Multi award winning rapper Sway has returned this year with a fresh new swagger. He has teamed up with a government funded volunteering scheme called Platform 2; which enables young people to see first hand developing countries. Nicole Baldwin sat down with the hot UK artist to find out more about Platform 2 and Sway’s future projects and plans.
What is Platform 2?
Platform 2 is a project which enables 18-25 year olds to go to a developing country for 10 weeks. The young people go in order to help the community, and learn about themselves, another culture, and way of life.
What’s good about the project?
People usually go on holiday to various places like Brazil. But people wouldn’t necessarily spend their money to go to these kinds of places. What’s good about this project is it allows people to go to places they wouldn’t normally go to, or maybe they can’t afford to go to. It builds a bridge between us and different communities. It teaches the young people from the UK a lot, and shows places like Africa that we do care because often they feel like westernized courtiers don’t care. So for the young people from the UK to go out and interact with the different communities is definitely beneficial to the communities out there, and the young people taking part.
Can participants expect to see you out there?
Yeah, I’m going to be going over there to meet them. My schedule is so hectic I can’t take 10 weeks out to be there. But I will go meet up with them, see what they’re up to, how they are. And also I want to alert my fan base about what’s going on. So I might shoot a little clip and put it on my Myspace so my fan base can see what’s going on. And maybe they’ll want to apply as well.
Why do you think it’s taken along time for such a project to get off the ground?
Everything has it’s time. There are similar projects about, but I’ve never heard of a project that offers all of this. So in that sense it’s going to be hard. I think it’s also to do with time and money. Luckily the project was funded by the government.
Why did you decide to get involved with this type of project?
Because I support the idea. I think it’s a really good idea for people in the UK to get out this environment and learn about a different culture. It’s an opportunity to go to Ghana which is one of the main things that drew me to this project; as I’m from Ghana. Alongside that, they get the opportunity to got South America, India, and Peru. I’m sure in the 3 years that the project is running; people will be able to go to other places around the world.
How important is it that young people see you taking part in a scheme like this?
I think it’s very important. I don’t think people in my environment, and some people who listen and make my kind of music have any aspiration to come out of their areas, let alone a country. So to see me, and know that I go to Ghana every 5/6 months, and travel you know, I think it’s inspirational for them to know there’s something a lot bigger than Lambeth, a lot bigger than Hackney, and all these areas. It’s inspirational for others to see the different cultures within me and how I use that to push forward. So I had to take part!
What other projects are you working on?
The main project is my 2nd album it’s entitled the signature LP. It’s some of the best work I’ve ever made.
Who will you be collaborating with on the album?
Akon. Lemar and Leo the Lion from The Streets are on the album. 2Face Idibia is on the album on a track called My Kind Of Girl. That track talks about someone not wanting their daughter to talk to me because of the music I do.
Is that track from personal experience?
Yeah (laughs). To find out what that’s all about you’ll have to buy the album.
How did the collaboration come about with you and Akon?
I met Akon in a club in Ghana. But prior to that someone had given him a CD, of crunk and grime. So someone introduced us in a club and said Akon this is Sway. And he was like; UK Sway? He was like I think I can break you over here in the USA. So we’re working on a little campaign to get me over there.
Any movie roles in the pipeline?
Just shot my first film. It’s called The Grind. There are a lot of people in this film that were in Layer Cake. It’s kind of a gangster film shot in East London. That will be in cinemas towards the end of the year.
Are you on the soundtrack?
Not this one. I’m on the Adulthood soundtrack with my track F Ur Ex.
What is the next 5 years looking like for Sway?
I’ve done a collaboration with Chamillionaire, Lupe Fiasco and Mark Ronson who are Grammy winners. Further down the line that something I want to accomplish. Plus all these people around me winning it’s not good for my ego (laughs).
Any final words?
Go check the website out www.myplatform2.com . There’s a video on Youtube so check that out and see if it’s something you want to be a part of. If I had the time I would get involved myself. And buy my album twice; Signature LP.
How can young people get involved with Platform 2?
What you have to do is go to the website: www.myplatform2.com, and apply. If your eligible I think the process takes about 3 months before you get there.
