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Sway (British musician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Dcypha Productions)

Sway
Also known as
  • Sway Dasafo
Born
Derek Andrew Safo

(1982-09-05)5 September 1982
Accra, Ghana
OriginHornsey, London, England
Died17 September 2026(2026-09-17) (aged 44)
Accra, Ghana
GenreHip hop
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • record producer
  • actor
Years active2004–2026
Labels
  • Dcypha Productions / Island Records
  • 3Beat

Derek Andrew Safo (5 September 1982 – 17 September 2026), better known by his stage name Sway or Sway DaSafo, was a British rapper, record producer, actor and founder of Dcypha Productions.[1]

In 2005, while unsigned, Sway won a MOBO Award for best hip hop artist. He released his debut album This Is My Demo independently in February 2006, receiving a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize and reaching number 38 on the UK Singles Chart with the track "Little Derek". He later reached number 19 and 8 with the singles "Still Speedin'" and "Level Up", in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Life and career

[edit]

Derek Andrew Safo was born on 5 September 1982 in Accra, Ghana, and raised in Hornsey,[2][3] North London by Ghanaian parents Beatrice and Alhaji. He attended Campsbourne Junior School and then Highgate Wood Secondary School,[4] where he spent time learning music production.[citation needed]

Sway cofounded Dcypha Productions with DJ Turkish and 'Jr' Appiah.[citation needed] He then began writing and producing his first official solo releases, This Is My Promo volumes 1 and 2 in 2004.[5]

He became the first unsigned rapper to win a MOBO Award[6] prior to the release of an official album. He released his debut album This Is My Demo independently. It received critical acclaim.[7][8] and, despite a lack of mainstream radio support, sold over 50,000 copies within its first year of release.[9] The album yielded the Al Shux-produced UK top 40 single "Little Derek",[10] was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize[11] and Sway became the first UK rapper to win a BET Hip Hop Award.[12]

In 2008, Sway joined Akon's international Konvict Music label.[13] Sway's second album The Signature LP[14] was released in 2008 through Dcypha Productions. The album included production from Emile Haynie, The Nextmen, and Giorgio Tuinfort.[15] This album was recognized for tracks such as "F UR X" which was a smash UK club record and the international door breaker "Silver & Gold" featuring Akon.[citation needed]

Sway collaborated with singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran.[16] After overcoming some health issues, Sway decided it was time to release new music, and signed a singles deal with 3 Beat Records.[17] Sway's first release on the label "Still Speedin'" was his first top 20 hit.[10] The song was well received, and even received social media support from Nigel Mansell and Lewis Hamilton, who were both mentioned in the song.[citation needed]

He collaborated with many more artists, such as Mark Ronson and Childish Gambino to verses for Ghanaians Sarkodie and Edem.[18] He was also the only other rapper to be featured on Lupe Fiasco's album "Lasers"[19] released in 2011. Sway's next single "Level Up", written with Flux Pavilion, charted at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart.[20]

In 2013, Sway signed Tiggs Da Author and KSI to Dcypha Productions.[21] He featured both new artists on his EP Wake Up, which was his final release on 3beat records.[22] The title track of the EP was produced by former Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe and the track 'Back Someday' featured vocals from Ed Sheeran. In July 2015, Dcypha Productions became an imprint of Island Records.[23]

In the same year, Sway released a long-awaited third album entitled Deliverance, which he described as "an affirmation of my intentions". The album was released with no lead singles or videos, as Sway wanted it to serve its true purpose as "a project to be discovered".[24]

Dcypha signed singer/songwriter Sam Garrett, battle rap champion Lunar C and British and Asian R&B star Arjun to its roster.[25] Dcypha Productions parted ways with Island Records in 2017 and Sway decided to focus on building New Reign Productions whilst maintaining his role as executive producer for KSI and Tiggs Da Author.[citation needed] He later oversaw the signing of Tiggs to the newly formed Alacran music label and established KSI as an independent music artist by releasing his Space EP independently.[citation needed] 2017 also saw the birth of Sway's second child Ammar-Joseph.[citation needed] The birth of his sons inspired him to put together two new albums Songs From The Stash and Stories From The Safe dedicated to them and released in 2019.[citation needed]

Health and death

[edit]

In 2010, Sway was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, which went into remission later that year.[26]

Safo died at his home in Accra, Ghana, on 17 September 2026, at the age of 44.[2][27][28]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Details Chart positions
UK
This Is My Demo
  • Released: 5 February 2006
  • Label: Dcypha Productions
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 45
The Signature LP
  • Released: 5 October 2008
  • Label: Dcypha Productions
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 51
The Deliverance
  • Released: 24 July 2015
  • Label: Dcypha Productions
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 155
Verses from the Vault
  • Released: 26 January 2018
  • Label: Dcypha Productions
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 –
Verses from the Vault 2
  • Released: 26 January 2018
  • Label: Dcypha Productions
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 –
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released.

Extended plays

[edit]
Title Details
Wake Up
  • Released: 20 October 2013
  • Label: 3Beat
  • Formats: Digital download
Songs from the Stash
  • Released: 1 November 2019
  • Label: New Reign Productions Limited
  • Formats: Digital download

Mixtapes

[edit]
  • This Is My Promo Vol. 1 (2004, DCypha)
  • This Is My Promo Vol. 2 (DCypha)
  • This Is My Rave (2006)
  • The Dotted Lines Mixtape (2007, DCypha)
  • One for the Journey (2007)
  • The Signature LP Mixtape (2008, DCypha)
  • The Delivery Mixtape (2010, DCypha)
  • The Delivery Mixtape 2 – Lost in Transit (2010, DCypha)
  • Bring Me to Africa (2010, DCypha)

With the group One

[edit]
  • Onederful World (2002, self-released) – DJ Amaes

Singles

[edit]

As lead artist

[edit]
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
UK
[10][29][30]
2005 "Up Your Speed"
(featuring Pyrelli)		 141 This Is My Demo
2006 "Little Derek"
(featuring Baby Blue)		 38
"Products"
(featuring El-Rae)		 93
2008 "Saturday Night Hustle"
(featuring Lemar)		 67 The Signature LP
2009 "Silver & Gold"
(featuring Akon)		 61
"Mercedes Benz" 53 The Delivery Mixtape
2011 "Still Speedin'" 19 Non-album singles
2012 "Level Up" 8
"Charge"
(featuring Mr Hudson)		 —
2013 "No Sleep"
(featuring KSI and Tiggs Da Author)		 44 Wake Up
2015 "Snap Shot"
(featuring Sam Garrett)		 — The Deliverance
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released.

Promotional singles

[edit]
Year Single Album
2005 "Download" This Is My Demo
2008 "F UR X"
(Feat. Stu$h)		 The Signature LP
2010 "Everyday Valentine" TBA
"Pop a Bottle"
(Feat. Donae'o)

Guest appearances

[edit]
Year Title Album Artist
2004 Cowboys & Indians feat. Sharkey Major & Bigz Cowboy Film Taz
2005 Harvey Nicks A Breath Of Fresh Attire The Mitchell Brothers
2005 Still On My Own Set The Tone Nate James
2005 Whoopsie Daisy (Copenhaniacs Remix) Whoopsie Daisy Terri Walker
2006 Chatterbox The Amazing Adventures Of DJ Yoda DJ Yoda
2006 Ridin' (UK Remix) Ridin' Chamillionaire
2007 Camera Tricks feat. Bridgette Amofah This Was Supposed To Be The Future The Nextmen
2007 Sorry feat. Baby Blue "Sorry" Madness
2007 Get Em High Annie Nightingale Presents Y4K Stanton Warriors
2007 March feat. Kyza Satisfied Verb T & The Last Skeptik
2007 Gimme Some Powerful Music Volume 3 Sincere
2008 The Story Has Just Begun A New Big-Inning Bigz
2008 Hey Girl (Remix) feat. Natty Boii Black Ice Nia Jai
2008 I Won't Tell My Own Way Jay Sean
2008 Call My Name Welcome To Wonderland Wonder
2008 Take Me Back (Remix) feat. Taio Cruz & Chipmunk Take Me Back Tinchy Stryder
2009 Feel Like A King N/A Bigfoot
2009 What You Know Two Fingers Two Fingers
2009 Straw Men Two Fingers Two Fingers
2009 Two Fingers Two Fingers Two Fingers
2009 That Girl Two Fingers Two Fingers
2009 Jewels And Gems Two Fingers Two Fingers
2009 High Life Two Fingers Two Fingers
2009 Not Perfect Two Fingers Two Fingers
2009 Shifty feat. Plan B Shifty Riz MC
2009 It's A Crime Flying High Ali Campbell
2009 Bad Girl Bad Girl Two Fingers
2009 Home Sweet Home Flight Of The Navigator Bigz
2010 Hurting Nightlife Karl Wolf
2010 Ride With Me feat. Michael Essien & Asamoah Gyan Ride Wit Me Sagaboy
2010 Red Handed Red Handed Dzham
2010 The Way We Go The Way We Go Jukey
2010 Julia (Lake Of Stars Remix) feat. Mo Laudi, Lucius Banda & Tay Grin The Very Best Remixes Of The Very Best The Very Best
2010 I'm Fly I'm Fly Donae'o
2010 Mashup The Party Fully Grown Frisco
2010 Yours And My Children (Remix) feat. Black the Ripper & Lowkey Yours And My Children Akala
2010 Back To Biznizz feat. Nicole Jackson Messy K*Ners
2011 Nightmares feat. Wretch 32 No. 5 Collaborations Project Ed Sheeran
2011 Break The Chain feat. Eric Turner Lasers Lupe Fiasco
2011 We Are Africans (Funky Remix) African Dream JJC
2011 I Just Wanna Rock You They Are Among Us Mason
2011 He Said She Said Green Green Grasses Kobi Onyame
2011 Amnesia Amnesia DarrenBailie
2011 Weather Man (Remix) feat. Skwilla & Pyrelli Shooting Star 4 Tempman
2011 Shopaholic feat. McLean Shopaholic Wideboys
2011 This Is The Life This Is The Life Jamie King
2011 Ride With Me feat. Lukie D Super C Season Naeto C
2011 Winchi Winchi feat. Wande Coal & Dotstar Something About You Dr SID
2012 Suuliya Solid Ground Asem
2012 In Your Head (TJM Remix) feat. Ice Prince In Your Head Mohombi
2012 Light Me Up Light Me Up Lonsdale Boys Club
2012 Black Dyanamite SuperTi2bs Ti2bs
2013 Alright TBA Mark Knight
2013 Money feat. Jareth Street Bass Anthems Vol. 6 Starkey
2013 The Poison ft Sway & Tigger Da Author You Guess It Too Mikill Pane
2014 Sweet Sixteen ft Sway Shtick Heads The Midnight Beast

Soundtracks

[edit]
Year Single
2011 Beat The World

Filmography

[edit]
Filmography
Year Show Role Notes Film/Television
2011 Top Boy Ross Rosten 2 Episodes (Season 1, Episode 1 and 2) Television
2012 Illegal Activity Julian (short film) Film
2012 The Grind "Thug" Minor role Film
2013 The Chase Himself Cameo appearance Film

Awards and nominations

[edit]
AwardPrizeResult
MOBO Awards 2005Best Hip HopWon
Urban Music AwardsBest RapWon
Urban Music AwardsBest RapWon
Ghana Music AwardsBest UK ActWon
Blackstars AwardBest UK ActWon
Screen Nation AwardBest Music ActWon
Official Mixtape AwardsMixtape Of The DecadeWon
BET Hip Hop AwardsBest UK Hip Hop ActWon
Mercury Music PrizeAlbum Of The YearShortlisted
MOBO AwardBest Hip HopNominated
BET AwardsBest International ArtistNominated

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Sway Biography". Sway Blog. Archived from the original on 20 May 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  2. 1 2 Risen, Clay (24 September 2026). "Sway Dasafo, Rapper Who Opened New Doors for Global Artists, Dies at 44". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
  3. ↑ Elena, Malkov. "Hornsey rapper Sway at celebration for online youth programme". Tottenham Journal. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "Things You Need To Know About Sway". Capital Xtra. Archived from the original on 5 September 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "Sway". Bucks Music Group Ltd. Archived from the original on 10 July 2026. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
  6. ↑ "Mobo awards 2005: The winners". BBC News. 22 September 2005. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  7. ↑ Dombal, Ryan. "UK MC proves pragmatism and wit can co-mingle on his sadly underrated debut LP". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  8. ↑ Yates, Steve (19 February 2006). "Sway This Is My Demo". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  9. ↑ McGrath, Rachel (18 September 2026). "British rapper Sway dies aged 44". The Independent. Archived from the original on 21 September 2026. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 "SWAY full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  11. ↑ "Mercury Music Prize: The nominees". BBC. 18 July 2006. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "Sway voted 'Best UK Act' for first BET Hip Hop Awards". BritishHipHop. November 2006. Archived from the original on 19 September 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  13. ↑ Youngs, Ian (25 September 2008). "US rap star Akon signs UK's Sway". BBC. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  14. ↑ Young, Tom. "Sway The Signature LP Review". BBC. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "Sway UK – Still Speedin' (Kano Remix) Lyrics". Genius. Archived from the original on 8 January 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  16. ↑ Yanney, Henry. "Ed Sheeran – No. 5 Collaborations Project". Soul Culture. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  17. ↑ "Sway". Lymphoma association. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  18. ↑ Bychawski, Adam. "Kaiser Chiefs: 'Mark Ronson made Sway rap happen". NME. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  19. ↑ Caulfield, Keith. "Lupe Fiasco's 'Lasers' Lands at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on 31 December 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  20. ↑ "Sway: Official Chart Position". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 4 September 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  21. ↑ "GYO Gyimah shoots music for Sway's signed artiste – KSI". Ghana Music. 29 June 2017. Archived from the original on 8 January 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  22. ↑ "Sway Official Chart Positions". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 15 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  23. ↑ "Island Records UK signs Arjun via Dcypha Productions Imprint". Music Business Worldwide. 21 September 2016. Archived from the original on 26 September 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  24. ↑ Nelson, Trevor. "Trevor Nelson". BBC 1xtra. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  25. ↑ "British Tamil Artist Arjun Signs Record Deal With The Same Label That Represents Drake". Tamil Culture. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  26. ↑ Savage, Mark (18 September 2026). "Sway: Award-winning British rapper dies aged 44". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 September 2026. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
  27. ↑ "British-Ghanaian rapper Sway DaSafo dies aged 44". 18 September 2026.
  28. ↑ Owusu, Kofi (17 September 2026). "Sway DaSafo: Veteran British-Ghanaian Rapper Dies, Friend Kream Confirms Online". yen.com.gh. Archived from the original on 18 September 2026. Retrieved 17 September 2026.
  29. ↑ Jhme.co.uk Archived 2009-03-28 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ↑ "Chart Log UK: DJ S – The System Of Life". www.zobbel.de. Archived from the original on 17 December 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2026.
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