Celebrated Nigerian disc jockey DJ Neptune has opened up about the one artist who left an unforgettable impression on him, the late rap legend Da Grin.
In a recent interview on Hip TV, Neptune revealed that out of all the talented artists he’s worked with, Da Grin stood out the most, and his respect for the rapper remains unmatched.
“If there’s one artist I respect so much, it’s Da Grin,” Neptune said, recalling their studio session for the remix of his track ‘123’. “He delivered his verse in just eight minutes. That blew my mind.”
Neptune went on to share that it was the last time he saw Da Grin, who tragically passed away just two days later in a fatal car accident.
The legendary rapper, known for his gritty Yoruba bars and street-conscious lyrics, earned widespread acclaim for his 2009 album ‘CEO’, which became even more successful after his death. His influence remains strong in Nigeria’s hip-hop culture, where he’s celebrated as a pioneer who brought indigenous rap to the mainstream.
DJ Neptune’s admiration for Da Grin is echoed by many fans and artists who continue to honor his legacy.
During the interview, Neptune also touched on his early journey into music, noting how he pursued his passion despite his father’s hopes for him to follow a more traditional career path in engineering.
With a career spanning over a decade, DJ Neptune has built a reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading DJs. He has worked with some of the biggest names in Afrobeats, including Davido, Burna Boy, and Omah Lay. In 2020, his chart-topping hit ‘Nobody’ featuring Mr Eazi and Joeboy became a cultural phenomenon and earned Song of the Year at the Headies Awards.
DJ Neptune’s tribute to Da Grin is a reminder of the late rapper’s enduring impact on Nigerian music and the respect he commands even in death.
