MOBO Award-winning rapper Sway has died aged 44 (Picture: Jo Hale/Getty Images) Sway Dasafo has died aged 44, with the MOBO Awards confirming the news and friends calling the Top Boy actor a ‘true legend’. He had faced health issues several years before, revealing he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2010. The MOBO Awards shared in a statement: ‘Proud to have him as part of our history. Our love goes out to his family, loved ones and fans.’ On Instagram, Kreams wrote: ‘Devastated to hear of the sad news today, the passing of a personal friend, a true legend and pioneer in the Uk rap game @swaydasafo ‘We’ve been staying in touch recently sharing our struggles with health issues and keeping each other spirits up, especially as fathers and staying strong for our kids. He leaves behind 2 sons and 2 beautiful little girls that I had the pleasure of talking to on FaceTime recently. ‘Thoughts and prayers with him and his family 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼.’ The British rapper, born Derek Andrew Safo, was a well-known independent artist who broke through in the 00s with his debut releases. Sway was considered a pioneer of UK rap (Picture: Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images) He became the first-ever unsigned artist to win a MOBO Award before even releasing an album, winning for Best Hip Hop Act in 2005. Sway’s following album, This Is My Demo, was critically acclaimed and secured the young star a Mercury Prize nomination the following year. Around the same time, he founded production group Dcypha Productions, backed by Akon’s record label, Konvict Music. He also signed to the label, joining the likes of T-Pain and Lady Gaga, and travelled the world with Akon, networking and discovering new talent. Often considered a pioneer of UK rap, tracks like Little Derek, Silver & Gold, and F Ur X made him a sought-after collaborator and producer. On September 5, Sway celebrated his 44th birthday, sharing a casual post on Instagram with the caption: ‘Chapter 44 🎂’. He posted one image of himself standing on a balcony alone, looking into the sunshine with palm trees and a pool behind him. https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc57JNNoXVl/?hl=en-gb Sway had been in Ghana, his parents’ home country, and had shared some snaps from the week before telling fans he loves them all. In June, he shared: ‘Step by step I’m getting Back On My Feet!!!! To GOD Be The Glory 🙌🏾 Thank you to everyone that’s helping in my recovery, we’ve won the fight.’ The rapper didn’t detail what he had been through, but in 2016 he wrote about his recovery from Hodgkin lymphoma. For Lymphoma Action, he penned: ‘Someone recently asked me how I felt about being diagnosed with lymphoma in 2010. I told them it felt like I had been dropped in the middle of the sea with no lifejacket, no boat – no equipment to help me. ‘I didn’t have time to think about how I was going to get to the other side, I just had to deal with it. I knew that thinking “Why me?” wouldn’t help; I had to stay strong and focus on myself in order to get to the other side.  ‘I was determined to overcome this disease, but I did not want to bring attention to it. I spoke to everyone around me – my team and management – but told them I wanted to deal with it privately. I did not want to discuss it. So my career went quiet for several months while I was undergoing treatment.’ https://www.instagram.com/p/DdZFGqzM17R/?hl=en He underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy and, in 2015, released Deliverance which included song The Sea about his experience. Sway concluded: ‘Naturally, there is always part of me that is looking over my shoulder. But no matter what happens, we must keep swimming.’ Tributes have flooded in for the star with fans calling him a ‘legend’ and a ‘pioneer’ and calling the loss ‘absolutely heartbreaking’. Top Boy star Kadeem Ramsay added: ‘Rest Up Legend’, with Sway having appeared in several episodes of the show. Kidulthood and Adulthood actor Adam Deacon wrote: ‘We never did get to have that linkup. But I know he’s looking down, giving me guidance in his own way.’ In a full statement, the MOBO Awards said: ‘We’re deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Sway. ‘Sway will always hold a special place in MOBO history. In 2005, still independent and without a debut album released, he won Best Hip-Hop Act at the MOBO Awards, beating global heavyweights including 50 Cent and The Game. Tributes have flooded in for ‘legend’ Sway (Picture: Jo Hale/Getty Images) ‘It was a huge moment. Not just for Sway, but for UK Hip Hop. At a time when British rappers were still fighting to be recognised alongside their US counterparts, his win made a real statement about the talent, creativity and potential coming out of the UK. ‘Sway went on to leave his mark as an artist and champion of British music, but we will always be proud that he was part of the MOBO story and of the history we shared together. ‘Our love and deepest condolences go out to his family, loved ones, friends and everyone who grew up with and was inspired by his music. Rest in peace, Sway.’