British rapper Sway DaSafo dies aged 44
British-Ghanaian rapper Sway DaSafo, who made history as the first unsigned act to win a MOBO Award, has died aged 44. The MOBO Awards announced his death on 17 September; tributes have been led by KSI.
British rapper Sway DaSafo has died at the age of 44, the MOBO Awards announced on Thursday 17 September.
The awards organisation broke the news in an Instagram post paying tribute to the artist, born Derek Safo, calling his 2005 MOBO win “a huge moment” for UK hip hop. USA Today reports that a close friend told The Guardian he died at his home in Ghana; no official cause of death has been revealed.
DaSafo made history in 2005 when, still unsigned and without a debut album released, he won Best Hip-Hop Act at the MOBO Awards, beating established US stars 50 Cent and The Game. Born in Hornsey, north London, to Ghanaian parents, he went on to score UK chart hits including “Little Derek” and “Level Up”, the latter reaching No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart, and signed to Akon’s Konvict Muzic label. He also appeared in the first two episodes of 2011’s Top Boy as Ross Rosten.
Tributes have poured in, led by KSI — the YouTuber-turned-rapper whom DaSafo mentored and signed to his Dcypha Productions imprint. “You believed in me when many didn’t. You gave me a chance when many didn’t,” KSI wrote. “You were one of a kind man. I wish you were still here.” Top Boy star Kadeem Ramsay, singer Lemar and actor Adam Deacon also paid tribute, Gold Radio reported.
DaSafo was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2010 and went into remission the same year; it is not known whether this was connected to his death.
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