Send "Sway " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Rapreviews |
 After a LONG wait - almost three whole years, a Lil Wayne-shaped eon in hip hop terms - Sway finally returns with his sophomore album "The Signature LP." Whilst he has been releasing tons of free songs through the net, as well as mixtapes, many have argued that a sizeable amount of momentum has been lost since the release of his debut "This Is My Demo" - an album that Matt Jost pretty much nailed in his sterling review back in the mid-Noughties. But he hasn't rested on his laurels, no no. In that time, he hooked up with a whole bunch of famous folk - the most crucial being the serial monogamist Akon. After much confusion, Sway has now allegedly signed a multi-album deal with Akon's "Kon Live" label (Derek, I'd Google the fuck out of that fake-sounding "label" if I were you) - but retains his early Jigga-style right to release his albums on his own Dcypha Productions in the UK and Europe. Got it? Firstly, and most disappointingly, there is no Charlie Boy, his hilarious alter ego. Damn, that's cold... Poor MC CB from Ghana, he who damn near stole the show on his debut. You'd assume that means we're in for a more serious album - and you'd be right, dear Reader. "Signature" is a sprawling sixteen-track opus, combining hip hop with live orchestration, grime, soul, R&B, quick wit and emotion. In fact, the emotional side of the album almost proves overwhelming for Sway - understandably, since he has lost many loved ones over the past two years. On heartbreaking tracks like "Pray 4 Kaya" and "Letters to Heaven," the MC is overcome with emotion, and it may prove a shock to the system for those that only know Sway for his light-hearted side. The Akon connection delayed the release of the album for a few weeks, resulting in another shock song, the late-addition collabo between the two, "Silver & Gold," but more of that later. The album kicks off in style with the monstrous "Fit 4 a King" - imagine the opening title track from "This Is My Demo," but with a 22-piece live orchestra and a "We Will Rock You" drum-clap. Lyrically, Sway is on fire (take that as read for the WHOLE album) and his tongue-twisting raps will dazzle any unfamiliar ears. Next up is one of the stand-out tracks, "Say It Twice" - where he literally repeats himself line after line (albeit in a clever way) in order to cater for the American market that can't understand his accent, pure tongue-in-cheek. It is a stunningly executed song, not to mention a brilliant idea, and helps to provide a knockout one-two opening sequence. We move into the "Obvious Commercial Singles" section of the album next - "Saturday Night Hustle" featuring Lemar. It samples the classic "Saturday Love" from Cherelle featuring Alexander O'Neal - somewhat unoriginally and obviously, though. Sure, it will worm its way into your brain, but, notably, it hasn't made much of a dent in the UK - whilst Dizzee Rascal's bizarrely charming but much riskier "Dance Wiv Me" topped the charts. Next up, the aforementioned collabo with Akon, "Silver & Gold" - a strip-club anthem. Seriously, you read that correctly. Coming from Mr "no guns, drugs or bitches" Sway, it sounds disingenuous and totally out of place - the audio equivalent of that moment you first realised your parents used to have sex....full text |
| Independent |
| With just a few minor exceptions, Sway's wit and charm on The Signature LP bears out the promise of his 2006 debut This Is My Demo. Oddly, the let-downs come at the start, the self-aggrandising babble of "Fit For a King" and "Say It Twice" lacking panache. But the album picks up momentum and depth as it proceeds: "F Ur X" and "Jason Waste" offer droll tableaux of modern life, the amusing contretemps faced by Sway's lazy anti-hero alter ego in the latter demonstrating how much more entertaining he is when self-deprecating than when boasting. "Look After My Girl" and "Walk Away" take brave stands against the numbskull street-culture of wilful antagonism, outlining his refusal to get drawn into stupid beefs over trivial issues of "respect" ("You ain't gonna find me fightin' casually, just to end up in casualty"). "Pray For Kaya" and "Letters to Heaven" offer genuinely moving tributes to lost friends and family members, before "End of the Road" finds a brush with mortality persuading Sway to take stock of his life. Set to sombre piano and strings, or grimey techno grooves as required, they're engaging and provocative demonstrations of the abilities of this homegrown rapper/producer/entrepreneur....full text |
| Contactmusic |
| Sway is back with a new album 'The Signature LP' released on Dcypha Productions. With all the success and recognition of his first album 'This Is My Demo' receiving a Mobo prize Sway has come back in fine form. Indeed 'The Signature LP' shows definite improvement as an MC and some serious skills. 'Fit For A King' and 'Say It Twice' show Twister style emceeing that is very hard to do. 'Say It Twice' is a proper heavyweight track that could only come from UK....full text |
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