Earl Swavey
Earl Swavey | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Earl Hatton |
| Born | December 8, 1995 Compton, California |
| Died | January 9, 2022 (aged 26) Downtown Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | West Coast hip hop |
| Years active | 2013–2022 |
| Labels | Swave Music Group |
Earl Hatton (December 8, 1995 – January 9, 2022), also known as Earl Swavey, was an American rapper. A noted figure in the West Coast hip hop scene, he was first noticed and mentored by A$AP Yams, releasing a plethora of projects. He died in 2022, after being shot in possible gang activity.
Early life
[edit]Earl Hatton was born on December 8, 1995, in Compton, California. His father died when he was a two years old, so he was raised by a single mother. While still young, Swavey was inspired by his brother rapping; his cousin was also rapper Jay Rock.[1][2][3]
Career
[edit]Swavey ventured into the rap scene by first releasing the mixtape Business Before Pleasure (BBP) in 2013. One of its songs, "Beef", led to A$AP Yams getting in touch with him and mentoring him. In 2021, he dropped three albums, Unphuckwithable, Gangland 4, and The Dirtiest.[1][2][3][4]
Influences and artistry
[edit]Swavey was influenced by the artists T.I., Rick Ross, and 50 Cent.[1][2][3]
Death
[edit]Swavey died on January 9, 2022. An autopsy report later stated that he was driving a car with multiple passengers outside a party in Downtown Los Angeles when he was shot in the back but an unknown assailant and crashed into a parked motorhome. The head trauma Swavey sustained from the collision was a contributing factor in his death along with the gunshot wound. A detective for the Los Angeles Police Department stated that it was most likely that a passenger in Swavey's vehicle shot first before others fired back, in gang-related activities.[5][6]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Unphuckwitable |
|
| Gangland 4 |
|
| The Dirtiest |
|
Mixtapes
[edit]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Yurple Rain |
|
| 2 Way Swave |
|
Singles
[edit]| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Big Soldier" (with P2) | 2017 | Non-album singles |
| "No Sleep" (with Bobby Luv and Nutty Boy) | 2018 | |
| "Jigga man" | 2021 | Unphuckwitable |
| "Warm Up" | ||
| "Shit Talkin" (with I4 Get the Ends) | Non-album singles |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Minsker, Evan (January 11, 2022). "Earl Swavey, Los Angeles Rapper, Dies at 26". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c Blanchet, Brenton (January 11, 2022). "LA-Based Rapper Earl Swavey Dies at 26". Complex. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c Moore, Sam (January 11, 2022). "Rapper Earl Swavey dies aged 26". The Independent. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ Saint-Vil, Sweenie (January 12, 2022). "LA rapper Earl Swavey passes away". Revolt. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ Dillon, Nancy (July 12, 2022). "Rapper Earl Swavey Was Shot While Piloting Car That Crashed, Autopsy Says". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ Centeno, Tony M. (July 12, 2022). "Rapper Earl Swavey's Cause Of Death Revealed Following Autopsy Report". iHeartRadio. Retrieved April 22, 2025.