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British-Ghanaian rapper Sway DaSafo has died at the age of 44, with his death confirmed by a close friend and the MOBO Awards.
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Born Derek Andrew Safo, he made history in 2005 as the first unsigned artist to win the MOBO Award for Best Hip-Hop Act.
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His 2006 debut album, ‘This Is My Demo’, earned a Mercury Prize nomination, while his 2012 single ‘Level Up’ reached No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart.
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Sway also collaborated with major artists and helped develop talents including KSI and Tiggs Da Author through his record label and production company.
September 18, (THEWILL) – British-Ghanaian rapper Sway DaSafo has died at the age of 44.
Born Derek Andrew Safo in London, Sway died at his home in Ghana, according to his close friend Kash Ahmad, who confirmed the news to The Guardian.
The MOBO Awards also announced his death on Thursday, September 17. His cause of death has not been disclosed.
Sway celebrated his 44th birthday on September 5, less than two weeks before his death.
He was raised in north London and began his career in the UK’s underground hip-hop scene and on pirate radio before gaining wider attention through BBC 1Xtra.
He made history at the 2005 MOBO Awards when he won Best Hip-Hop Act while still unsigned and without a debut album.
He beat American rappers 50 Cent and The Game to win the award.
In 2006, Sway released his debut album, ‘This Is My Demo’. The project earned a Mercury Prize nomination, placing him among the shortlisted artists that year.
He later had one of his biggest commercial hits with ‘Level Up’. Released in 2012, the song reached No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart and became his highest-charting single.
Sway also worked with major global artists, including Ed Sheeran, Akon, Kano, Mark Ronson and Childish Gambino.
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Through his record label and production company, Dcypha Productions, he helped develop younger talents such as KSI and Tiggs Da Author.
He also explored acting, appearing as Ross Rosten in the British crime series ‘Top Boy’. He featured in the 2012 film ‘The Grind’ as well.
Sway was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, in 2010 and later went into remission following treatment.
He continued making music after his recovery and released projects including ‘The Deliverance’ in 2015.
Tributes have since come from across the music industry.
The MOBO Awards remembered him as an important part of its history, while KSI and other artists have paid tribute to his support and influence.
Sway DaSafo is survived by four children. He was also working on new music before his death, with his final Instagram post shared shortly after his 44th birthday.
Evi-Ben Ezaga is an entertainment and society writer with a passion for stories that explore culture, people, and the stories shaping society today.
