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  Sway Interview
interview 0370 added 30.01.06 words: Ben
Spurr
technical:
QED
Sway Dasafo isn’t so much a breath of fresh air for the UK Hip-Hop scene, he is more like a great big gob full. Although officially still an unsigned artist (through choice rather than lack of interest) Sway managed to pick up the award for ‘Best Hip-Hop Act’ at the last MOBO awards. What makes this such an achievement is that Sway is not only without the backing of a major label, he was also up against global heavyweights The Game and 50 Cent. More amazing still considering his full album is not set to drop until early February. Ben Spurr spoke to Sway before a recent show in Nottingham about everything from Austin Powers to Michael Jackson.
BS: How did you feel about winning the MOBO, some artists play down the success of winning such insider industry awards?
 S: I would never play it down, it was a good look for my career. It was a positive move on behalf of everyone involved and at the end of the day it was normal, it wasn’t going to make or break me but it helped get me a lot more press and things like that. It (the award) also looks alright at my mum’s house!
BS: Do you think it is the way forward for smaller artists to imitate what is happening with artists like yourself on the Grime scene who are just making a way for themselves by promoting their music without using a major label?
S: First of all I wouldn’t say I was Grime. I make Hip-Hop music, I’m as Hip-Hop as any Hip-Hop artist, you understand. I make music and sometimes I experiment and go in to different genres but it’s all still Hip-Hop. The whole independent hustle isn’t for everybody. Not a lot of people are business minded, you have to be a bit multi-talented to do it. You have to have a good team; I wouldn’t be doing stuff on my own, on my own, on my own. Obviously it’s not me walking around everywhere giving people my CDs. You have to get a good team of people that believe in what you’re about to do and let them help propel you to the next level. So independent hustle is good if you’re determined enough.
BS: When will the album ‘This Is My Demo’ be dropping?
S: 6th of February. It will include ‘Up Your Speed’ and ‘Flo Fashion’.
BS: How was your trip to New York and what kind of reception did you get?
S: I went over there for a short amount of time but the impact we made in that short space of time means that I have to go back. I did about three shows over there and I was on radio stations aswell.. They treated me well out there and it was a good move, I made a lot of links out there.
“...I’m actually a shy person, it’s music that’s made me a bit outspoken...”
BS: On some of your mixtapes you seem to make fun of American slang terms and accents, is that because you think a lot of their artists are fronting?
 S: You know what, it’s like retaliation really and truly. They always take the piss and the British things that sell in America are like stereotypical British stuff. They like Austin Powers and stuff like that and he is like a stereotype of a lot of British people. They mould it in to one and make some comedy out of it and no one really does that to Americans. I know that they are the metropolis for entertainment in the world so it’s not a thing about I hate Americans but if they’re going to take the piss, I think it’s about time we take the piss!
BS: You seem quite humble compared to a lot of rappers out there, is that an accurate judgement of character?
S: Yeah, that’s just me by nature and on the other side I’m not near to accomplishing what I want to accomplish within my career so there’s no time for me to start going all diva-ish. I’m actually a shy person, it’s music that’s made me a bit outspoken. There’s too many ego’s in this UK thing, nobodies done shit, no ones done nothing to start having an ego.
BS: So would you not say that the likes of Dizzee Rascal and Mike Skinner have blown up as they have had success in the States?
S: Not as far as they need to be. Like at the end of the day, to really be massive and big, you need Michael Jackson hollering at you! When Michael Jackson hollers at you then you know you are at the pinnacle of what you do. Like the Neptunes for example and Biggie Smalls, Michael Jackson had relationships with these people. So I don’t believe that you are anything massive until Michael Jackson calls you!
“...There’s too many ego’s in this UK thing, nobodies done shit...”
BS: What are your plans for the near future?
S: The albums coming out just to set the year off then it’s going to be everything; DVD’s, you name it. I’m going to be working with other artists aswell, building on the Dasafo camp, a lot of people coming out and there’s going to be a lot of projects I’m going to be on.
BS: Any specific messages for the readers of ukhh.com?
 S: I check out the forum, ‘cos you lot got a forum innit? Sometimes my name comes up and a lot of people kind of like don’t put me up there with the UK hip hop rappers. Like for example when it’s time for the ‘Best UK Act’ vote, you’ve got the Skinnyman’s, the Jehst’s and the Klashnekoff’s kind of thing, more of the grimier people. What people need to realise is what I’ve established in my space of time. You know, off my own back and then listen to my mixtapes and see what I’m doing lyrically before they start putting me down in the scene. Just because I’ve managed to cross-over more than some of these other acts, people don’t put me up there, I’m still an underground act. If you ask any of those underground acts, any one; Jehst, Skinnyman, Klashnekoff and ask them who their favourite UK rapper is, I think you might find a familiar sound.
“...To really be massive and big, you need Michael Jackson hollering at you!...”
BS: I think that as a movement, some of these young up and coming emcees have a lot of good material coming out and that needs representing as well as the Jehst’s and the Braintax’s…
S: You see what Ben yeah…What this UK scene needs to stop flippin’ doing iS: when someone’s doing well, especially the underground, they are still doing the same type of music but as soon as they start appealing to other audiences it’s like they’ve sold out or they’ve lost their underground roots. People need to realise that it’s good for the scene when someone from the scene does well.
Sway’s album ‘This is my Demo’ is out early February and the single ‘Little Derek’ is out now on Dcypha Productions. Also look out for the double mixtape album ‘This is my Promo’ also available now at all good (and a few bad) record stores.
“...Ask any of those underground acts, any one; Jehst,
Skinnyman, Klashnekoff and ask them who their favourite UK rapper is, I think you might find a familiar sound...”
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Ben
Spurr
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