Over a decade since his passing, DaGrin still echoes through the beats of Nigerian hip-hop—and no one echoes that legacy louder than DJ Neptune.
In a recent tribute, the iconic disc jockey and producer called the late rap legend “the one artist I respect the most”, drawing attention to DaGrin’s enduring impact on music, language, and identity.
Breaking the Mold: Indigenous Rap Pioneer
Back in 2010, DJ Neptune teamed up with DaGrin for the explosive “123 Remix”—a collaboration that also featured M.I and Naeto C. While the star-studded lineup was packed with lyrical firepower, DaGrin owned the track with his gritty, unapologetic Yoruba flow. “He showed that you didn’t need to rap in English to command the mic,” Neptune recalled.
“He didn’t just rap in Yoruba—he ruled in it.”
DaGrin’s verses didn’t just ride beats—they cut cultural boundaries wide open, laying a blueprint for indigenous rap to thrive in a space previously dominated by Western styles.
Unfiltered and Unmatched
Neptune describes DaGrin’s delivery as raw, confident, and magnetic—a voice born from the streets, not polished in studios. He recounts a moment in the studio when DaGrin boldly proclaimed: “The crown will stay long on my head.”
That wasn’t arrogance—it was prophecy. From “Pon Pon Pon” to “Kondo,” DaGrin spoke directly to the realities of Nigeria’s underrepresented youth, using rhymes as resistance and rhythm as revelation.
Legacy That Refuses to Fade
DaGrin passed tragically in 2010 at just 25, but his influence never left the booth. DJ Neptune has continued to honor DaGrin’s legacy—not only in words, but through sound. Whether through performance shoutouts, reflective interviews, or the DJ sets he spins, Neptune sees DaGrin as the soul of street-level authenticity.
“He redefined what it meant to be a rapper in Nigeria,” Neptune noted. “He made language a weapon of pride.”
Why It Still Matters
For DJ Neptune, DaGrin represents three things:
A cultural trailblazer: Merging street Yoruba with hip-hop swag.
A voice of realness: Fearless, raw, and true to self.
A foundational icon: Paving the path for today’s indigenous rap heavyweights like Olamide, Zlatan, and Reminisce.
