Entertainment

Dagrin’s ‘Pon Pon Pon’ Gets GRAMMY Honour 15 Years After His Passing

Published

5 months ago

July 27, 2025

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.
(TRIBUNE)

Entertainment

‘No Artist Is Wack, Every Music Is Tailored Made’ – 2Baba

Published

1 hour ago

December 26, 2025

Editor

Legendary Nigerian singer, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has shared his opinion on the issue of mediocrity in the music industry that has led to some artists being tagged as “wack.”

Speaking in a video broadcast, the African Queen crooner claiming that there is no such thing as “wack artists,” arguing that every music is tailored made and acceptance is narrowed down to promotion and other commercial strategies/reasons.

He said, “Every music is tailored made to evoke an emotion, to create a spirit. There is nothing like a wack artiste. That is why many of the so-called wack artists are more bankable than the talented ones. Because they understand that it is not the art itself, it is the marketing of that art.

“No matter how talented you are or how sweet your music is, there is no music that everybody likes. Everything is narrowed down to the marketing, promotion and the business. It is only those who resonate with your music that will like it naturally.”

Entertainment

‘Table Talks Ongoing’ – Doris Ogala Gives Update On Face-off With Pastor Chris Okafor [VIDEO]

Published

2 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Editor

Nollywood actress, Doris Ogala, has updated the public about the ongoing controversy involving her and the founder of the Grace Nation Bible Ministry, Pastor Chris Okafor.

According to DAILY POST, that the actress was arrested by the Lagos State Police on Saturday for dragging Chris Okafor after he allegedly failed to fulfill his marriage promise to her.

She was released on Monday afternoon after spending two nights in police custody, where the pastor allegedly begged her for a peaceful resolution.

However updating the public about the current state of her issues with the clergyman, Doris, who has earlier requested compensation from Okafor, disclosed that table talks and resolution are ongoing.

“Talks is going on now, resolution is ongoing at the moment. I’m still in Lagos, I’m not back in Abuja. I want to know where it’s heading, and I want to know the end of this table talk. I will come back, and I will seek God’s face. I will ask God the next direction, what should I do because at the moment, I don’t know what to do. I will ask for his wisdom, what should I do, because I have a lot to say, I have a lot I want to reveal, I have a lot I want the world to learn from this.

“At the same time, I don’t want to have anyone’s blood on my hand. This is still bad than anyone thinks. I haven’t said anything. What I just said online is nothing to what I’m about to say before my arrest. But I will leave everything to God and pray and seek his direction to let him direct me on how best to go about it. I’m not afraid of anyone, I’m not afraid of going to jail. All I want is to speak my truth, and my truth I will speak,” she said.

Watch video below;

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Entertainment

AFCON 2025: Davido Wins $96,000 After Super Eagles Beat Tanzania

Published

2 days ago

December 24, 2025

Editor

Grammy-nominated singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has recorded a financial win following Nigeria’s opening victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Ahead of the Super Eagles’ Group C match against Tanzania on Tuesday, the singer placed a $25,000 bet that both teams would score during the encounter.

He later shared a screenshot of the betting slip on his X page with the caption, “Let’s get this W Nigeria.”

The prediction proved correct on Tuesday night in Fes, Morocco, as Nigeria defeated Tanzania 2 to 1, earning Davido a payout of $96,564, estimated at about N140 million.

The match did not start on a positive note for Nigeria, as Tanzania scored first against the run of play.

The Super Eagles, however, responded strongly, drew level, and went on to secure the win through a late goal by Ademola Lookman.

The victory gave Nigeria a start to their campaign and improved their chances in Group C as they pursue a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title.

This is not the first time Davido has publicly supported the Super Eagles with a high-value wager.

Before Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Gabon, he staked $10,000 on a Super Eagles victory and both teams to score. Nigeria lost the match, and the bet was unsuccessful.

The Super Eagles will face their next Group C opponents as they aim to build on their opening win and secure early qualification for the knockout stage.

Davido’s win comes days after the 33-year-old singer featured at the opening ceremony of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, where he joined global music stars at the tournament’s kick-off event.

Moments before hosts Morocco faced Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Davido led the ceremony’s flagship performance titled Le Show, alongside French Montana and Moroccan producer RedOne.

The performance ranked among the most visually striking opening moments in AFCON history, blending music, light and movement in a carefully choreographed display aimed at a global television audience beyond Africa.

Davido appeared as one of Africa’s most influential music figures of the modern era, reflecting the continent’s growing cultural presence on the world stage.

As described by the Confederation of African Football, “the Nigerian Afrobeats star has helped carry African music onto the world’s biggest stages, with a sound associated with celebration, confidence and continental pride, qualities CAF believes mirror the spirit of the Africa Cup of Nations.”

French Montana, who was born in Morocco and raised in the United States, also performed, with his appearance highlighting Morocco’s position as host and its cultural links between Africa and the wider world.

Completing the trio was RedOne, the Moroccan-born producer whose work has shaped global pop music across continents.