Olamide Credits Late Rapper Dagrin as Major Influence on His Career
In a recent video appearance, Nigerian rapper and record label boss Olamide revealed that the late indigenous hip‑hop artist Dagrin played a pivotal role in shaping his musical journey.
Speaking to fans and viewers, Olamide said that Dagrin’s acclaimed album C.E.O. remains a constant source of inspiration. He explained:
“Dagrin’s ‘C.E.O’ album is a timeless project. That’s the only rap album almost everybody in the south west can sing word for word. Dagrin influenced a lot of rappers, whenever we need motivation, we would go and listen to his album.”
Dagrin, whose full name was Oladapo Olaitan Oladapo and who passed away in an auto crash in April 2010, has been celebrated posthumously as a trail‑blazer for Yoruba dialect rap in Nigeria.
By acknowledging Dagrin’s impact, Olamide underscored the emotional and creative importance of the rapper’s catalogue, not just for himself, but for a broader generation of southwestern Nigerian artists.
This statement adds to Olamide’s standing not only as a successful artist but as someone mindful of his roots in Indigenous rap, and the legacy handed down by predecessors like Dagrin.