SwizZz

SwizZz
Birth name Justin Ritter
Born (1987-09-28) September 28, 1987
Origin San Fernando Valley, California, United States
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s) Rapper
Labels Funk Volume, Warner Bros. Records (Former) Independent (current)
Associated acts Hopsin, Dizzy Wright, Jarren Benton, The Jokerr
Website myfunkvolume.com/artist/swizzz/

Justin Ritter (born September 28, 1987), better known by his stage name SwizZz, is an American rapper. He is best known for significantly collaborating with childhood friend Hopsin, and being signed to their record label Funk Volume, which was co-founded by Hopsin, himself, and his older brother Damien "Dame" Ritter. He has released various mixtapes including Haywire with Hopsin, and Good Morning SwizZzle. He is currently working on his untitled debut studio album.

Early life

SwizZz initially met Marcus "Hopsin" Hopson in high school, where they were classmates and became close friends. After high school SwizZz got accepted into the University of California at Irvine, but after two years he decided to put his education on hold, while he would pursue a career in music. He was having a hard time figuring out what he wanted to major in, and he could not find anything he was passionate about in school.[1][2]

Musical career

2009-2012: Forming Funk Volume and Good Morning SwizZzle

In 2009, Hopsin founded his own independent record label, Funk Volume, with Damien Ritter. SwizZz, who is Damien Ritter's younger brother became the first artist to be signed to Funk Volume.[1] Shortly after launching Funk Volume, Hopsin and SwizZz released a collaborative mixtape titled Haywire on June 18, 2009 to promote the label.[3] Funk Volume originally wanted to sell it for retail sale, but were unable due to Hopsin still being contracted by Ruthless Records at the time.[1] On mixtape website DatPiff, it has been certified Gold for being downloaded over 100,000 times, and it was later made available for purchase for digital download on iTunes and Amazon.com.[4][5][6]

SwizZz was featured on three songs from Hopsin's second studio album Raw (2010).[7] The music video for their collaboration, "How Do You Like Me Now" was released on February 25, 2011.[8][9] Following that he went on the I Am RAW 30-date tour with Hopsin in support of Raw and in promotion of his upcoming mixtape.[10] On June 25, 2011, SwizZz released his debut solo mixtape Good Morning SwizZzle, along with saying his debut album tentatively titled, Rock, Paper, SwizZzors would be released in 2012.[11][12] On December 11, 2011, Funk Volume released a song "Funk Volume 2012", featuring Hopsin, SwizZz, and new Funk Volume signee Dizzy Wright.[13]

In April 2012, SwizZz released a music video for "Crank".[14][15] He was featured on Stevie Stone's "Raw Talk" along with Hopsin, from his 2012 album Rolling Stone.[16] He was also the only member of Funk Volume, to be featured on Dizzy Wright's debut studio album SmokeOut Conversations (2012).[17] He was also featured on Dizzy Wright's "Independent Living", which also featured Hopsin.[18]

2012-2015: Touring with Funk Volume

Throughout late 2012, SwizZz toured internationally with Hopsin, Dizzy Wright, Jarren Benton and DJ Hoppa on the Funk Volume 2012 Tour. Their concert tour included 44 shows in 50 days, and was the subject of a documentary released on November 11, 2013.[19][20][21] On January 24, 2013, Funk Volume released the music video for "Funk Volume 2013" featuring the entire roster; Hopsin, Dizzy Wright, SwizZz, Jarren Benton, and DJ Hoppa.[22][23][24] On June 11, 2013, the music video was released for "Go Off" by Jarren Benton featuring Hopsin and SwizZz, the third single from his debut studio album My Grandma's Basement.[25] Three days later, SwizZz released a remix to "Versace" titled "Bukkake".[26] Following the release of Benton's album, Funk Volume revealed Dizzy Wright's EP, The Second Agreement and SwizZz debut album would be the label's next two releases, not including Hopsin's third studio album Knock Madness.[1]

On August 1, 2013, SwizZz premiered his debut solo single, the self-produced "Zoom In", along with its music video.[27] HipHopDX profiled the song saying, "SwizZz provides an introspective look into his current mindset and outlook. SwizZz is grinding now, seemingly more focused than ever, and this type of dedication and output will ensure he doesn't get slept-on for much longer."[28] The song was then released to retail sale as a digital download on August 9, 2013.[29] On August 12, 2013, Dizzy Wright released the music video to the SwizZz-featuring "The Flavor", from his mixtape The Golden Age.[30][31] SwizZz was then featured on "Jungle Bash" from Hopsin's third studio album Knock Madness.[32]

In November 2013, SwizZz stated that his debut studio album would be released in early 2014. He commented on the delay saying, "Once you get your head and your mind right and your personal life situated, that’s what’s next. It’s like, how are you going to make music or try to present an image or something like that when you don’t even know who you are as a person? That’s the main battle that I was dealing with—just getting my mind right."[33]

2016-present: Funk Volume's Break Up, Haitus, and debut album

In April 2016, SwizZz posted on Facebook that he will be releasing music after a long hiatus.

On May 20, 2016, SwizZz released a track called "Automatic" as a response to Hopsin's track, Ill Mind of Hopsin 8. In SwizZz's response, he talked about his side of the story of Funk Volume's breakup, while dissing Hopsin and defending his brother Dame at the same time. SwizZz's response track was produced by himself and DJ Hoppa.[34] On June 6, SwizZz released "Baby Food" and on June 17, he released "More To Say". On July 1st, SwizZz released "All In". On July 15, another single titled "Make You Proud". On October 12, he released a single called "Fishy". On October 26, he released a single called "Running", while having the rapper Irv Da Phenom featured in the track. On November 9 SwizZz released a brand new track titled "Take me Away" Produced by B. James, which also featured Irv Da Phenom.

Influences

SwizZz has said he is inspired by all types of music, from hip-hop and alternative rock, to trance and R&B. Some of his favorite artists include Jay-Z, Tupac Shakur, Eminem, DMX, 50 Cent, Taking Back Sunday, The Used, and Circa Survive.[2]

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US US R&B US Rap
Rock, Paper, SwizZzors TBR TBR TBR
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with year released
Title Album details
Haywire
(with Hopsin)
  • Released: June 18, 2009
  • Label: Funk Volume
  • Format: Digital download
Good Morning SwizZzle
  • Released: June 25, 2011
  • Label: Funk Volume
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead performer, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US
R&B		 US
Rap
"Funk Volume 2013"[35]
(with Jarren Benton, Hopsin, Dizzy Wright & DJ Hoppa) 		2013 — — — N/A
"Zoom In"[29] — — —
"Dead Candy" (with The Jokerr, Cryptic Wisdom & Brains Mcloud) 2015 — — —
"Automatic" 2016 — — —
"USER FRIENDLY" (with The Jokerr, Cryptic Wisdom & Brains Mcloud) — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured performer

List of singles as featured performer, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US
R&B		 US
Rap
"Night Crawler"[36]
(Lucid featuring SwizZz)		 2012 — — — N/A
"Favorite Rapper"[37]
(Seven Cities Syndicate featuring SwizZz & Jesse Taylor)		 — — —
"The Game"[38]
(Tilt featuring SwizZz)		 2013 — — —
"Dedicated"[39]
(Nay Nay featuring SwizZz)		 — — —

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Outcast" 2010 KidCrusher The Grinch
"I Am RAW" Hopsin Raw
"How You Like Me Now"
"I'm Not Crazy" Hopsin, Cryptic Wisdom
"Raw Talk" 2012 Stevie Stone, Hopsin Rollin' Stone
"Go Off" 2013 Jarren Benton, Hopsin My Grandma's Basement
"Long Days, Cold Nights" Futuristic Chasing Down a Dream
"The Flavor" Dizzy Wright The Golden Age
"Jungle Bash" Hopsin Knock Madness
"There Will Be Blood" Mike Bars N/A
"Hallelujah" 2015 Jarren Benton, Dizzy Wright Slow Motion EP
"Home Invasion" Dj Hoppa, Hopsin Hoppa and Friends
"Leave No Witness" Dj Hoppa, Jarren Benton, Demrick
"Hoppa's Cypher" Dj Hoppa, Hopsin, Dizzy Wright, Jarren Benton
"Explain Myself" Dizzy Wright, Hopsin, Jarren Benton The Growing Process
"Nobody's Safe" Dj Hoppa and Demrick, Jarren Benton, Madchild Stoney Point
"FV Till I Die" Hopsin Pound Syndrome

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Max Bell (2013-08-08). "Funk Volume: Valley-Based Rap Label Builds an Independent Empire - Page 1 - Music - Los Angeles". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  2. 1 2 http://www.myfunkvolume.com (2013-06-04). "SwizZz | Funk VolumeFunk Volume". Myfunkvolume.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  3. ↑ "Best Of Hard Knock TV : Hopsin talks Spiderman, Retiring, Moving to Australia + More". HardKnockTV. September 21, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  4. ↑ "SwizZz & Hopsin - Funk Volume Mixtape: Haywire // Free Mixtape @". Datpiff.com. 2009-06-18. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  5. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Haywire by Hopsin & SwizZz". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  6. ↑ "Haywire [Explicit]: Hopsin: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  7. ↑ "Raw - Hopsin | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  8. ↑ Beware (2011-02-25). "Hopsin Feat. SwizZz - "How You Like Me Now" Music Video | The Smoking Section". Smokingsection.uproxx.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  9. ↑ Title Artist. "Hopsin - How You Like Me Now Feat. SwizZz". Hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  10. ↑ Dwyer, Alex (2011-02-28). "Hopsin: Something Wicked | Rappers Talk Hip Hop Beef & Old School Hip Hop". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  11. ↑ "SwizZz - Good Morning SwizZzle // Free Mixtape @". Datpiff.com. 2011-06-24. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  12. ↑ "SwizZz - Goodmorning SwizZzle - download and stream". AudioMack. 2013-04-17. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  13. ↑ "Video: Hopsin, Dizzy Wright, & SwizZz "Funk Volume 2012"". Complex. 2011-12-22. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  14. ↑ http://www.myfunkvolume.com (2012-05-18). "NEW SwizZz Track – Crank | Funk Volume". Myfunkvolume.com. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  15. ↑ Running time: 03:23 (2013-11-20). "SwizZz - Crank | Video Youtube - NMETV Latest Music Videos and Clips". Nme.Com. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  16. ↑ "Stevie Stone f. Hopsin & SwizZz - Raw Talk | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2011". HipHop DX. 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  17. ↑ "Smoke Out Conversations - Dizzy Wright | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  18. ↑ Raj (2012-10-01). "Dizzy Wright Ft. SwizZz & Hopsin - "Independent Living" Video | The Smoking Section". Smokingsection.uproxx.com. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  19. ↑ "Hopsin Announces Funk Volume 2012 Tour with Dizzy Wright, SwizZz & Jarren Benton [Video] - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2012-08-16. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  20. ↑ "Watch Hopsin And Dizzy Wright In The Official Trailer For Funk Volume's "Independent Living" Documentary - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  21. ↑ Baker, Soren (2013-06-07). "Hopsin & Dizzy Wright Featured In Funk Volume's "Independent Living" Documentary | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  22. ↑ "Funk Volume Doesn't Care if You Like Their 2013 Cypher Video". Refinedhype.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  23. ↑ Raj (2013-01-24). "Funk Volume – "Funk Volume 2013" Video". Smokingsection.uproxx.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  24. ↑ "Swizzz, Hopsin, Jarren Benton & Dizzy Wright "Funk Volume 2013" [Video] - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-01-25. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  25. ↑ "Watch Jarren Benton Video For "Go Off" Featuring Hopsin And SwizZz - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  26. ↑ "SwizZz - Bukkake | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2011". HipHop DX. 2013-07-14. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  27. ↑ SwizZz Follow @SwizZzleFish   (2013-08-05). "SwizZz - Zoom In Music Video | Listen". Djbooth.net. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  28. ↑ "Slept-On But Dope Hip Hop Songs From The Week Of 8/5/2013 | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. 2013-08-11. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  29. 1 2 "iTunes - Music - Zoom In - Single by SwizZz". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  30. ↑ "Dizzy Wright Pays Homage to Hip-Hop In "The Flavor" Featuring SwizZz - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-08-12. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  31. ↑ Schur, Julia. "New Music: Dizzy Wright feat. SwizZz – "The Flavor" : RESPECT". Respect-mag.com. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  32. ↑ Hunte, Justin (2013-10-31). "Hopsin Calls "Knock Madness" A "Moment Of Truth;" Notes Eminem's "MMLP2" | Rappers Talk Hip Hop Beef & Old School Hip Hop". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  33. ↑ Hunte, Justin (2013-11-22). "SwizZz Guarantees Funk Volume Debut Album In 2014 | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  34. ↑ http://hiphopdx.com/singles/id.33731/title.swizzz-goes-for-hopsins-jugular-on-automatic-releases-open-letter
  35. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Funk Volume 2013 - Single by Various Artists". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-01-29. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  36. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Night Crawler (feat. Swizzz) - Single by Lucid". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-01-30. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  37. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Favorite Rapper (feat. SwizZz & Jesse Taylor) - Single by Seven Cities Syndicate". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  38. ↑ "iTunes - Music - The Game (feat. SwizZz) - Single by Tilt". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  39. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Dedicated (feat. SwizZz) - Single by NAY NAY". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-05-04. Retrieved 2013-11-27.

External links

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