British rapper Sway, known for his influential work in the UK hip-hop scene and winning the Mobo Award for best hip-hop act in 2005 as an unsigned artist, died at age 44 at his home in Ghana. Born Derek Safo, he rose to fame with singles like "Up Your Speed" and "Little Derek," which broke into the UK Top 40. His career spanned over a decade, during which he collaborated with various artists including Ed Sheeran and Riz Ahmed while running his own label Dcypha Productions.
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Story summary
Derek Safo, better known as Sway Dasafo or simply Sway, a British rapper who won the Mobo award for best hip-hop act in 2005 as an unsigned artist, died at age 44 on March 18th. Born to Ghanaian parents in Hornsey, north London, Sway was celebrated for his independence and versatile rap style that spanned genres like grime and thoughtful hip-hop. His career included chart hits such as "Still Speedin'," which sampled "Ride On Time" and reached the UK Top 20 in 2011, and "Level Up," produced by Flux Pavilion, which hit No. 8 on the charts the following year. Sway's death was confirmed by a close friend, stating that he passed away at his home in Ghana, though the cause of death remains undisclosed.
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The British rapper Sway, who proved inspirational to a generation of Black British musicians thanks to his independence and frank, dextrous storytelling, has died aged 44.
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who → prove → independence
The news was announced by the Mobo awards, with whom Sway won best hip-hop act in 2005, the first unsigned act to do so.
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Sway → announce → act
Our love goes out to his family, loved ones and fans,” the statement read.
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statement → go → family
It was confirmed to the Guardian via a close friend, who said he died at his home in Ghana.
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he → confirm → Ghana
No cause of death has been announced.
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cause → announce → death
Born Derek Safo, and later known as Sway Dasafo, he was born in Hornsey, north London, to Ghanaian parents, and as well as training as a producer, he honed a versatile rap flow that could be deployed on high-tempo grime and club tracks as well as thoughtful hip-hop leaning material.
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that → bear → tracks
That versatility meant that he didn’t fit into any one scene: “UK garage was big at this time but I just couldn’t do it because I never felt the vibe of the scene suited me,” he said.
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he → mean → me
“British hip-hop was just so dry and grey, hiplife was a no-no ‘cause I couldn’t rap in Twi, drum’n’bass just hurts my head sometimes and I can’t sing good so R&B was out the question!
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R&B → rap → question
I never felt at home anywhere.”
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I → feel → home
He started out in the groups Phynix Crew and One, before going solo and releasing a series of mixtapes.
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He → start → mixtapes
Breakout single Up Your Speed was a minor hit, but follow-up Little Derek – a manifesto for his own greatness, celebrating how “he ended up in HMV instead of HMP” – broke the UK Top 40 in 2006.
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he → celebrate → 2006
It became a cornerstone track of his debut album This Is My Demo, which accrued critical acclaim – including a four-star review in the Guardian – and his Mobo award, where he beat the much more established likes of 50 Cent and the Game.
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he → become → Cent
The album was also nominated for the Mercury prize, losing out to the Arctic Monkeys’ debut.
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album → nominate → debut
Safo continued to release via his own Dcypha Productions label but entered into a partnership with Konvict Music, the label from Senegalese-American pop star Akon, who was one of the guests on the next Sway album, 2008’s The Signature LP.
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He later admitted difficulties as his fame grew, citing “ego, too many lights, and too much confusion” around the time of The Signature LP, but continued to embrace a more commercial sound and generated his biggest chart successes: the Ride on Time-sampling Still Speedin’ became his first Top 20 hit in 2011 (and featured a guest verse from Kano), then was outdone by Level Up, produced by dubstep star Flux Pavilion, which reached No 8 the following year.
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which → admit → No
Safo also collaborated with Riz Ahmed, appearing on the Riz MC track Shifty; Ed Sheeran, appearing on his No 5 Collaborations Project EP; was courted for tracks by the US rappers Lupe Fiasco and Chamillionaire; and worked with other British rappers including Tinchy Stryder, Akala, Mitchell Brothers and Donae’o.
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Sheeran → collaborate → Stryder
He also crossed into other genres, guesting on Kaiser Chiefs’ third album Off With Their Heads.
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He → cross → Heads
He nurtured artists on his own label and was instrumental in developing the career of KSI, who went on to have huge success as a YouTuber and musician.
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who → nurture → YouTuber
Safo and KSI had a minor hit together in 2013, No Sleep, featuring another young charge of Safo’s, the rapper Tiggs Da Author.
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Safo → have → Safo
He and his wife Helen married in 2013, and had four children: Jalil, AJ, Inaya and Imara.
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He → marry → children
In a recent social media post Safo described himself as a single father.
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Safo → describe → father
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