one of my fav naija artists. I think he’ll be able to go toe to toe with MI in a battle but since he spits in yoruba, how would we judge?
Mr me too, we never said we refer to him as the 50 cent of Yoruba rap, rather we said he has been referred by “many” as that. He’s definitely a talented artist who’s doing great and mastered his craft well!!! So if you were to compare him with any rapper, whose name would you place in 50 cent’s spot?!!!
I actually look forward to both of them working together!! Maybe it’ll happen sooner that we expect but who knows!!!
Dagrin is Lyrical fit,Musically fit and i must confess he is the best 9ja rapper..Y’all gotta go and grab his album ” C.E.O”…. Dagrin jo ooooooooooo…
Lovely post! Lovely set of songs! I see you, babes!
THis is the New KING and i believe the Guy is unstoppable on Lyricsss…am licking the album
Nice write up…Da Grin is one of my top 10 favourite Nigerian artists right about now..It is crazy because I don’t understand half the things hes says, cuz my Yoruba skills are not up to par, yet I still feel his music…The Kid is a problem…
you head is there
Da Grin is one person i can put my money on & i dont think i will ever regret doing that…He have made d whole world know tha he’s d real CEO with this album…Keep d flag high man. Naija DJs- DJ Buzzle
love dagrin,can’t stop playing his track on my blog
You Use To Dream you wanna be a superstar Now you are D King….Now You Know when You are buying the Armanda and the Infinity….Please don’t Brake Up with This Bitch cos belv me it will take you to Grammy and by then You b residn at Ajah….Omo 9ija won Gbo Wa Lori BBC Ati CNN…Jor OOO! Olee Nuu Bi ATM Marchine u dey spit Naira….Street boi/Y boi we dey use play like Keyboard….You are the General so we call You The Balogun!Eyan So-Sick…..Ani wa ee Tiii… Ota Pon Gann so don’t worry You’ll get it withing 1 Month you know what we talkn abt…….Misofunyin Entertainment…..Na Only You dey House Na Only You get this Industry….Only You dey scatter the muzik world just d way Comando dey scatter 1 Town…Level Lo’n'looo…..Kos Mum c no dey House so make she come watch Comando….Now God don do am Na You Dey 1 to 10 on Countdown cos Baba God is with You so make you shout like Woofer…Cos Oti dI Eyan Patakii….AKA OMO OBA….This Tunde Infinity Mo wa Ok Pelu Dagrin…………
i must confess dat dagrin is very very good and i rep him…. plz try and get me intouch wit him i wuld rea;y love to wok wit him thanks …. 07031137530 plz get me intouch
Dagrin has always be a nice rapper since his secondary sch age.guy i stil dey feel you.joshua m.c.h.s
rest in peace bro…i wil really miss u
Rest in PEACE Dagrin……………..
Rest in PEACE Dagrin……………………Am so short of words.Wish u could live to eat the fruit of ur labour, God knows best all d same.
wish this didnt happen to the best yoruba lyrics rapper nigerian ,i ll miss more of is swagger lyrics, dagrin ll always be the best
Da grin…….sometime when am sleeping i’m dreaming i just wanna wake up…by {Da grin} We love’s you but God Love you more than we do …………….. God Bless d dead
R.I.P Da Grin….tears on ma eyes
May your gentl soul rest in perfect peace egede dodorima for you and your great rep in nigeria music industry peace.
but i was hearing that dagrin is alive, is it true?
Da grin, we love you but god loves you more than us, I will never forget you, its a pity,may your soul rest in perfect peace
C.E.O – DAGRIN!!! MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE.
i saw the car after the crash..not knowing it was for DAGRIN…Gone too soon…may his soul rest in Perfect Peace. amen
Dagrin rest in peace
C.E.O: DAGRIN may his soul R.I.P.
C.E.O Dagrin. I cnt jst stop crying,may his soul R.I.P (Amen)
DAGRIN TILL I DIE…
I LOVE YOU BRO,BI O SHE LO MO FE KO MALO PELU IBON…
God will surely be with all his family..Amen
Sebi Emo BARACK OBAMA……………EMI NI BARACK KO GRIN………….IGBO RO SHIT SE RO PE EYIN LE WIN !!! C.E.O BARACK KO GRIN R.I.P !!!
I don’t knew dat this wil be d last time to see him,when he came to iyana ipaja camp.May his soul rest in perfect peace.
WON RI MI TI MO FINE, MO FRESH, MO NWU, WON MO ASHIRI EWA MI, WON NI MO JE YAHOO.. MO NGBERU… SI BE MI O NBERU.. TI AWON EYAN BA RI MI WON ANI MI O NI LIFE.. WON SUSPECT PE MO NI IBON PELU KNIFE.. TI NBA SORO EYOKAN WON ANI MO CORRUPT.. WON ANI LIFE TI MO LIVE BI OMO TI WON LO ADOPT.. WON ANI LIFE TI MO LIVE ‘PE MI ONI PEKU’ TI OLORUN O BA PAMI EEE… KI LO TU KU?BARRACK O’GRIN,RIP u still remain in our hearts for eva…………….
he is just 2much!