Sway’s evident skill and self-promotion helped him win MOBO for Best Hip Hop Act last year despite being ‘unsigned’ (whatever that means today).

We’ve already covered the single ‘Little Derek’ and the hard-edged tale of domestic violence ‘Pretty Ugly Husband’, so what’s the rest of the album like?

Like Kano’s album, it’s not ‘pure’ hip hop. It covers a range of styles probably as it’s part self-produced and part produced by by DJ Shux and Terror Danjah. It also features a host of guests from the ‘grime’ scene and the totally soulful Nate James.

The title track is the Sway anthem for this “African boy with an English accent”; but don’t expect to see him in the Ghanaian swimming squad.

What comes across is that that this guy is quick-witted and likes a joke, often at his own expense, often at the expense of others (check ‘Hype Boys’, “not even a Jamiroquai hat could fit my ego”).

Reviewed: Sway - ‘This Is My Demo’ (All City Music) Cat. No: ACM1005 CD Release date: 06 Feb 2006

Tracklisting:
1. This Is My Demo (6:00)
2. Products (3:30) Vocals - El-Rae
3. Hype Boys (5:07) Featuring - Bigz
4. Little Derek (5:16) Featuring - Baby Blue (2)
5. Pretty Ugly Husband (3:41) Vocals - El-Rae and Latoya
6. Flo Fashion (3:37) Additional Vocals Lumes , Selicia
7. Up Your Speed (2:56) Featuring - Pyrelli
8. Download (4:42)
9. Loose Woose (4:09) Featuring - Bigz , Haydon , Pyrelli
10. Sick World (4:02) Vocals - Sewuese and Mark Pusey
11. Still On My Own (3:11) Vocals - Nate James
12. Back For You (3:44) Featuring - Haydon and NY
13. Slo Down (4:48)
14. Month in the Summer (3:49)

Tour:
Feb 27 2006 9:00P Assembly Rooms, Derby (Under 18s) Derby
Feb 28 2006 9:00P Theatre Royal Centre, Nottingham (Under 18s) Nottingham
Mar 2 2006 9:00P The Pad, Bedford Bedford
Mar 7 2006 9:00P Lovedough, Newcastle Newcastle
Mar 8 2006 9:00P Academy 3, Manchester Manchester
Mar 10 2006 9:00P Islington Academy London
Mar 17 2006 9:00P Rescue Rooms, Nottingham Nottingham
Mar 23 2006 10:00P Shoestring @ The Fez, Bristol Bristol
Mar 24 2006 8:00P Consortium, Bournemouth Bournemouth
Mar 29 2006 9:00P Fibbers, York York

Links:
www.swaydasafo.com
www.myspace.com/swaydasafo
The Guardian: Friday 10 Feb 2006 - Sway’s top 3 love songs: Michael Jackson - ‘Liberian Girl’ - Madness - ‘It Must Be Love’ - The Commodores - ‘Easy (Like A Sunday Morning)’
London: City Showcase Sept 2005