Sway Dasafo, award-winning British rapper, dies at 44

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Set us as preferred Sway Dasafo, a pioneering British Ghanaian rapper known for his lyric storytelling and championing of British music, has died.He was 44.

The rapper and producer’s death was announced Thursday on social media by the Mobo Awards, which celebrates music of Black origin.Dasafo’s friend Kash Ahmad confirmed to the BBC that he died at his home in Ghana.

No cause of death was provided, but the outlet reported that Dasafo had been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2010 before going into remission later that year.“We’re deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Sway,” Mobo wrote on Instagram.“Sway will always hold a special place in MOBO history.” In 2005, Dasafo became the first unsigned artist to win the Mobo award for hip-hop act before he released an official album.

He won over other established artists including 50 Cent and the Game off the strength of his mixtapes, “This Is My Promo” volumes one and two.“Mixtapes effectively provide a diary of my life,” Dasafo told the Guardian in 2005.

“They feature skits and interviews of me on radio.When people follow your story, they feel closer to you — it’s like a soap opera.

People want to know what’s going to happen next.” Obituaries Duncan Sheik, who earned a Grammy nomination for his ubiquitous 1990s hit “Barely Breathing” and won a Tony Award for composing the music for “Spring Awakening,” died Thursday.“It was a huge moment,” Mobo’s Instagram statement said of Dasafo’s win.

“Not just for Sway, but for UK Hip Hop.At a time when British rappers were still fighting to be recognised alongside their US counterparts, his win made a real statement about the talent, creativity and potential coming out of the UK.

...[W]e will always be proud that he was part of the MOBO story and of the history we shared together.”...