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.
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 Derek Andrew Safo was born on 5 September 1982 in Accra, Ghana, and raised in Hornsey, North London by Ghanaian parents Beatrice and Alhaji. He attended Campsbourne Junior School and then Highgate Wood Secondary School, where he spent time learning music production.
Sway cofounded Dcypha Productions with DJ Turkish and 'Jr' Appiah. He then began writing and producing his first official solo releases, This Is My Promo volumes 1 and 2 in 2004.
He became the first unsigned rapper to win a MOBO Award prior to the release of an official album. He released his debut album This Is My Demo independently. It received critical acclaim. and, despite a lack of mainstream radio support, sold over 50,000 copies within its first year of release. The album yielded the Al Shux-produced UK top 40 single "Little Derek", was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and Sway became the first UK rapper to win a BET Hip Hop Award.
In 2008, Sway joined Akon's international Konvict Music label. Sway's second album The Signature LP was released in 2008 through Dcypha Productions. The album included production from Emile Haynie, The Nextmen, and Giorgio Tuinfort. 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.
Sway collaborated with singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran. After overcoming some health issues, Sway decided it was time to release new music, and signed a singles deal with 3 Beat Records. Sway's first release on the label "Still Speedin'" was his first top 20 hit. The song was well received, and even received social media support from Nigel Mansell and Lewis Hamilton, who were both mentioned in the song.
He collaborated with many more artists, such as Mark Ronson and Childish Gambino to verses for Ghanaians Sarkodie and Edem. He was also the only other rapper to be featured on Lupe Fiasco's album "Lasers" released in 2011. Sway's next single "Level Up", written with Flux Pavilion, charted at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart.
In 2013, Sway signed Tiggs Da Author and KSI to Dcypha Productions. He featured both new artists on his EP Wake Up, which was his final release on 3beat records. 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.
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".
Dcypha signed singer/songwriter Sam Garrett, battle rap champion Lunar C and British and Asian R&B star Arjun to its roster. 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. 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. 2017 also saw the birth of Sway's second child Ammar-Joseph. 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.
Health and death In 2010, Sway was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, which went into remission later that year.
Safo died at his home in Accra, Ghana, on 17 September 2026, at the age of 44.
Discography Studio albums 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 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 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 Onederful World (2002, self-released) – DJ Amaes
Singles As lead artist Year Single Peak chart positions Album UKJhme.co.uk 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 singles2012 "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 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 Year Title Album Artist2004Cowboys & Indians feat. Sharkey Major & BigzCowboy FilmTaz2005Harvey NicksA Breath Of Fresh AttireThe Mitchell Brothers2005Still On My OwnSet The ToneNate James2005Whoopsie Daisy (Copenhaniacs Remix)Whoopsie DaisyTerri Walker2006ChatterboxThe Amazing Adventures Of DJ YodaDJ Yoda2006Ridin' (UK Remix)Ridin'Chamillionaire2007Camera Tricks feat. Bridgette AmofahThis Was Supposed To Be The FutureThe Nextmen2007Sorry feat. Baby Blue"Sorry"Madness2007Get Em HighAnnie Nightingale Presents Y4KStanton Warriors2007March feat. KyzaSatisfiedVerb T & The Last Skeptik2007Gimme SomePowerful Music Volume 3Sincere2008The Story Has Just BegunA New Big-InningBigz2008Hey Girl (Remix) feat. Natty BoiiBlack IceNia Jai2008I Won't TellMy Own WayJay Sean2008Call My NameWelcome To WonderlandWonder2008Take Me Back (Remix) feat. Taio Cruz & ChipmunkTake Me BackTinchy Stryder2009Feel Like A KingN/ABigfoot2009What You KnowTwo FingersTwo Fingers2009Straw MenTwo FingersTwo Fingers2009Two FingersTwo FingersTwo Fingers2009That GirlTwo FingersTwo Fingers2009Jewels And GemsTwo FingersTwo Fingers2009High LifeTwo FingersTwo Fingers2009Not PerfectTwo FingersTwo Fingers2009Shifty feat. Plan BShiftyRiz MC2009It's A CrimeFlying HighAli Campbell2009Bad GirlBad GirlTwo Fingers2009Home Sweet HomeFlight Of The NavigatorBigz2010HurtingNightlifeKarl Wolf2010Ride With Me feat. Michael Essien & Asamoah GyanRide Wit MeSagaboy2010Red HandedRed HandedDzham2010The Way We GoThe Way We GoJukey2010Julia (Lake Of Stars Remix) feat. Mo Laudi, Lucius Banda & Tay GrinThe Very Best Remixes Of The Very BestThe Very Best2010I'm FlyI'm FlyDonae'o2010Mashup The PartyFully GrownFrisco2010Yours And My Children (Remix) feat. Black the Ripper & LowkeyYours And My ChildrenAkala2010Back To Biznizz feat. Nicole JacksonMessyK*Ners2011Nightmares feat. Wretch 32No. 5 Collaborations ProjectEd Sheeran2011Break The Chain feat. Eric TurnerLasersLupe Fiasco2011We Are Africans (Funky Remix)African DreamJJC2011I Just Wanna Rock YouThey Are Among UsMason2011He Said She SaidGreen Green GrassesKobi Onyame2011AmnesiaAmnesiaDarrenBailie2011Weather Man (Remix) feat. Skwilla & PyrelliShooting Star 4Tempman2011Shopaholic feat. McLeanShopaholicWideboys2011This Is The LifeThis Is The LifeJamie King2011Ride With Me feat. Lukie DSuper C SeasonNaeto C2011Winchi Winchi feat. Wande Coal & DotstarSomething About YouDr SID2012SuuliyaSolid GroundAsem2012In Your Head (TJM Remix) feat. Ice PrinceIn Your HeadMohombi2012Light Me UpLight Me UpLonsdale Boys Club2012Black DyanamiteSuperTi2bsTi2bs2013AlrightTBAMark Knight2013Money feat. JarethStreet Bass Anthems Vol. 6Starkey2013The Poison ft Sway & Tigger Da AuthorYou Guess It TooMikill Pane2014Sweet Sixteen ft SwayShtick HeadsThe Midnight Beast
Soundtracks Year Single2011Beat The World
Filmography Filmography Year Show Role NotesFilm/Television2011Top BoyRoss Rosten2 Episodes (Season 1, Episode 1 and 2)Television2012Illegal ActivityJulian(short film)Film2012The Grind"Thug"Minor roleFilm2013The ChaseHimselfCameo appearanceFilm
Awards and nominations Award Prize Result MOBO Awards 2005 Best Hip Hop Won Urban Music Awards Best Rap Won Urban Music Awards Best Rap Won Ghana Music Awards Best UK Act Won Blackstars Award Best UK Act Won Screen Nation Award Best Music Act Won Official Mixtape Awards Mixtape Of The Decade Won BET Hip Hop Awards Best UK Hip Hop Act Won Mercury Music Prize Album Of The Year Shortlisted MOBO Award Best Hip Hop Nominated BET Awards Best International Artist Nominated
References
External links
Sway interview on LeftLion.co.uk