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.”