15 years after his death, the legacy of Oladapo Olaitan Olaonipekun, popularly known as Dagrin, continues to blaze a trail through Nigerian music history.
The Recording Academy, body behind the GRAMMY Awards, has named his breakout hit “Pon Pon Pon” among the top 10 songs shaping the evolution of Afrobeats globally.
This distinction elevates “Pon Pon Pon” as the only rap song on the list, affirming what fans and music historians have long known: Dagrin’s 2009 street anthem was not just a hit, but a seismic shift that redefined the landscape of Nigerian music.
From gritty beats to raw Yoruba lyricism, the track remains a cultural timestamp, capturing the chaos, vibrancy, and rhythm of Lagos life with unmatched precision.
“Pon Pon Pon” introduced a generation to the authenticity of indigenous rap. At a time when the Nigerian mainstream was dominated by pop melodies and foreign influences, Dagrin forced the industry to reckon with the language and reality of the streets.
His embrace of Yoruba slang and storytelling became a blueprint for future stars who now dominate Afrobeats and Nigerian hip-hop.
Beyond the music itself, the journey to preserve Dagrin’s legacy has involved extensive behind-the-scenes work—most notably by Digital Music Commerce and Exchange Limited (DMCE), a full-service rights management and music licensing company.
Under the leadership of General Manager Ezekiel Olayinka, DMCE has been instrumental in reclaiming and protecting Dagrin’s musical catalog from years of exploitation and mismanagement.
After his death in April 2010, Dagrin’s intellectual property was scattered and largely unmanaged. DMCE stepped in, obtained a letter of administration from the Lagos State Probate Registry, and worked closely with the rapper’s family to ensure proper ownership and legal control over his body of work. In less than a year, the company secured the rights, cleaned up unauthorized usage, and began to rebuild the foundation for his posthumous musical legacy.
Taking this effort a step further, DMCE brokered a strategic partnership between Dagrin’s estate and Sony Music Publishing Nigeria—one of the world’s biggest music publishing entities.
This milestone deal not only reintroduced Dagrin to the international music ecosystem but also underscored the global relevance of his art.
In August 2024, Sony Music Publishing Nigeria hosted the “Legend Sampling Camp,” a pioneering creative event that brought top producers and artists together to reimagine the works of Nigerian legends.
Alongside Dagrin’s music, samples from Fuji icons K1 De Ultimate, King Dr. Saheed Osupa, and the Late Chief Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister (MFR) were reinterpreted. All these musical estates are represented by DMCE, signifying a broader mission to protect and celebrate indigenous sonic heritage.
While The Recording Academy’s recent accolade shines a global spotlight on Dagrin’s contribution to Afrobeats, it is the tireless work of stakeholders like DMCE and his family that ensures his voice remains heard.
Their commitment has ensured that “Pon Pon Pon” is not just a relic of the past, but a living influence—still sampled, streamed, and celebrated by a new generation.
Dagrin’s music endures because it resonates deeply with Nigeria’s heartbeat—the hustle, the hope, and the harsh truths. The GRAMMY nod affirms his pioneering status, but it is the sustained cultural relevance of “Pon Pon Pon” that crowns him the undisputed king of Afro-Street Rap.
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