Sway, influential UK rapper, dies aged 44
He was the first unsigned artist to win Best Hip-Hop Act at the MOBO Awards
The artist, born Derek Safo, died at his home in Ghana, according to The Guardian . His cause of death has not been confirmed.
The news was announced yesterday (17th September) by the MOBO Awards on Instagram , prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the music industry. Sway won Best Hip-Hop Act at the 2005 MOBO Awards, making history as the first unsigned artist to take home the prize. The organisation's tribute included footage from his acceptance speech.
“Sway will always hold a special place in MOBO history,” the statement read. “At a time when British rappers were still fighting to be recognised alongside their US counterparts, his win made a real statement about the talent, creativity and potential coming out of the UK.
“Sway went on to leave his mark as an artist and champion of British music, but we will always be proud that he was part of the MOBO story and of the history we shared together,” it continued. “Our love and deepest condolences go out to his family, loved ones, friends and everyone who grew up with and was inspired by his music.”
Safo grew up in Hornsey, North London, where he developed his talents as both a rapper and producer. He began his career performing with collectives including Phynix Crew and One, before releasing a series of solo mixtapes that eventually led to his debut single, ‘Up Your Speed’, featuring Pyrelli.
Sway followed up with ‘Little Derek’, featuring Baby Blue, which became his first single to reach the UK Top 40. The track, which focused on his own talent and growing reputation, was later included on his debut album, ‘This Is My Demo’. The album earned Sway a MOBO Award as well as a Mercury Music Prize nomination.
Sway's next album, ‘The Signature’, arrived in 2008 through Akon's Konvict Music, with Lemar featuring on lead single ‘Saturday Night Hustle’. But as his profile continued to grow, Sway began to struggle with the pressures of fame.
Despite difficulties with “ego, too many lights, and too much confusion”, in 2011 Sway released 'Still Speeding', sampling the Black Box anthem 'Ride On Time' and featuring an appearance from Kano. It became his first Top 20 hit.
The same year, Channel 4 aired the first episodes of Top Boy , with Sway starring as the character Ross Rosten in the opening two chapters. He would later appear in the movies The Grind and The Chase .
More recently, Sway's musical output included work with KSI and Tiggs Da Author, Sam Garrett, Mr Hudson, Ed Sheeran, Riz Ahmed, Tinchy Stryder and Kaiser Chiefs. His last album, ‘Verses From the Vault 2’, was released in 2018.
Tributes have come from across the UK music scene, with rapper Wretch 32 writing: “We lost a real north London rap pioneer. RIP Sway, you’ll be missed by so many. Thank you for everything, brother.”
Meanwhile, YouTuber-turned-rapper KSI, who was mentored by Sway early in his music career, paid tribute to the rapper, saying: “You believed in me when many didn’t and helped me become the artist I am today.”
