British rapper Sway dies aged 44

British-Ghanaian rapper Sway DaSafo passed away at the age of 44, leaving behind a legacy as one of the first unsigned rappers to win a Mobo Award in 2006. The news was first shared online by the Mobo organization, with his friend Kash Ahmad confirming his death by his home in Ghana. Sway was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2010 and went into remission in the same year.

Born Derek Andrew Safo in London, he was raised in north London and developed his skills on pirate radio before achieving his first break with BBC radio station 1Xtra in 2002. Despite the support from the music industry, Sway remained independent, releasing music through his own label and selling mixtapes at markets and independent shops.

His debut album, This Is My Demo, released in 2006, included the top 40 hit, Little Derek, and earned him a Mercury Prize nomination. Sway's career was marked by collaborations with renowned artists such as Mark Ronson, Ed Sheeran, Akon, and Childish Gambino. He also ventured into acting, appearing in episodes of Top Boy and the film The Grind.

At the time of his passing, Sway was working on new music and raising two sons and twin daughters in Ghana as a single parent. Tributes poured in from fellow musicians and industry figures, praising his talent, positive attitude, and contributions to the UK rap scene.