Few hours before his death, he was in K-Solo’s studios to record the remix of Pon Pon Pon, the lead single off his current album- The CEO (Chief Executive Omota). K-Solo confirmed to SEUN APARA a day after he died at the premises of The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) that they had finished the instrumental and all that was left was just for him to come back to lay the voice. He left the studio to see his parents and from there to a friend’s a place before the unexpected finally happened. Unhh, we have lost a rare gem!
It looks like yesterday in 2006 when LEO Entertainment invited select music pen pushers to unveil the new artiste they had just discovered and singed on their label in their Magodo office in Lagos. They presented the young act to us and ordered him to pay us homage. He did respectfully and later autographed the jacket sleeves of his first two promo singles which we all listened to with reservations.
Dagrin has always been a lyricist but it just took time for him to find favour and acceptance from fans and music enthusiasts. Those who listened to his debut album can confirm that his rhyming skills and velvety smooth lyrical prowess have always been a deep part of him. He couldn’t cut across then because LEO Entertainment management was not professional enough with its approach in the music business. They lacked the technical know-how of positioning a brand. Even though they tried to shoot expensive videos then by leaving the shores of Nigeria to Ghana, they failed to get it right in the area of promotion. At a point, some inexperienced young girls were representing the company as marketing executives while Dagrin too was busy struggling on his own as he had discovered the lapses in the company. Immediately his contract expired, he had no other choice but to vacate the apartment given to him by the label, thus he started his career all over again.
He was stranded as he couldn’t figure out where to start from? Who to run to? and Where to turn to? So many questions ran through his mind. Meeting Sossick, one of the producers of his latest album was one of the best things that happened to him. Despite the fact that he was becoming a prominent face then, he braved all the odds to hawk phones in Computer Village, ikeja-Lagos to make a living and burn the midnight candle to write his songs. He started making his way back into people’s sub-consciousness when he collaborated with YQ on his song- Efimile. Sheyman, another fast rising artiste cum producer did well by prevailing on Kenny Saint Brown to feature Dagrin on her hit single- Turn Me Around rather than her initial intentions of featuring ace comedian- Tee-A, because according to her, she had wanted the song to be a bit on the comical side. KSB thanked Sheyman later for the brilliant idea because home boy- Dagrin murdered the track. His collaboration with Lala and Bigiano also went a long way to shape his career before the release of his sophomore album- The CEO.
As soon I got hold of the album and listened, I was enraptured and called him immediately to express my excitement. He was in my office the next day and we discussed at length. He couldn’t even afford the money to promote the album as at then but we were both convinced it will pick up in no time. Unknown to lots of people, Misofunyin, the name of his record label is just a warning of what was to come. He had tall dreams but it’s quite unfortunate he couldn’t achieve them. He told me his reservations about Lord of Ajasa’s kind of music and other issues. He even sought my opinion because at that time different companies were willing to have him under their management. Starville was one of them but he kept wondering aloud if Shank’s career- an artiste on the label was anything to go by. He made different consultations before he finally joined Edlyne Records for management.
Nobody is credited with his unique kind of flow, at least none that we knew of before he kissed the world good bye. Lord of Ajasa was no where near him. Dagrin was in a class of his own and every fast rising act wanted him to spit on their song. Alas! Dagrin, What a great loss!
Before his death, he had series of shows lined up where he was meant to perform including Havana Carnival which held last week Friday. He should have even been in London for the first time in a few days time but his life was cut short in a ghastly motor accident, involving a car that was presented to him by Edlyne Records two weeks earlier. This year was sure loaded with blessings for Dagrin and now he is no more. He had four nominations at the Hip Hop World Awards (HHWA) and he was eagerly looking forward to that night because he had never had it this good. He had earned nominations in the past but he was never this close to winning.
Now that Dagrin is dead, what happens to all his intellectual properties? What happens to all he has laboured for? How do we keep track of his records sales even though he sold it out rightly to an Alaba marketer like his other colleagues due to the bad distribution system in Nigeria? What will happen to the investment of Edlyne Records? The car the management bought for him sent him to his early grave in just two weeks. What a pity!
We have written lots of articles on music publishing and licensing but Nigerian artistes and their management companies have refused to take it seriously. All some of them will say is that Seun has come again with all these writing wahala (problems). Based on statistics from research, Dagrin’s album sales increased immediately after his death. Lots of his fans and those that didn’t actually know much about him have been buying the album. While the fans bought it to keep at home for references, the post humous fans bought to listen and discover why he is so much loved by many. The resounding question is still what happens to the record sales? Eldyne Records and Misofunyintele Entertainmet can still make money from Dagrin’s works in many years to come and the family he left behind, especially his mum. As you read this piece, there is no royalty coming from anywhere to late artiste’s management. When he was alive, he was the cash cow and no plans were obviously made for publishing and licensing. Edlyne Records should seriously consider online sales now that everybody is listening to Dagrin’s album all over again and discovering new punch lines from the lyrics as if the album was released yesterday. I believe that will bring in some cash at least but in all they must not forget Dagrin’s family. May be what Sunday Are, Lexzy Doo, DJ Boombastic, Afolabi Oyekoya and my humble self decided at the LUTH premises a day after his death should be seriously considered. The proceeds from the concert should be given to the family.
Just like my friend, Gbenga Bada wrote, ‘You lived while you died’. We will miss you brother. If at this tender age you touched lives so much and we are continuously mourning, I keep wondering how it would have been if you only stayed a little longer.
Rest in peace Dagrin!
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