sway in the morning Archives

Cold 187um Claims He Created G-Funk & Got Snoop Signed To Death Row (Video)

Last week, Above The Law's Cold 187um released his single "Legacy" featuring Ice Cube and The D.O.C. Premiering at Ambrosia For Heads, the track marked a full-circle reunion with the Pomona, California production and rapping icon with two of his former Ruthless Records label mates. Having just released his The... Read more

October 11, 2016 Video

Ed Gordon Recalls Building Closeness With Tupac After Questioning His “Thug” Life (Video)

Tomorrow (September 13), veteran broadcast journalist Ed Gordon will launch his new, self-titled series for Bounce TV. Throughout the last 30 years, the Detroit, Michigan native has been a pillar of news and information, as a longtime host and correspondent on BET, plus contributor to "60 Minutes," "Today," and other... Read more

September 12, 2016 Video

Daylyt Usually Rhymes A Cappella But He Wrecks 5 Beats With This Freestyle (Video)

Last week, Watts, California MC Daylyt gave a wildly compelling interview on Sway In The Morning. There, the highly prominent, often controversial battle rapper spoke about the violence in his city, why his peers have two options in the industry, and his unique relationships with Eminem and Drake. While at... Read more

September 7, 2016 Video

Daylyt Explains His Face Tattoo & Its Much Deeper Than You Think (Video)

In recent years, the interest driving the sport of Battle Rap rivals that of mainstream Hip-Hop. While there are no album sales to track, and less resources to hype a career (the daily stream of songs and videos), Hip-Hop superstars (Eminem, Drake) are showing that they personally are excited by... Read more

September 6, 2016 Video

Vic Mensa & Joey Purp Smash A Rhyme Routine Like Vintage Run-D.M.C. (Audio)

Beyond hard beats and tougher than leather exteriors, part of what made Run-D.M.C. so great was the way they delivered their lines. Run and D each had their own distinctive styles, but rather than simply adhere to the verse/chorus/verse formula to which most MCs are rigidly bound these days, the... Read more

August 8, 2016 Audio

Taylor Bennett’s Song Highlights How Chance The Rapper Really Is His Brother’s Keeper

Last week, Taylor Bennett made Hip-Hop history as the first MC to double up on Sway In The Morning's "5 Fingers Of Death" freestyle challenge. "10 Fingers Of Death" definitely requires two hands, especially to clap it up for the unsigned Chicago, Illinois MC—who happens to be the younger brother... Read more

August 2, 2016 Audio

Tavis Smiley Explains Why Brexit Could Mean America’s Downfall (Video)

Tavis Smiley is a celebrated journalist, interviewer, radio personality, author, and business man whose illustrious career has lasted for more than two decades. As a recent guest on Sway in the Morning, he brought to the table his insight on a far-reaching selection of topics, as his expertise is well... Read more

June 28, 2016 Lifestyle

Vic Mensa’s Freestyle Causes Sway To Destroy His Studio (Video)

For MCs looking to demonstrate their extemporaneous flow skills, there are few platforms as significant as Sway's "5 Fingers of Death." Much like the clout earned in the "Unsigned Hype" column in the Source a generation ago, this freestyle challenge is, for many Heads, a way to check for who... Read more

June 15, 2016 Video

De La Soul Say “Selling Out” In The ’80s Is Seen As “Extensive Branding” Today (Video)

De La Soul were guests on Sway In The Morning today (June 7). Joining Kaytranada, the Long Island, New York trio discussed their upcoming August 26 album, And The Anonymous Nobody, the genesis of the Native Tongues movement, and why De La Soul may have been pioneers of what it... Read more

June 7, 2016 Video

Common Premieres 2 Powerful New Verses From His Upcoming Album (Video)

Today (May 31) Common was a guest on Sway In The Morning. In the last year and a half, Common has added Oscar awards, Golden Globe awards, and another Grammy to his stash of trophy accolades. Meanwhile, he put a beef to bed and made a blockbuster film and a... Read more

May 31, 2016 Video

Mistah F.A.B. Slam Dunks His 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle Like A Warrior (Video)

Tonight (May 26), the Golden State Warriors aim to strike back against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 at home. The 9:00pm EST match-up prompted Bay area native Sway Calloway to bring some home-team turf talk into Sway In The Morning. Mistah F.A.B., who also has an album dropping... Read more

May 26, 2016 Video

Freeway & Scholito Freestyle On Sway In The Morning (Video)

Today (April 29), Freeway releases his fifth studio LP, Free Will (which is available for full stream). The North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania MC appeared on Sway In The Morning to celebrate the Babygrande Records release. With him, he brought his New Rothschilds protege, MC/producer Scholito. Freeway comes from the State Property... Read more

April 29, 2016 Video

On A Great Night For Cali, Planet Asia Is Another Agent Of State Pride (Video)

Planet Asia's career benefited greatly from Sway & King Tech's The Wake Up Show. When P.A. (along with Jurassic 5) were Interscope Records label picks from the West Coast Hip-Hop Underground, they got massive spots on 1999's This Or That, the hallmark album from Sway, Tech, and DJ Revolution. In... Read more

April 13, 2016 Video

Token Gets His Big Shot & Freestyles Like His Life Depends On It (Video)

On Friday (April 1), Salem, Massachusetts' Token was a guest on the Sway In The Morning Show. There was no fooling when the 17 year-old MC introduced himself with a few words about his 12 years of rhyming. At the 7:00 mark, the MC stands up and quite literally, delivers:... Read more

April 4, 2016 Video

Joey Bada$$ Makes The 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle Into A Fist & Puts It On Troy Ave (Video)

It has been a big month for Brooklyn, New York Hip-Hop. After 2015 saw albums by Joey Bada$$ (B4.Da.$$) and Troy Ave (Major Without A Deal), the men began a social media back-and-forth regarding sales versus status that soon escalated. Last month (February 29), Troy brought the late Capital STEEZ... Read more

March 29, 2016 Video

Wyclef Jean Freestyles Off The Top Of The Head…In 5 Different Languages (Video)

As one third of The Fugees, Wyclef Jean is one of the most successful artists in Hip-Hop. In his solo career and with the group, Jean has sold tens of millions of albums and garnered numerous Grammy Awards. He is also among Hip-Hop's elite in talent, with his ability to... Read more

March 25, 2016 Video

Daddy-O Says “Rakim Told The Biggest Lie In Hip-Hop,” In An Unfiltered Interview (Video)

Professor Daddy-O is an MC/producer who has been actively working for 30 years. The front man for 1980s Brooklyn, New York pioneers Stetsasonic, Daddy-O would help introduce the world to Prince Paul (the group's DJ and one of its producers), as well as Mary J. Blige, Lil' Kim, and others.... Read more

March 10, 2016 Video

Mister Cee Explains Why Biggie’s “Ready To Die” Sounds Like 2 Different Albums

This morning (March 9), Brooklyn, New York DJ/producer/radio personality Mister Cee appeared on Sway In The Morning. On the 19th anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.'s tragic (and unsolved) murder, Cee recalled his hand in turning a street-corner MC into arguably Rap's greatest ever. Beginning the interview, Mister Cee recalls friend... Read more

March 9, 2016 Throwback

Royce 5’9″ Discusses “The Most Significant Day Of His Life” & Debuts 2 New Songs (Video)

On the heels of announcing the forthcoming release of Layers (April 15), his first solo album in nearly 5 years, Royce 5'9" paid a visit to the Sway in the Morning show to premiere the album's lead single, "Tabernacle." Over the course of a nearly 35-minute interview, Royce would play... Read more

March 3, 2016 Video

Viola Davis Gets Real With Sway About Hollywood’s Race Problem (Video)

Viola Davis is no stranger to the inner workings of Hollywood and has experienced the benefits and the difficulties of a successful career. Last year, she made television history as the first Black woman of any nationality to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. How... Read more

February 25, 2016 Lifestyle

Kanye West Explains Why He Blew Up On Sway & Just How Deep The Question “HOW SWAY??” Was

Throughout the last dozen years, Kanye West lyrics have dealt a lot with wealth and finances. On The Life Of Pablo, "No More Parties In L.A." is a series of verses: "A 38-year-old eight-year-old with rich nigga problems / Tell my wife that I hate the Rolls so I don't... Read more

February 17, 2016 Food for Thought

Macklemore & Sway Have an Incredibly Deep & Important Conversation About White Supremacy (Video)

Since releasing "White Privilege II" on January 22, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have re-ignited a generations-old discussion about race that has become a maelstrom surrounding the notion of the White versus Black experience in the United States as it exists today. Against the current backdrop of affairs, the conversation is... Read more

January 26, 2016 Lifestyle

Pusha T Interviews With Sway & Spits A Verse For MCs Who Act Like They Don’t Know (Video)

Last Thursday (December 17), Pusha T was a guest on Sway In The Morning. There, just hours before King Push: Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude, the Clipse co-founder got really deep about his 2015 headspace. Before leaving, and after 40 minutes of nuggets, Push' spit a freestyle that was very... Read more

December 21, 2015 Video

Redman Performs Mudface Songs For The 1st Time & Adds Some Classics (Video)

Redman recently promoted his Mudface album with an appearance on Sway's Universe. There, the Newark, New Jersey MC connected with Sway, Brick City homie Heather B, and Tracy G for some "very original" interview questions, and an in-studio performance that had the hosts rockin'. The segment begins with Redman breaking... Read more

November 16, 2015 Video

Puff Daddy Says New York Is Reclaiming Its Sound & Asserts He Is #1 Hip-Hop Producer (Video)

On his 46th birthday (November 4, 2015), Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs spent the early hours with Sway In The Morning. There, the Bad Boy Records founder and CEO spoke about his MMM (Money Making Mitch) release, which released online later that day (and is available for stream below). Additionally, the... Read more

November 10, 2015 Video

D12 Discuss Their History With Eminem, Battle Rap, Their New Mixtape & Freestyle (Video)

D12 is an appropriate guest for a Halloween week edition of Sway In The Morning. Swifty McVay, Bizarre, and Kuniva swung through the kick it with Sway Calloway and Heather B, for what is one of the Dirty Dozen's best interviews. In celebration of their upcoming Devil's Night Mixtape (October... Read more

October 29, 2015 Video

Andy Mineo Defeats the 5 Fingers of Death With a Biblical Freestyle (Video)

Andy Mineo returned to the Sway in the Morning show in promotion of his new album, Uncomfortable, which will be released on September 18. For many, Andy's profile grew exponentially, after his standout freestyle on Sway's RapFix Live in December of 2013. Mineo is a Reach Records artist and, like... Read more

August 21, 2015 Video

Freestyle Aside, Eminem Dropped “Infinite” Jewels On Sway (Audio)

Last week, Eminem stormed the Sway In The Morning show, throwing Southpaw promotion, and delivering one T.K.O. of a freestyle. However, there was a whole hour of the diamond-certified-selling MC at Sway, and Heads may have missed the rare interview. What makes the interview especially notable is the superstar went... Read more

July 27, 2015 Audio

Eminem’s Latest Freestyle is an Exercise in Lyrical Stamina (Audio)

Since being named the winner of AFH's user-generated GOAT competition, Eminem has been busy promoting Southpaw, a Boxing film starring Jake Gylenhaal and 50 Cent, and for which he is the soundtrack's executive producer. Previously slated to become an honorary member of N.W.A. as he joins them on their forthcoming... Read more

July 23, 2015 Audio

R. Kelly Is Not Afraid of 5 Fingers Of Death. Catch The Kellz Freestyle (Video)

R. Kelly is often said to improvise many of his hits. Sitting at the keyboard, the 25-year veteran freestyles those very melodies and choruses that have changed the sound of R&B, and presumably created a few lives too. Somebody who is not often in the media, Kellz swung through today's... Read more

July 16, 2015 Video

Meek Mill Pops A Wheelie & Rides Through His 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle (Video)

Meek Mill may be an acquired taste to some. However, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania veteran brings an impassioned delivery without failure, no matter what the track's vibe is. That's what makes the Maybach Music Group MC's appearance on Sway In The Morning so interesting. Meek Millie takes 5 Fingers Of Death... Read more

July 2, 2015 Video

Locksmith Freestyles So Hard He Scares the Beat Away…And He Has A Message (Videos)

Richmond, California's Locksmith, a rapper who established himself early on as a vicious lyricist while partaking in MTV's MC Freestyle Fellowship, has served up not one, but two helpings of nasty freestyling. In celebration of yesterday's release of his Lofty Goals album, he took to the airwaves to remind Heads... Read more

July 1, 2015 Video

King Los Rips What May Be the Best Freestyle of the Year…Off the Top (Video)

King Los has been responsible for some of the best freestyle moments of the last several years. Just as Supernatural, J.U.I.C.E., Eminem, Crooked I, and Canibus helped certify The Wake Up Show in the 1990s, the Baltimore, Maryland MC legitimized Sway's latest platform with off-the-top bars that drove clicks, interest,... Read more

June 24, 2015 Video

Lil Dicky TORCHES a Sway in the Morning Freestyle. Bars Like Federal Prison…(Video)

Lil Dicky is a funny MC. He smiles, cracks jokes and has a good time with his rapping. But, when it's about those bars, he is deadly serious. Many first saw Dicky in his hilarious video for "Ex-Boyfriend," a song where he comically vents about the insecurities he as about... Read more

June 13, 2015 Video

Why Did Jay Z Sign Vic Mensa? Watch His Blackout Freestyle Over Roc Boys (Video)

Less than halfway into 2015, it's already been a monster year for Vic Mensa. The multi-talented Chicago MC has collaborated with Kanye West twice, and was recently signed to Jay Z's Roc Nation. To some, the signing may have been a surprising move, but for Heads who have followed Mensa... Read more

May 15, 2015 Video

Tish Is the First Woman MC to Do the 5 Fingers of Death Freestyle. She CRUSHES It (Video)

Tish Hyman is a rare talent who is on the verge of exploding. The Bronx, NY artist is one of the select few who is equally and supremely gifted at both rapping and singing. Her single, "Subway Art," showcases the latter more heavily, but do not be fooled. As an... Read more

May 8, 2015 Video

Tech N9ne & Eminem Break Down Their New Collaboration On Sway In The Morning (Video)

People are still reacting to the new Tech N9ne single, "Speedom (Worldwide Choppers 2)" featuring Eminem & Krizz Kaliko. Tech N9ne was just on Sway in the Morning a few days ago to talk about his upcoming album, Special Effects, and he returned to the show on April 20 to... Read more

April 20, 2015 Video

Tech N9ne Opens Up About Mother’s Passing, Confirms Latest Eminem Collabo (Video)

Tech N9ne is gearing up to release his 15th album, Special Effects on May 4, 2015. To promote the album, he stopped by Sway In The Morning to give some details behind it, including guest appearances and the content in the music. They start the interview off by talking about... Read more

April 16, 2015 Video

DJ Premier Is a Supreme Producer But Can He Rap? Nah, But Here’s a Dope Interview (Video)

While at SXSW, PRhyme, DJ Premier & Royce Da 5'9", stopped by for a special edition of Sway in the Morning. They spoke on a litany of new topics, including new music Royce and Preemo are listening to (2:30), Royce's newfound hunger as an MC (5:30), Premier's idiosyncrasies (6:50), similarities... Read more

April 4, 2015 Video

Chris Rivers DESTROYS the Mic on Sway In The Morning (Video)

Chris Rivers (f/k/a Baby Pun) recently stopped by the Sway In The Morning show to chop it up. Before getting to possibly one of the best freestyles the show has seen, Sway starts off by talking about how Rivers' father, the legendary Big Pun helped him establish himself as a... Read more

April 4, 2015 Video

Rapper Big Pooh Talks Words Paint Pictures, History With Little Brother and Kicks a Freestyle (Video)

Rapper Big Pooh stopped by the Sway in the Morning show to promote his stellar Words Paint Pictures joint project with Apollo Brown. Pooh spoke about how he, Phonte and 9th Wonder met before forming Little Brother, as well as the current status of their relationship. He also spoke generally... Read more

March 31, 2015 Video

Charles Hamilton Takes Over a Jay Z Classic With a Complex Off the Top Freestyle (Video)

A couple of weeks ago, Charles Hamilton slayed Sway's Five Fingers of Death Freestyle challenge. He went completely off the top for nearly 7 minutes over not five but EIGHT different beats. At the end, he said he wanted one more...and the video cut off. Now, that last freestyle has... Read more

March 29, 2015 Video

Yazz The Greatest aka Hakeem from Empire is a Real MC. Just Watch His Freestyle (Video)

Many do not know the name Yazz the Greatest, but the name Hakeem Lyon, along with the hit show Empire, has taken the nation by storm. Before embodying Hakeem, Bryshere Gray was an MC from West Philadelphia who went by the name Yazz the Greatest. Yazz recently visited the Sway... Read more

March 23, 2015 Video

Charles Hamilton Has Everything To Prove In A 5 Fingers Of Death Freestyle (Video)

Five years ago, Charles Hamilton was seemingly on top of the world. The Harlem, New York MC who happens to be MC Lyte's cousin had inked a deal with the dominant Interscope Records. Hamilton was releasing spotlight-grabbing mixtapes at a breakneck speed. Along with peers Wale, B.o.B., and Asher Roth,... Read more

March 12, 2015 Video

Dame Dash Lets Sway Ask Him Anything & The Tables Seem To Turn (Video)

Whether he's running Roc-A-Fella Records, producing films, or pursuing fashion, publishing, and independent record labels like DD172 and BluRoc, Damon Dash is entertaining. One part Martin Scorsese character, one part Nikki Barnes, Dame's fast-talking, street-informed style has absolutely changed the face of the Hip-Hop culture over the last 20 years.... Read more

March 4, 2015 Video

Watch Wayne Brady SMASH This Sway Freestyle on the Craziest Topics (Video)

Wayne Brady is an unbelievable talent. The comedian/actor/singer/host/MC returned to Sway in the Morning to promote his recent gig as host of BET Honors. Though he is not a full-time rapper, Brady is known for his ability to get busy on the mic, "off the top." In fact, Brady was... Read more

February 27, 2015 Video

The Blazers’ Damian Lillard is an All-Star on the Court & The Microphone. Watch Him RAP! (Video)

Basketball and Hip-Hop have always had a strong connection, and since it's NBA All-Star Weekend in New York City, the birthplace of Hip-Hop, what better time for a baller to showcase his MC skills? Two-time NBA All-Star and former Rookie Of The Year Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers... Read more

February 14, 2015 Video

Jarren Benton Sets 2015 Off With One Of The Better Freestyles You’re Gonna Hear (Video)

Funk Volume's pedigree for bigger than life lyricism is strong—especially on a label co-founded by Hopsin. One to watch though, is Georgia's Jarren Benton. A true Rap outcast/cool-guy hybrid, Jarren, in many ways, is a callback to early D12, R.A. The Rugged Man (who he's worked with), and Sticky Fingaz.... Read more

January 28, 2015 Video

Lupe Fiasco Says He Will Never Do Interviews After This. It’s a Great One (Video)

Earlier this week Lupe Fiasco released his fifth (and reported final) album on Atlantic Records, Tetsuo & Youth, and has been making his media rounds to promote the album. In this interview on Sway In The Morning, he dropped a bomb saying that he will no longer be doing any... Read more

January 23, 2015 Fresh, Video

Joey Bada$$ Breaks Down Malia Obama Situation On Sway In The Morning (Video)

B4.Da.$$ season is in full effect as Joey Bada$$ makes his rounds at all the major radio stations and talk shows. This time, Joey stopped by Sway In The Morning for an interview where he gave his perspective on some publicity thrown his way and broke down some lyrics from... Read more

January 22, 2015 Fresh, Video