Preparing a tribute to on my show was one of the hardest things I’ve done on air. I felt it was important to start the segment with a testament to his significance within the culture, and his importance to me personally. I selected a mix of his genre-defining moments; the singles, remixes, and freestyles. I started the show with ‘Up Your Speed’ and I was immediately overwhelmed, holding back tears. I knew my voice was on the verge of cracking, so I just did short sharp links. Regardless, I firmed it up, and did a tribute that displayed the breadth of Sway’s skill and showmanship.

I’ll admit, I was conflicted. Sway had only just recently passed away the day before. I needed time to process, and reflect. But it was Friday night and I felt compelled to pay homage to one of the world’s greatest rappers. 

It’s difficult to accept that Sway is no longer with us. I have history with him; we shared journeys at different points in our timelines. Years ago, I moved from Manchester to London to pursue my calling to be a DJ. I was good at breaking artists on a grassroots level, and I started the first street teams at major record labels in the UK. In the early ’00s I was offered a role at Mercury Records, Universal to promote the Def Jam roster. I was living the dream. My job was to oversee my favourite artists from the genre that raised me; I was working directly with the label responsible for Public Enemy, with the biggest artists of that time, with unlimited access to precious vinyl. 

I insisted they hire up-and-coming producer Turkish who was on my original street team. We then set up a new street team which was basically the coolest street level work experience and intern program in the industry at that time. Tasks involved flyering, stickering, putting up poster boards, working with DJs, artists, targeting lifestyle locations, etc.

I met Sway when he joined our street team. It was a couple of years before he released his debut single, when he was working with the One collective. He always asked a lot of questions, took in our marketing methods, and understood the importance of building relationships with DJs. Because he came up through the street team, Sway was one of us. Very quickly it went from Sway being on the team, to the team promoting Sway alongside established Def Jam artists like Kanye West, Ludacris, and JAŸ-Z. We wanted Sway to win. 

The first time I clocked Sway’s rapping ability was when I heard his work with The One collective. It was fascinating to see his writing ability develop; how his persona lived within his bars, how his lyricism had substance, wit, and depth. We hadn’t seen that in the UK before. It was clear that Sway was evolving into a special artist. 

One time, me and Turkish were on a train when we got a call from Sway while he was in the studio. He asked us to name some areas for a track that he was working on. As I’m originally from Manchester, I told him to mention the main hoods which were Moss Side and Cheetham Hill. A few months later he released ‘Up Your Speed’ where he mentioned those areas. I don’t know any other rapper that would have done this.    

‘Up Your Speed’ featuring Pyrelli was Sway’s first official release. A timeless, uplifting conscious banger. Everything from the concept of the track to the cover art was a creative statement of intent. It was a highly original rallying call to “Shout out your accent”, and unite the UK. No matter where you’re from, regardless of what you do, Sway urged you to level up, to ‘Up Your Speed’, but please “D D D Don’t kill anybody now”. 

On the incredible ‘Up Your Speed’ pt.2 featuring Chamillionaire, Sway demonstrated that he was a world class artist by effortlessly rapping bar for bar on his own track with one of Houston’s most notable artists at that time. ‘‘ featuring Baby Blue was another novel concept by Sway, one of my favourite tracks by him. It’s an inspirational, introspective number that documents the life and times of Derek Safo, reassuring us that he was “Foine” – his melodic, nonchalant flow was both innovative and unique.

Sway was a hardworking, intensely prolific independent artist. He was across everything, lived the artist life, and was constantly looking for opportunities to amplify his music. If I asked him for a freestyle, he would send me back an incredible 1/1; personalised, and structured with verses and a chorus. 

In 2002, BBC Radio 1Xtra launched. The original line-up of DJs were the foundation of the station, as was Sway. Sway did live or pre-recorded freestyles for every DJ on the station. He constantly hosted interviews across the platform and performed at every live event whenever requested. He knew all the 1Xtra staff and literally had the keys to the building. 

Around the same time, I used to DJ for Dizzee Rascal. Back in 04′ his team were looking for a support act for a forthcoming UK tour. Of course, I suggested Sway. Dizzee and his team added him to the tour line-up. Doing a support slot on a tour isn’t easy; an artist has to cover their own costs, make their own travel arrangements, then perform to an audience that isn’t there to see them. Regardless, Sway handled the business side of things and shutdown each show across the tour.

The street team became Sway’s team. It went from the street team wanting Sway to win, to the culture wanting Sway to win. It felt like everyone was behind him. Real recognises real, which is how Sway forged another transatlantic connection with acclaimed, Grammy-winning rapper Lupe Fiasco. Their debut collaboration ‘’ is a marquee moment in the rap history.

Having constantly played ‘We Love You’ on air, being a fan of both artists, I invited Lupe and Sway to pass by my show and do a freestyle for the culture. As you can see in the video, it was an intense exclusive insight into two lyrical monsters in their prime. Even though Sway said, ”Lupe set it off”, Sway was ready to rap, anticipating his time to spit. He was locked, loaded and ready to go. Look at the way his arms were folded as he listened to every bar, taking in every word. Look at Lupe’s actual spit on the camera lens. This is a real as it gets. This is elite lyricism. This is rap excellence.

Let’s fast forward a few years later, when Sway became a fully-fledged label owner. He did the ultimate forward thinking A&R move, he signed artist and pioneering streamer KSI before most labels were aware that KSI could actually rap. At this point I was trying to bring Sway and his label to Sony Music UK. My brother, friend, and favourite artist grew from a student and mentee to an accomplished artist and label owner. 

For me, it’s hard to accept that Sway is no longer with us. The culture has lost a real one; a family has lost much more. But we must tell his story. Study his music. Decode his bars. Document his legacy and celebrate his artistry.

Sway set a lyrical standard that has yet to be matched. He audaciously demonstrated what could be achieved as an independent artist. He constantly repped his homelands and embraced the artist community. He was a pioneer who laid the foundations for UK rap icons like Dave, Central Cee, and the entrepreneurs that you see today. He lives on through his music. The beats, rhymes and life of Sway Dasofo will continue to inspire future generations of artists across the world to Level Up.

In an age of distraction and disinformation, I want to be overtly clear about what this relentless trailblazer did for our culture. How many UK rap pioneers are you aware of? How many are documented, celebrated, and revered? Not many.

This needs to change.