It’s almost game time, and USC is readying to take the field. Players go through their final preparations, whether it’s reviewing scouting notes or talking game plan with teammates.
For Olaijah Griffin, the Trojan cornerback needs to listen to one last song. And for that song, he always returns to his roots: “This D.J.” by his father, Warren G.
It’s got a classic West Coast hip-hop vibe to it, with winding synthesizers and deliberate drumming that accentuates his father’s flowing verse and chorus that embody the day-in-the-life vibe of many ’90s rap songs.
Rapper Warren G.'s son Olaijah Griffin could be a 2021 NFL draft pick
The "Regulate" rapper's son could be selected.
USC cornerback Olaijah Griffin has paved his own path in his collegiate career.
But as the 2021 NFL draft approaches, it’s also worth reminding you all that he’s the son of rapper Warren G. of Regulate fame, and — per an article on USC’s site — he’s close with both Snoop Dogg (who was in attendance for the moment he committed to the Trojans) and Dr. Dre. As far as I can tell from mock drafts and projections, it seems like he could be a Day 3 pick in the later rounds.
In 2018, Griffin watched as his dad popped a balloon to announce he was committing to USC, and as I mentioned, there was Snoop!
ESPN 300 DB Olaijah Griffin signed with USC.@SnoopDogg and dad Warren G approved. pic.twitter.com/yCEnwUUVkM
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) February 7, 2018
And if you’re wondering if Olaijah listens to his dad’s music? Here’s an answer via the OC Register:
“It reminds me of myself, because it was my dad who inspired other people and it’s his life story and I feel like it relates to me,” Griffin says. “It turns me up.”
And here’s Warren G. in a 2019 interview with Hop Hop DX talking about his son:
That’s my guy. As a dad, I can’t even begin to explain how cool it is. At first, my other son Warren was better. Olaijah was a water boy in Pop Warner and couldn’t really play. And then he started practicing and was running faster than everybody. He finally got his chance, and when they gave him the ball as a running back that first time, he ran the ball 65 yards for a touchdown and did a frontflip. When I saw that, I thought to myself, ‘he is different.’ Just to support my boys from Pop Warner till now was one of the best things in the world for a dad.
We’ll see what happens next week.