UK / Ghanaian rapper and producer Derek Safo – Sway – is an artist who has lingered on the edge of immense success for too long. Starting out as a teenager, he eventually created Dcypha Productions when others wouldn’t give him the opportunity or didn’t recognise the potential that he has. He launched his company with a couple of independent mixtapes before releasing his first album This Is My Demo in 2006. He followed this up with an EP One For The Journey and two more mixtapes. Sway also signed, in 2007, with Akon’s Konvict Muzik.
I had heard a couple of his songs because of family in the UK and, when I heard a friend was coming down from London to SA, I asked for as much music as they could get me, especially Sway’s stuff. What I got was his second album The Signature LP which is a wonderfully put together album taking you through the emotions and the breadth of Sway’s experiences from death to celebration and love.
I was fortunate to meet him briefly last year in Ghana when he was there for the Ghana Music Awards. Watching him freestyle live on DJ Black’s radio show on Joy FM in Accra was too nice and further amplified my admiration for his craft. Truly one of my favourite emcees. Period.
Early this year, he put out The Delivery mixtape for download. If you haven’t got a copy, you need to do yourself a favour and get it. He is said to be working on his third full LP and first release with Konvict. In the mean time, I was recently introduced to SBTV’s F64 and Sway’s freestyle on this is top-notch.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPtesGpiKrk
Sway might just be the next artist from the UK to make it big in the US and beyond and it doesn’t hurt that he always makes sure to remember his roots – Ghana.