Stingomania’s
frontline act, Oladimeji Umoru, who is also known as Trybson, has a
sociology degree from the University of Ilorin.
The hip hop act
who, until now, was known only for his debut album ‘Dudukoko’, is
currently getting positive media attention for playing the lead role in
the Ope Banwo-produced Dagrin biopic, ‘Ghetto Dreamz’, which premieres
today at the Silverbird Cinema. X2 speaks to Trybson on the challenges
of trying to replay the life of an old friend.
Is this your first movie project?
I have done a
project with Funke Akindele, ‘The Ransom’, and I have also been
involved in some stage dramas back in school but this is my first as a
lead character.
What was it like to play your first lead role?
It brings a mixed
feeling because Dagrin was my friend before he died, now playing him in
a biopic movie is kind of emotional but I thank God all the same.
How close were you to Dagrin before he passed?
We were friends but
not really close ones because we were both pursuing our respective
careers. It was when we were getting to hang out more that he passed.
How does the on-screen Dagrin compare to the Dagrin that you knew?
I gave the acting
my best shot from what I remembered about the kind of person he was.
The character majorly was about his lifestyle, the kind of hustle he
involves himself in. It wasn’t really hard putting things together for
me except for when I have to learn his lyrics to act a studio scene in
the movie. The Dagrin story is similar to a lot of aspiring musicians
like myself too. At a point, the movie was more like talking about me;
it was like telling my own story.
Do you see the Dagrin you knew in the character you played?
Yes I think the movie is a fair interpretation of Dagrin. It centers mostly on his hustles, his short success and his death.
How would you describe the character you played?
The character is a
self-believing hustler that refuses to give up in the face of letdown
and lack of support from family. He still achieved his dream in the
face of all that. His restless nature was also interpreted in the movie.
Having
experienced Dagrin’s life the way you did, will you say he lived a
fulfilled life or would he have regrets about certain things?
I don’t believe he
lived his life to the fullest he would have wanted to. He never got to
see his dream of going on tour in Europe and America fulfilled. It is a
shame he never left the shores of the country before he died. He still
also did not live long enough to receive the awards that poured in
after he died.
