April 22, 2010 is a date many wouldn’t forget easily in the Nigerian music industry. On that day, gifted rapper, Olaitan Olatunbodun, aka Dagrin, breathed his last, days after he was involved in a horrific car crash. Even though seven years have gone past, the pain of his death is still raw and many still wonder what the Pon Pon Pon singer would have accomplished if he hadn’t been cut short in his prime.
However, Dagrin’s younger brother, Olatunbosun, aka Trod, has appeared on the scene and he says he is here to continue what his elder brother couldn’t finish. Trod sounds so much like Dagrin and their flows are so similar, it is not hard to decipher that there’s a blood connection between them.
Speaking with Sunday Scoop on his new song, Wild Mind, which has been enjoying favourable airplay, Trod said, “The song was actually recorded two years ago, but I just decided to shoot the video now. Since the death of my brother, everything has been on a low key, so this song is meant to announce my presence and let the whole world know that the spirit of Dagrin is still alive. I am here to continue what he couldn’t finish and I’m not joking about it. My eyes are set on the throne and I wouldn’t rest till I wear the crown. It took me so long to shoot the video because I’m a student of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode, and I have to concentrate on my studies, so I don’t have the luxury of time.”
Speaking on the reaction of his parents to his career considering the fate that befell his late brother, he said, “My parents cannot decide for me. I have so much interest in music and I decided to go for it because I know it would profit me. Besides, everybody in my family loves music, so it’s all good.”
Trod also shared some of the things he learned from Dagrin. “I was quite young when Dagrin passed away. I was in boarding school, so we only used to talk on the phone. Fans should expect good lyrics and great vibes from me, just like Dagrin gave them. This is a new generation and the ways of making music have changed from what it was during the old generation of Dagrin; but I will be borrowing some of Dagrin’s style so as to attract his fans, and also put in my own flavour because I have fans too. One of the things I learnt from Dagrin was that he was independent and determined; he went for whatever he wanted without backing down. He also thought a lot and made a lot of sense. Till date, I don’t know any rapper that is better than him.
It was really devastating when I heard about his death; I was shocked and pained because I knew he had a lot to offer. But since nothing could be done to change the circumstance, we just had to move on,” he said.
Responding to critics who say he is just an usurper trying to ride on his brother’s legacy to get cheap popularity, he said, “I have truly heard that a lot but I don’t care. If I listen to what is being said, that would weigh me down. I just have to do my thing, and I believe that the people who would love me would do so regardless. It is not possible for everybody to like you; I would just try my best to keep making good music.”
On the notion that Olamide has taken over his brother’s style, he said, “Olamide is my best rapper and I love him so much. I have also learnt a lot of things from him and I hope to feature him soon. I don’t hold anything against him. I don’t think Olamide copied Dagrin’s style; their music only sounds similar. We’re all in the game and every one is doing their thing.”
Source: Punch
