Da Grin’s Father Gives Nod To Producers Of Late Son’s Biopic.

Veteran movie director, Lancelot Imasuen is not be conjuring a script put together by friends, industry colleague mixed with a bit of imagination to entertain audience. The movie titled ‘Ghetto Dream’ is a memorial and tribute movie on the time and life of late rap artiste, Da Grin.

The movie powered by Stingomania Entertainment recruited Lancelot Imaseun as director and in a landmark move, he met with the father of the late rap artiste. Da Grin’s father has given a nod to the biopic and his input on the life and times of his son is considered paramount to make the movie.

His father has been talking to the producer for very minimal fine tuning to the script so it would clearly and absolutely tell of the late artiste’s life.

Speaking on the involvement of the late artiste’s father, Lancelot Imasuen said, “I’m of the opinion that when you want to look into an epic work like this, talking about the deeds of some heroic deeds of some individual, you must be able to have more than enough to put on the table and all of that.”

The search for an actor to play the role of Da Grin is ongoing and the movie would feature both upcoming and established artistes and friends of the artiste.
‘
Ghetto Dream’ will profile in a touching way the true life story and experiences of Dagrin: the development, struggles, breakthrough and death of Dagrin.

“The movie, Ghetto Dreams will serve the dual purpose of immortalizing Dagrin and at the same time provide some financial consolation to the family of Dagrin who have been largely ignored by the various commercial projects based on the life and works of Dagrin. A portion
(20%) of the net proceeds from this movie will go towards donations for the family of Dagrin, while another 20% will go towards the endowment for the Ghetto Dreams Foundation in honor of Dagrin.

The movie will be premiered at major theaters in different locations at home and abroad.” Samuel Olatunji, publicist for Stingomania Entertainment informed.

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Da Grin’s Mom: The Hospital Killed My Son.

The late rap artiste’s 2008 model Nissan maxima car ran into a parked lorry in front of Alakara Police station, Mushin and he died on the Thursday April 22, 2010. Issues were raised on the cause of his death and several causes have been reported but Doctors at the hospital where he passed on said he had a heart attacks seven times and he was revived each time but died when he had the eightieth one. He has been buried in a NGN150,000 casket with fans and colleagues turning out in huge numbers even with the change in time from 12 noon to about 9AM when it said.

The news now is his mom, Mrs. Olaonipekun blames the hospital for his death as she informs that “…They also said they didn’t have equipment for the stomach x ray. They said that blood started entered his brain but that they will suck it out. They did. They complained that he was not eating. The people at LUTH didn’t take good care of him. They gave him different food and his tommy was swollen. The nurses didn’t listen to any of the complaint because they claimed we shouldn’t teach them their job. They insisted on feeding him through the mouth even when he wasn’t digesting it. He gradually deteriorated and was not responding to signs and gestures. He wasn’t talking and in the evening of Friday, April 22, 2010 when he died, his body temperature was very high.”

Things you might not know about Da Grin.

Da Grin started out rapping in English but “I decided to rap in Yoruba because I understand it better than English. It is not that I can’t do English rap but I want to represent my origin and I rap in my mother tongue. I respect my colleagues that rap in English too”, Dagrin had said.

It must be general knowledge now that Dagrin was a phenomenon at the busy computer village in Ikeja, Lagos as a phone vendor after the release of his first album. Things went really bad then and he needed to survive. If you didn’t know, no thank you needed.

He started his music career on LEO records in 2006 where he released his debut album. He was with the label until 2008 when he called it quits. “I left after my contract expired and my first album didn’t even enjoy good promotion”, said Dagrin.

After his exit from Leo, he faced serious financial challenges. He forfeited the apartment that had been given to him by his label within their office premises in Magodo and he struggled to get a place of his own so took the ‘50 cent’( an artiste he takes as a role model) and went all out ‘hustling’ at the notorious computer village in Ikeja.

The Black Maxima car with which he had the accident was presented to him by his record label, Edlyne Records, and he had also send that the automobile has the customised plate number, Dagrin 03 because two bigger cars were on the way.

Until his death, Dagrin was just a school certificate holder with intentions of going back to school after taking his music career to a desired level.

Friends and colleagues agree that he was a Very respectful & humble before and AFTER he blew…unlike some other artistes. Read more...

Da Grin: Made Popular by Death

Late Da Grin

The first time to hear that a young man called Olaitan Olaonipekun, popularly known as Da Grin was living was when he died, but not the last to hear the name. He was a Nigerian rap act who was stolen by death in a ghastly accident in his own car – Maxima. He died on April 22 2010. Until his death, his music was not popular as Da Grin is popular today. He is awash on the Nigerian news, and indeed, international. Some people who will not cry for a lost relation were forced to cry. Many thought that the news of his death was a mere joke; some thought it was an expensive one. Some were saying that God should let it be a rumour. All the radio stations were slamming or jamming his music – back-to-back and front-to-front. We’ll never understand why you have to go now.

Da Grin was a huge talent, according to his admirers. He was rapping mostly in his native language – Yoruba – and scantly in English Language. His music is the trend of the epoch in the western part of Nigeria he came from. Some of his Yoruba brethren who don’t or were misled by western world not to understand Yoruba and can’t speak were jealous when they first heard his music. One of them said: When I heard the guy, spit in Yoruba I kind of used to get jealous that I couldn't speak Yoruba that well. He made me so proud to be a Yoruba guy. He made it so cool. He connected with his fans on such a real level. You just felt he was talking directly to you... you actually "felt" him. His energy came through in every word he uttered. I have video footage on my phone of my oyinbo female friends singing the hook, and some of his lyrics to idi-nla. That's how much I used to bump this guy. He was just oozing talent and originality. TBH I don't take an overwhelming majority of Nigerian rappers seriously. Even the most mainstream and heralded ones. Dagrin is pretty much the only one I comment about because I think most of the others are just clowning wannabes and cheap imitations of western rappers.

His death is affecting a lot of his admirers and has spoilt days for them. He died when they are beginning to enjoy his music – just 23. His death make many have lumps in their throat and can’t not cry again. Some feel like crying, but lose their voices and senses. The fear of not seeing him again envelopes the entire limited team of his fans. They are asking, so Da Grin is nowhere to be found in this world again?

They are hoping the doctor's incessant strike didn't contribute to the early exit of Da Grin? They are asking why his manager didn’t or other artistes think ahead and transfer him to hospitals like Eko Hospital, St. Nicholas etcetera.
They are saying that they are really disappointed.
They are feeling that the Police contributed their own quota but they are not sure of the medical team.
But they are consoling themselves, saying, we are just unhappy for your demise. Da Grin, you'll never be gone to those you loved and have touched their hearts in many ways. Your "thought-provoking" renditions are still with us in every steps of the hustle...

Some persons are asking how strong death is. They are rhetorically asking why Da Grin will die when he is needed most and was already reaching the acme of his music career. Those who love the rap genre are finding it hard to believe that he is gone forever. They see him as somebody that would have made a change in the Nigerian music industry. They wish they have a wand of power that can bring him back, they will not hesitate. Can anyone fill the vacuum Da Grin has left in the hearts of his fans? It hurts so bad that Da Grin was lost so soon!

One George Austin sees Da Grin as a legend no matter what the opinions of others are. He sees him as a mentor of a sort whom death was so envious about. Austin writes: “Like a fire that burnt through the field of an industry called music; particularly the rap genre, Da Grin came, he saw, but he never conquered death. For the short time he had reigned, where even legends strive to; he created a style that none could imitate; touched the lives of music lovers like no one else; and gave hope to the teeming youths that it is possible to make it in this country if you got style. But, he went up in a blaze of glory when we least expected it at 23”.

One Wales Loniskolobo sings a different song from Austin. For him, Da Grin is not dead. He sees Da Grin as coming back from a show-travel very soon. His words: “Hmmm! Firstly, Da Grin is not dead, is not dead, is not dead. He went for a show in heaven, so he is coming back soon…friends be ready to see him again...”

Loniskolobo’s expectation that Da Grin will come back soon seems to be a hope in one Bolo who says he can’t wait to see him, and he says, “Da Grin, words can’t express what you mean to me. Even though you’re gone, we are still a team. In the future, I can’t wait to see you. When it’s real, feelings are hard to conceal. Can’t imagine all the pain you feel… Give anything to hear half your breath. I know you’re still living your life, after death... soldier boy.”

Da Grin didn’t deserve death at this time; he deserved to reap the fruits of his hard labour of unrelenting exploration of the musical art. His death seems to be a portal to unifying those in the music industry he left to mourn him, and it calls for such. One Benson Gideon says, “It is time we foster unity among ourselves (artistes in Nigeria) and stop being biased against one another. Da Grin’s death is a wake-up call in the Nigeria’s music industry... when he was alive he had few thousands of fans but now that he is dead, the whole country is Da Grin’s fans... What a world?”

While Gideon may be insinuating that it could be the perceived enmity in the industry that might have contributed to Da Grin’s untimely death, he was perhaps oblivious that the dearth of equipments in the Nigerian hospitals could be why Da Grin died. Someone suspected to be a Kenyan suggested thus: “So sad, saw the pictures the other day after the accident. Couldn’t believe how terrible the accident was. But the most shocking was the bed he was lying on. He had to sort of help or support wires and cables which I usually see when someone is in intensive care after accident. I pray for his family and friends, but mostly for Nigeria. Light Up Nigeria! Light up your roads!! Light up your streets, your hospitals, your buildings!!! And such sad scenarios will be avoided. He was young, talented, and so much potential. Robbed away. When will enough be enough? Your country has so much money. Where is it going? You all drive around in flashy cars, but you are all denying yourselves of your social economic rights. Healthcare, security…”

This other person says, “may God punish those bloody animals that always park their trucks indiscriminately on the roads; punish the government officials that were supposed to control such criminally-vehicle-parking and the ones that misappropriate funds meant for street lights and proper ICU equipment at the hell-hole called government hospital. May God punish the sick profiteering auto dealer that sold him a previously accidented and refurbished Maximum with no air bags”.

However, it’s so sad to lose Da Grin, let alone, say good-bye. But, what can we do? According a statement, “we are like pencil in the hands of God, God giveth and taketh, and pray God will console his family and make them heal fast, though it is not easy...
No matter how we pray against death, it’ll come…it’s inevitable…So, please tell people how much u love them while they can still hear it…show them how much you care when they are alive...”

But, one thing remains as a bet in people’s minds: Da Grin could have won an MTV or Grammy awards if he was alive.

Odimegwu Onwumere, Poet/Author and Media Consultant, is a Columnist and the Founder of Poet Against Child Abuse (PACA), Rivers State, Nigeria.
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Tastee Fried Chicken (TFC) fetes Dagrin’s family

dagrin

For the Olanipekun family, October 1 may have come and gone but it will remain a memorable one in the lives of its members and their friends.

Memorable because it was a day a Lagos quick service restaurant, Tastee Fried Chicken, filled the gap left by the death of their breadwinner, Olaitan Olanipekun, aka Dagrin.

TFC, as a part of its activities to mark Nigeria‘s 50th golden independence anniversary, gathered the Olanipekuns and their friends at its Oyin Jolayemi headquarters and treated them as celebrities.

After a sumptuous meal, spiced with acts by standby comedians, including Bash, TFC handed over a cheque to the highly elated family.

During the presentation of the cheque by the company’s Group Finance Manager, Mr. Adeyeye, Mr. Akande Simon of the Corporate Affairs Department said it was TFC’s way of appreciating an individual who made so much impact in the music industry during his lifetime.

Mr. Tunde Shokoya and Peter Boyade who stood in for the Executive Director – Mr. Bunmi Adedayo, and the Managing Director, Mrs. Olayinka Adedayo – said they believed that Dagrin’s works would remain evergreen.

Shokoya and Boyade added that TFC was not only known for food business, it was known for appreciating people who contribute to societal development.

Dagrin‘s father, Mr. Olaniyi Olanipekun, who himself, is into entertainment, was full of smiles during the event. ”We appreciate TFC for appreciating us twice within a short period of time,” he said.

The event was also an opportunity for the family to tell the world how much they missed the young musician, who died in an automobile accident on April 22, 2010.

“It’s been difficult getting him out of our minds. You just think what it feels turning on your television set or radio set and seeing him or hearing his voice. You just imagine walking along the streets, and hearing his music. It feels like he is still with us,” Olanipekun said. Read more...