When the Recording Academy, the body behind the prestigious GRAMMY Awards, recently listed “Pon Pon Pon” among the top 10 songs shaping the evolution of Afrobeats, it wasn’t just a nod to a classic.
It was a long-overdue recognition of a cultural turning point in Nigerian music. For many who lived through it, Dagrin’s “Pon Pon Pon” wasn’t just a song—it was a revolution.
Released in 2009, “Pon Pon Pon” marked a defining moment in the Nigerian music landscape. At a time when English-heavy lyrics and Western musical influences dominated the mainstream, Dagrin dared to rap unapologetically in Yoruba, the language of his roots. But it wasn’t just the language that made the song resonate—it was the authenticity. The track served as an unfiltered audio-documentary of life in the gritty streets of Lagos, particularly the neighborhood of Mushin, where Dagrin grew up.
His lyrics, layered with street slang, clever wordplay, and social commentary, painted vivid pictures of hustle, hardship, ambition, and resilience. He told the stories that many young Nigerians knew intimately but rarely heard echoed in mainstream media. In doing so, Dagrin didn’t just speak for the streets—he elevated them. He grabbed the industry by the collar and forced it to listen, to acknowledge, and most importantly, to respect the voice of the average Nigerian youth.
“Pon Pon Pon” was sonically groundbreaking as well. Produced by Sossick, the beat fused traditional Yoruba percussions with hard-hitting hip-hop rhythms, creating a sound that was both familiar and fresh. It was distinctly Nigerian but universally accessible—a hybrid that would come to define the Afrobeats genre in the years that followed. Before terms like “Afro-fusion” and “street-pop” became commonplace, Dagrin was already blending sounds, languages, and stories in a way that defied categorization.
The impact of “Pon Pon Pon” on Nigerian music culture cannot be overstated. It paved the way for an entire generation of indigenous rappers who would later become household names—Olamide, Reminisce, CDQ, and more. These artists picked up where Dagrin left off, using Yoruba and other local dialects to carve out space in a music industry that had previously marginalized them. In this sense, Dagrin didn’t just pioneer Yoruba rap; he democratized Nigerian hip-hop.
Beyond its musical influence, “Pon Pon Pon” holds deep emotional and cultural significance. It captured the spirit of a generation grappling with urban survival, economic hardship, and social injustice. For many listeners, Dagrin wasn’t just a rapper—he was a mirror, reflecting their lived realities with honesty and courage.
Dagrin’s untimely death in a car accident in April 2010, just as he was on the cusp of even greater fame, added a tragic dimension to his legacy. Yet, his music, especially “Pon Pon Pon”, has continued to live on. Over a decade later, the song still resonates with listeners and is often cited in conversations about the evolution of Nigerian music. Its continued relevance is a testament to its foundational role in shaping what we now recognize as the global Afrobeats movement. The Recording Academy’s recognition of “Pon Pon Pon” affirms what fans and cultural critics have long known: the song is more than just a rap hit—it’s a cultural artifact. It represents a critical juncture where Nigerian hip-hop found its voice, its language, and its unapologetic identity. In an era where Afrobeats is topping global charts and Nigerian artists are headlining festivals around the world, it’s important to trace that success back to songs like “Pon Pon Pon”—songs that laid the groundwork for today’s triumphs.