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here’s an infinite number of rappers whose alias begins with the stereotypical “Young,” but since this Durham native started his rap career at the tender age of 13, he gets a pass. Back then, Young Swift formed rap groups with neighborhood friends. From the beginning, Swift knew rapping was what he wanted to do. “We used to think we were gonna get on when I was like 14,” says the now 19-year-old rapper. “We didn’t realize how long the grind really takes.” With the guidance of his parents, Swift spent the next few years recording and honing his rap skills, and in 2007, he caught a break when his single “Cool Dude” caught the attention of XM satellite radio personalities DJ Nina 9 and Leo G., who added the song to rotation on XM station 66 Raw. “I linked up with Nina 9 on Myspace,” he says. “She was really feeling that song, and she let Leo G. hear it, and he started spinning [the song] immediately. Nina 9 became my manager shortly after that. She started spinning it [and] they brought me up the radio station a couple times. It actually became quite a frenzy.” His name started being tossed around the Carolinas, and he followed up his newfound radio buzz with a mixtape, Welcome To The Rap House, and an independent album The Return in 2008. But rap money wasn’t exacting flowing in. So he enrolled at North Carolina Central University, where he met famed Raleigh, NC producer 9th Wonder, who was teaching a Hip Hop history class in the university’s music department. Later, the two collaborated on music, but after one year, Swift left NCCU and moved to Atlanta. Now, managed by A-Town’s DJ Nando, Swift’s been in the studio working with producer Shawty Redd, and their collaborative effort “In The Way” has been gaining spins on radio and in clubs around the A. And with his Can’t Knock The Hustle mixtape hosted by DJ Infamous looming, Swift is ready to take his position next to the new blood of Carolina emcees, redefining NC’s movement. “I think we’re a breath of fresh air right now,” he says. “We’ve got a couple artists coming out. J. Cole from Fayetteville just got signed to Roc Nation and that nigga’s hot. Rain, he’s pretty tough. And as far as me, I think we’ve got a nice balance with our music. We can go commercial. We can go backpack. It’s just going to be real appealing to the masses.” Words by Randy Roper Photo by DJ Nando
36 // OZONE MAG
Patiently Waiting