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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who → continue → album
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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