SwizZz | |
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Birth name | Justin Ritter |
Born | September 28, 1987 |
Origin | San Fernando Valley, California, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupations |
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Years active | 2003–present |
Labels | Funk Volume |
Justin Ritter (born September 28, 1987), known professionally as SwizZz, is an American rapper and songwriter. He is best known for significantly collaborating with childhood friend Hopsin, and being signed to their record label Funk Volume, which was founded by Hopsin himself. He has released various singles and released two mixtapes including Haywire with Hopsin, and Good Morning SwizZzle. [1] [2]
SwizZz initially met Hopsin 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. [3] [4]
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. [3] Shortly after launching Funk Volume, Hopsin and SwizZz released a collaborative mixtape titled Haywire on June 18, 2009, to promote the label. [5] 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. [3] 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. [1] [6] [7]
SwizZz was featured on three songs from Hopsin's second studio album Raw (2010). [8] The music video for their collaboration, "How Do You Like Me Now" was released on February 25, 2011. [9] [10] 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. [11] 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. [2] [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]
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 . [3]
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]
In April 2016, SwizZz posted on Facebook that he will be releasing music after a long hiatus.
On May 13, 2016, SwizZz released the single "Extra". [34] One week later, he released a single titled, "Automatic" as a response to Hopsin's track, Ill Mind of Hopsin 8. In his 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. [35] He later went on to release various singles throughout 2016–2020, and collaborations with artists such as Brains Mcloud, Artist Mikael, and Jarren Benton.
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. [4]
Title | Album details |
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Haywire (with Hopsin) |
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Good Morning SwizZzle |
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Title | Album details |
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Sessions |
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Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Lucifer Effect" [37] (with Hopsin) | 2009 | Haywire |
"Bad Motherfucker" [38] (with Hopsin) | ||
"Funk Volume 2013" [39] (with Hopsin, Dizzy Wright, Jarren Benton and DJ Hoppa) | 2013 | Non-album singles |
"Zoom In" [29] | ||
"Dead Candy" [40] (with Brains McLoud and The Jokerr) | 2015 | Dark Matter |
"Extra" [34] | 2016 | Non-album singles |
"Automatic" [41] | ||
"More to Say" [42] | ||
"All In" [43] | ||
"Make You Proud" [44] | ||
"User Friendly" [45] (with Brains McLoud, Cryptic Wisdom and The Jokerr) | Dark Matter | |
"Fishy" [46] | Non-album singles | |
"Running" [47] (featuring Irv da Phenom) | ||
"Take Me Away" [48] (featuring Irv da Phenom) | ||
"Switch" [49] | 2017 | |
"Out of My Hands" [50] | 2018 | |
"Good Enough" [51] (with Jae Williams) | 2019 | |
"More to Go" [52] | ||
"Flex" [53] | ||
"Breakthrough" [54] | ||
"Celebrate" [55] | ||
"Sense" [56] | 2020 | |
"Hills" [57] | ||
"Where Are They Now" [58] | ||
"Loophole" [59] | ||
"Seasons" [60] | ||
"Locked In" [61] (featuring Irv da Phenom and Bo) | ||
"People Talk" [62] (with Jae Williams) | ||
"Pages Turning" [63] (with Akt Aktion and Futuristic featuring The Kaleidoscope Kid) | ||
"Savage in the Sanctuary" [64] (with Jarren Benton) | ||
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Night Crawler" [65] (Lucid featuring SwizZz) | 2012 | Non-album singles |
"Favorite Rapper" [66] (Seven Cities Syndicate featuring SwizZz and Jesse Taylor) | ||
"The Game" [67] (Tilt featuring SwizZz) | 2013 | |
"Dedicated" [68] (Nay Nay featuring SwizZz) | ||
"My Grave" [69] (Def Note featuring SwizZz and DJ Hoppa) | 2017 | |
"Am I a Legend?" [70] (Shaggy No Scoob featuring SwizZz) | 2019 | |
"Infinite" [71] (Wes Yee featuring SwizZz and Freeloader MC) | ||
"Can't Be Bothered" [72] (All the Meaning featuring SwizZz) | ||
"Drop It" [73] (Mekhi featuring SwizZz) | Mistaken Vibes | |
“Jill” [74] (Sensei featuring SwizZz) | ||
Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
---|---|---|---|
"Outcast" [75] | 2010 | KidCrusher, Chico | The Grinch |
"I Am RAW" [76] | Hopsin | Raw | |
"How You Like Me Now" [76] | |||
"I'm Not Crazy" [76] | Hopsin, Cryptic Wisdom | ||
"Raw Talk" [77] | 2012 | Stevie Stone, Hopsin | Rollin' Stone |
"Go Off" [78] | 2013 | Jarren Benton, Hopsin | My Grandma's Basement |
"Long Days, Cold Nights" [79] | Futuristic | Chasing Down a Dream | |
"The Flavor" [80] | Dizzy Wright | The Golden Age | |
"Jungle Bash" [81] | Hopsin | Knock Madness | |
"There Will Be Blood" [82] | Mike Bars | 3P | |
"Hallelujah" [83] | 2015 | Jarren Benton, Dizzy Wright | Slow Motion |
"Home Invasion" [84] | DJ Hoppa, Hopsin | Hoppa and Friends | |
"Leave No Witness" [84] | DJ Hoppa, Jarren Benton, Demrick | ||
"Hoppa's Cypher" [84] | DJ Hoppa, Hopsin, Dizzy Wright, Jarren Benton | ||
"Explain Myself" [85] | Dizzy Wright, Hopsin, Jarren Benton | The Growing Process | |
"Nobody's Safe" [86] | DJ Hoppa, Demrick, Jarren Benton, Madchild | Stoney Point | |
"FV Till I Die" [87] | Hopsin | Pound Syndrome | |
"Lycanthropy Pt. II" [88] | 2019 | Wolff, Con-Crete, Reverend Fang Gory, Hellusin8, Bliss, Odium, Skeddy J., Jade The Nightmare, Legacey, Jenocia X, Donnie Menace, Sin, GrewSum, Chuckklez, Hell'z Labyrinth, Komatose, HellSpawn Hoodlum, Crusher The Immortal | Bearer of Death |
Demerick Ferm, better known by his stage name Demrick, formerly known as Young De, is a rapper from Spokane, Washington, now living in Los Angeles. He has collaborated with Xzibit, Kurupt, Snoop Dogg, Too $hort, B-Real and Cypress Hill. He is a protege of B-Real of Cypress Hill and Xzibit with whom he formed Serial Killers.
Marcus Jamal Hopson, known professionally as Hopsin, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer from Los Angeles, California. He is known for his use of white colored eye contacts in his music videos and performances.
Funk Volume was an American independent record label founded by American rapper Hopsin and Damien Ritter in 2007. The label was home to artists Dizzy Wright, Jarren Benton, SwizZz, and producers DJ Hoppa and Kato before its 2016 dissolution. It did so due to financial alterations, and following their feud, Hopsin decided to leave the label, which resulted in its signees following suit. The label was shut down soon after, although Hopsin and Ritter reconciled in 2021.
Knock Madness is the third studio album by American rapper Hopsin. It was released on November 24, 2013, by Funk Volume and distributed by EMPIRE. Hopsin has said that the overall vibe of the album is different from his previous album Raw and that he has said all he needs to about leaving Ruthless Records. The album contains guest appearances from rappers SwizZz, Dizzy Wright, Jarren Benton, and Tech N9ne, among others. Like its predecessors, the album's production was entirely handled by Hopsin himself.
La'Reonte Wright, known professionally as Dizzy Wright, is an American rapper and record producer.
American rapper Hopsin has released five studio albums, two mixtapes, 51 singles and 57 music videos. After signing with Ruthless Records in 2007, Hopsin released his debut studio album entitled, Gazing at the Moonlight, in October 2009. The album was a commercial failure, selling only 42 copies in its first week. Shortly before his departure from Ruthless, Hopsin formed a new label, Funk Volume, with Damien Ritter and released a mixtape with SwizZz entitled, Haywire, and his second studio album, Raw, in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The album spawned the singles: "Nocturnal Rainbows" and "Sag My Pants", with the latter single being certified gold by RIAA.
Jarren Giovanni Benton, is an American rapper from Decatur, Georgia. He signed with California rapper Hopsin's independent record label Funk Volume in 2012, and released his third mixtape, Freebasing with Kevin Bacon in June of that year. His debut studio album, My Grandma's Basement (2013) received positive critical reception and entered the Billboard 200. After the label shut down in 2016, Benton signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation two years later to release his fourth album, Yuck Fou (2018).
My Grandma's Basement is the debut studio album by American rapper Jarren Benton. The album was released on June 11, 2013, through Funk Volume and was supported by the single "Razor Blades and Steak Knives". The album features guest appearances from Dizzy Wright, Hopsin, RA the Rugged Man, SwizZz, Vinnie Paz among others, along with production from Kato, SMKA, Planet VI, and Spitzwell among others.
The Golden Age is the sixth official mixtape by American rapper Dizzy Wright. The mixtape was released on August 19, 2013, by independent record label Funk Volume for free and digital download, along with autographed hardcopies via the Funk Volume website. The mixtape featured guest appearances by Wyclef Jean, Hopsin, Joey Bada$$, Jarren Benton, SwizZz, Logic, Kid Ink and Honey Cocaine among others. Along with production from DJ Hoppa, Rikio, Kato, 6ix, and Cardo, among others. Due to its retail release, the mixtape debuted on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at number 39 becoming his highest charting project at the time.
Mark Anthony Battles is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer from Indianapolis, Indiana.
DJ Hoppa is an American DJ and producer from Panorama City, Los Angeles. He was signed to rapper Hopsin's now defunct record label Funk Volume, and CEO of the San Fernando Valley independent label Broken Complex located in North Hollywood, California. He has made beats for Dizzy Wright's The Golden Age mixtape, The First Agreement EP and SmokeOut Conversations, Jarren Benton's My Grandma's Basement, and also worked with SwizZz & Gavlyn.
State of Mind is the second extended play by American rapper Dizzy Wright. It was released on April 15, 2014, by Funk Volume. The EP features production by 6ix, MLB, Roc & Mayne, Ron Hayden and Sledgren, along with a lone guest appearance by Rockie Fresh. It was supported by the single: "Everywhere I Go". Upon its release, the EP debuted at number 54 on the Billboard 200.
Pound Syndrome is the fourth studio album by American rapper Hopsin. The album was released on July 24, 2015, through Funk Volume and Warner Bros. Records.
Zachary Lewis Beck, known professionally as Futuristic, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He was born in Bloomington, Illinois and currently resides in Tempe, Arizona. Futuristic gained recognition after the release of his album, The Rise, along with his single "The Greatest" in 2015.
"Ill Mind of Hopsin 8" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Hopsin. The song was released on March 8, 2016, and is the eighth installment in Hopsin's "Ill Mind of Hopsin" series. The song serves as a diss towards Funk Volume co-founder, Damien Ritter, who Hopsin claims is the reason why he left the label. The song is also the debut single by Hopsin's new independent record label, Undercover Prodigy. The song peaked at number 21 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which became Hopsin's highest charting single to date.
The Growing Process is the second studio album by American rapper Dizzy Wright. It was released on May 26, 2015, by Funk Volume and Warner Records. The album features guest appearances from Big K.R.I.T., Tech N9ne, Hopsin, Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Jarren Benton, SwizZz, Berner, and Mod Sun, among others.
No Shame is the fifth studio album by American rapper Hopsin. The album was released on November 24, 2017, through Undercover Prodigy and 300 Entertainment.
The discography of American rapper, singer and songwriter Futuristic consists of fourteen studio albums, two collaboration albums, three extended plays and 130 singles.
The discography of American rapper and songwriter Jarren Benton consists of four studio albums, one collaboration album, three mixtapes, two extended plays and 62 singles.
The discography of American rapper and songwriter Dizzy Wright consists of six studio albums, one collaboration album, 10 mixtapes, six extended plays and 99 singles.