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11th Jan 2022

Rapper Earl Swavey dead at 26 as fans pay tribute to ‘young legend’

Steve Hopkins

Swavey was mentored by the late rapper A$AP Yams

US Rapper Earl Swavey has died age 26.

His cause of death is currently unknown, a representative confirmed to Pitchfork on Monday.

Swavey grew up in South Los Angeles and is a cousin of fellow rapper, Jay Rock.

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Among Swavey’s first releases was the 2013 mixtape Business Before Pleasure (BBP) which featured the song ‘Beef’ which led to the late A$AP Yams contacting him and a kind of mentorship forming.

“Out of all of the members of A$AP, Yams was really like a brother to me,” Swavey told Grungecake in 2015.

“He would send me Christmas gifts and always look out for my mom and ask if she needed anything. I could call him anytime and he would always answer, no matter what. I definitely gained some wisdom from him.”

Yams, who died of an accidental overdue in January, also age 26, collaborated with Swavey and G Perico on the song ‘London Drugs’.

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Swavey also collaborated with 03 Greedo, Mozzy, SOB x RBE, Melly, and many others, Pitchfork noted.

His mixtape Gangland dropped in 2016 – the first in a series of Gangland releases. Swavey completed three projects in 2021: The Dirtiest, Unphuckwithable, and Gangland 4.

Swavey’s hit singles include Hit Yo Ricky alongside Whokid Woody and Young Ace, What Would You Do ft. DJ Worm2G and 40s featuring AD.

Fans and fellow rappers mourned the young star’s death on social media.

“Rest in Peace to the great Earl Swavey,” rapper Vince Staples tweeted.

Rapper RJ OMMIO wrote: “Get yo Rest Earl Swavey ?.” “RIP to the young legend Earl Swavey,” tweeted a fan.