“They used our pain for gain” – Dagrin’s mom breaks silence 16 years after his d.eath

Sixteen years after the tragic d.eath of Nigerian rap sensation Dagrin, his mother has spoken candidly about the lasting grief of losing her son and the painful experiences the family endured after his passing

In an emotional conversation with The Punch, she revealed that the sorrow of losing a child never truly disappears, no matter how much time passes.

“When one loses a child, the agony stays forever,”
she said while reflecting on the d.eath of Olaitan Oladapo Olaonipekun, popularly known as Dagrin.

According to her, several individuals came forward after the rapper’s d.eath with promises of assistance and support for the  family, including offers of better accommodation. However, she claimed many of those gestures were never genuine.

“They only want to take advantage of the unfortunate situation,”
she said, accusing some people of using Dagrin’s memory and the family’s pain for personal relevance and online attention through tributes and remembrance events.

She also described the late rapper as a generous young man who gave freely while he was alive. Although she admitted  music was not initially her passion, she encouraged his dreams and stood behind his career journey.

The grieving mother disclosed that before his d.eath, Dagrin had already spent much of what he earned helping others, leaving little behind for the family financially.

Dagrin died on April 22, 2010, after sustaining injuries in a car accident.

Widely celebrated as one of the major forces behind indigenous Yoruba rap, the rapper earned admiration for his street-rooted lyrics and influence on Nigeria’s hip-hop culture.

Even years after his passing, his music continues to inspire emerging artists across the country.