Di award-winning British-Ghanaian rap artist Sway DaSafo don die at di age of 44. News first land online from di Mobo organisation, and di musician friend Kash Ahmad confirm am to BBC say he die for him home for Ghana. Dem never announce any cause of death.
Sway become di first unsigned rapper to win Mobo Award, and for 2012 he get top 10 hit with di single Level Up. Before dat, dem diagnose am with Hodgkin lymphoma for 2010, but he enter remission later dat year.
Dem born am as Derek Andrew Safo for London, though na accidental, wen him mama stop-over between Amsterdam and her native Ghana. After small time for her homeland, dem raise am for north London and he sharp his craft on pirate radio. He talk say BBC radio station 1Xtra give am him first break for 2002.
He come out during di first wave of grime, alongside artists like Dizzee Rascal and Lethal Bizzle, but he stand apart because of him witty, literate style. He tell Guardian say he be positive person and di positivity dey come out for him music. He talk say he no dey hold gun to people head, so he no go rap about holding gun to people head.
Even with plenty interest from music industry, he remain independent. He release music on him own label and sell mixtapes for markets and independent record shops. For September 2005, he make headlines wen dem name am best hip-hop act for di Mobo awards, beating US heavyweights like 50 Cent and The Game.
Di following year, he release him debut album This Is My Demo, with di top 40 single Little Derek, wey celebrate how he end up in HMV instead of HMP. Although di album stop at number 78 for charts, e earn am nomination for Mercury Prize, alongside acts like Arctic Monkeys and Muse. For 2006, he support The Streets on UK tour and appear alongside frontman Mike Skinner on Mitchell Brothers single Harvey Nicks.
But for 2010, DaSafo receive Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis. He later recall say e feel like dem drop am middle of sea with no lifejacket. He talk say he no get time to think how he go reach other side, he just deal with am. After chemotherapy and radiotherapy, he enter remission, and release him biggest hits Still Speedin’, wey sample Black Box Ride On Time, and Level Up, with verse from Kano, for 2012.
He enjoy more critical and commercial success with albums like Deliverance and Verses from the Vault. He collaborate with artists like Mark Ronson, Ed Sheeran, Akon and Childish Gambino. Through him record label Dcypha, he sign and develop artists including Tiggs Da Author and KSI. All three appear on 2013 single No Sleep, and KSI go on become successful YouTuber with music side.
DaSafo also try acting career, appear for two episodes of crime drama Top Boy and 2012 film The Grind. At di time of him death, he dey work on new music. Him final Instagram post, wey he share last week, celebrate him 44th birthday. He leave behind two sons, Jalil and Ammar-Joseph, and twin daughters, Queen-Inaya and Queen-Imara. At di time of him death, he dey raise dem as single parent for Ghana, him friend Kash Ahmad tell BBC News. Kash Ahmad talk say na honour and pleasure to don know and work with am, and him thoughts and prayers dey with family.
Other tributes come from Mitchell Brothers, wey write say dem privileged to work with am and praise Sway true penmanship level and delivery. Rapper and record label executive Kardinal Offishall talk say e hit am like ton of bricks, and he say rest in eternal peace and God cover him babies. So Solid Crew Megaman just post RIP. The Mobo Awards talk say dem proud to have am as part of dia history and send love to him family, loved ones and fans. Singer Lemar talk say him talent no get bounds and e blessed to share stage with am. Rapper Baby Blue post for Instagram say for him heart e worry dis day dey come but e no prepare for reality of losing Sway. He call Sway him confidante wey guide am through plenty of him life musically and personally. Broadcaster Remi Burgz, wen she break news to her listeners on BBC Radio 1Xtra, talk say na sad day for British music. She call am UK Rap pioneer and one of north London finest. She talk say he be her and many others first experience of UK rap and hip-hop for mainstream media, and he show say UK rap can take up space for music. She call for rest in perfect peace to Sway.
