What is Sway Calloway's Net Worth and Salary?
Sway Calloway is an esteemed American rap artist, producer, radio host, and reporter who has accumulated a net worth of $7 million. Simply known as "Sway," he has built a successful career in the realms of radio and journalism. Additionally, he excels as an executive producer for numerous productions. Sway is prominently recognized as the host of various shows spanning news, music, and culture.
One of Sway's notable gigs includes being the host of the syndicated radio show "The Wake Up Show," where he collaborated with King Tech. Currently, Sway hosts "Sway in the Morning" on Eminem's Shade45 on Sirius XM radio. He also hosts "TRLAM" on MTV.
Early Life
Sway Calloway was born on July 3, 1971, in Oakland, California. By his teenage years, he had already made a name for himself as an emerging rapper and b-boy. He performed frequently at San Francisco's Pier 39. After high school in Oakland, he teamed up with DJ King Tech, forming a partnership that would persist throughout their careers.
Career
Initially, Sway and King Tech performed at various clubs around the San Francisco Bay Area, eventually releasing their first album. Subsequent independent releases garnered attention from Giant Records, leading to their major label debut "Concrete Jungle" in 1990. The album's success marked a significant milestone in their careers.
The success of "Concrete Jungle" earned Sway and King Tech their first radio show on a San Francisco urban music station. In 1993, "The Wake Up Show" launched in Los Angeles, featuring live interviews with notable hip-hop artists, gaining nationwide popularity. By 1996, the show was simulcast to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
"The Wake Up Show" played a pivotal role in introducing new rappers like Rass Kass, Chino XL, and Eminem to the industry. As Sway's profile rose, he branched out into hosting other radio programs, including a morning drive time show.
With their rising fame, Sway and Tech secured another record deal with Interscope Records, producing the album "This or That" in 1999. The album reached the top 30 on the Hip-Hop charts with features from renowned rappers like Eminem, RZA, Xzibit, Kool G Rap, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Tech N9ne, Pharoahe Monch, and The Roots.
(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
During this time, Sway expanded his opportunities, becoming a correspondent for MTV on shows like "Total Request Live" and "Direct Effect." He moved "The Wake Up Show" studio to New York, with King Tech joining him. Sway has interviewed numerous celebrities, such as Kanye West, who had a notable live meltdown during an interview.
The increased exposure on MTV boosted "The Wake Up Show"'s popularity. Sway reported for MTV on various music videos and news specials. In 2003, he appeared in Jennifer Lopez's DVD, "The Reel Me." In 2004, Sway and Tech launched a TV version of their radio show on MTV, performing freestyles and releasing mixtapes.
Though Sway initially chose not to renew his MTV contract in 2005, he opted to renew it in 2006 with significant creative control. Since "This or That" in 1999, they released "Back 2 Basics" in 2005 under their label Bolo Entertainment, distributed by Universal Music.
Sway continued collaborating with Tech to produce various programs for MTV and other Viacom channels while maintaining his hosting roles. Apart from hosting, he appeared in a 2007 episode of "Short Circuitz" and made a cameo in "The Boondocks," voicing a fictional version of himself.
