SwizZz

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, and his older brother Damien "Dame" Ritter. He has released various singles and released two mixtapes including Haywire with Hopsin, and Good Morning SwizZzle.[1][2]

SwizZz
Birth nameJustin Ritter
Born (1987-09-28) September 28, 1987
OriginSan Fernando Valley, California, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2003–present
LabelsFunk Volume
Associated acts

Early life

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]

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.[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]

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.[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]

2016–present: Funk Volume's break up, hiatus, and various singles

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 tilted, "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.

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.[4]

Discography

Mixtapes
List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Album details
Haywire
(with Hopsin)
  • Released: June 18, 2009[1]
  • Label: Funk Volume
  • Format: Digital download
Good Morning SwizZzle
  • Released: June 24, 2011[2]
  • Label: Funk Volume
  • Format: Digital download

Extended plays
List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Album details
Sessions
  • Released: April 15, 2020[36]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

As lead artist
List of singles as a lead artist, showing year released and album name
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)
List of singles as a featured artist, showing year released and album name
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

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"[74] 2010 KidCrusher, Chico The Grinch
"I Am RAW"[75] Hopsin Raw
"How You Like Me Now"[75]
"I'm Not Crazy"[75] Hopsin, Cryptic Wisdom
"Raw Talk"[76] 2012 Stevie Stone, Hopsin Rollin' Stone
"Go Off"[77] 2013 Jarren Benton, Hopsin My Grandma's Basement
"Long Days, Cold Nights"[78] Futuristic Chasing Down a Dream
"The Flavor"[79] Dizzy Wright The Golden Age
"Jungle Bash"[80] Hopsin Knock Madness
"There Will Be Blood"[81] Mike Bars 3P
"Hallelujah"[82] 2015 Jarren Benton, Dizzy Wright Slow Motion
"Home Invasion"[83] DJ Hoppa, Hopsin Hoppa and Friends
"Leave No Witness"[83] DJ Hoppa, Jarren Benton, Demrick
"Hoppa's Cypher"[83] DJ Hoppa, Hopsin, Dizzy Wright, Jarren Benton
"Explain Myself"[84] Dizzy Wright, Hopsin, Jarren Benton The Growing Process
"Nobody's Safe"[85] DJ Hoppa, Demrick, Jarren Benton, Madchild Stoney Point
"FV Till I Die"[86] Hopsin Pound Syndrome
"Lycanthropy Pt. II"[87] 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

References
  1. "SwizZz & Hopsin - Funk Volume Mixtape: Haywire Mixtape". DatPiff. June 18, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  2. "Good Morning SwizZzle Mixtape by SwizZz". DatPiff. June 24, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  3. 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.
  4. http://www.myfunkvolume.com (2013-06-04). "SwizZz | Funk VolumeFunk Volume". Myfunkvolume.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  5. "Best Of Hard Knock TV : Hopsin talks Spiderman, Retiring, Moving to Australia + More". HardKnockTV. September 21, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  6. "iTunes - Music - Haywire by Hopsin & SwizZz". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  7. "Haywire [Explicit]: Hopsin: MP3 Downloads". Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  8. "Raw - Hopsin | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  9. Beware (2011-02-25). "Hopsin Feat. SwizZz - "How You Like Me Now" Music Video | The Smoking Section". Smokingsection.uproxx.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  10. "Hopsin - How You Like Me Now Feat. SwizZz". Hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  11. Dwyer, Alex (2011-02-28). "Hopsin: Something Wicked | Rappers Talk Hip Hop Beef & Old School Hip Hop". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  12. "SwizZz - Goodmorning SwizZzle - download and stream". AudioMack. 2013-04-17. Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. 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. "SwizZz - Crank | Video Youtube - NMETV Latest Music Videos and Clips". Nme.Com. 2013-11-20. 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. Archived from the original on 2013-12-02. 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. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-08.
  23. Raj (2013-01-24). "Funk Volume – "Funk Volume 2013" Video". Smokingsection.uproxx.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. 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. "Zoom In - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. August 9, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  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. Archived from the original on 2015-04-17. 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. "Extra - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. May 13, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  35. http://hiphopdx.com/singles/id.33731/title.swizzz-goes-for-hopsins-jugular-on-automatic-releases-open-letter
  36. "Sessions - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. April 15, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  37. "Lucifer Effect - Hopsin & SwizZz (Directed by Hopsin/DJ K)". One Week Notice. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  38. "Bad Mother****** (Hopsin & SwizZz)". One Week Notice. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  39. "Funk Volume 2013 - Single by Hopsin, Dizzy Wright, Jarren Benton, DJ Hoppa & SwizZz". Apple Music. January 29, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  40. "Dead Candy - Single by SwizZz, Brains Mcloud & The Jokerr". Apple Music. January 29, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  41. "Automatic - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. May 20, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  42. "More to Say - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. June 17, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  43. "All In - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. July 1, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  44. "Make You Proud - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. July 15, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  45. "User Friendly - Single by Brains Mcloud, Cryptic Wisdom, SwizZz and The Jokerr". Apple Music. July 20, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  46. "Fishy - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. October 12, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  47. "Running (feat. Irv Da Phenom!) - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. October 26, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  48. "Take Me Away (feat. Irv Da Phenom!) - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. November 9, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  49. "Switch - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. April 17, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  50. "Out of My Hands - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. November 2, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  51. "Good Enough - Single by Jae Williams & SwizZz". Apple Music. January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  52. "More to Go - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. October 1, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  53. "Flex - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. October 21, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  54. "Breakthrough - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. October 29, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  55. "Celebrate - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. December 10, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  56. "Sense - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. January 15, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  57. "Hills - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  58. "Where Are They Now - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. January 24, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  59. "Loophole - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  60. "Seasons - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  61. "Locked In (feat. Irv Da Phenom & Bo) - Single by SwizZz". Apple Music. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  62. "People Talk - Single by SwizZz & Jae Williams". Apple Music. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  63. "Pages Turning (feat. The Kaleidoscope Kid) - Single by A.K.T. Aktion, FUTURISTIC & SwizZz". Apple Music. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  64. "Savage in the Sanctuary - Single by Jarren Benton & SwizZz". Apple Music. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  65. "iTunes - Music - Night Crawler (feat. Swizzz) - Single by Lucid". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-01-30. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  66. "iTunes - Music - Favorite Rapper (feat. SwizZz & Jesse Taylor) - Single by Seven Cities Syndicate". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  67. "iTunes - Music - The Game (feat. SwizZz) - Single by Tilt". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  68. "iTunes - Music - Dedicated (feat. SwizZz) - Single by NAY NAY". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-05-04. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  69. "My Grave (feat. SwizZz & DJ Hoppa) - Single by Def Note". Apple Music. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  70. "Am I a Legend? (feat. SwizZz) - Single by Shaggy No Scoob". Apple Music. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  71. "Infinite (feat. SwizZz & Freeloader MC) - Single by Wes Yee". Apple Music. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  72. "Can't Be Bothered (feat. SwizZz) - Single by All The Meaning". Apple Music. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  73. "Drop It (feat. SwizZz) - Single by Mekhi". Apple Music. July 2, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  74. "The Grinch by KidCrusher". Apple Music. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  75. "Raw by Hopsin". Apple Music. November 19, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  76. "Tech N9ne Presents Rollin' Stone by Stevie Stone". Apple Music. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  77. "My Grandmas Basement by Jarren Benton". Apple Music. June 11, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  78. "Chasing Down a Dream by Futuristic". Apple Music. February 19, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  79. "Dizzy Wright - The Golden Age". Hotnewhiphop. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  80. "Knock Madness by Hopsin". Apple Music. November 26, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  81. "3P - Single by Mike Bars". Apple Music. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  82. "Slow Motion by Jarren Benton". Apple Music. January 27, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  83. "Hoppa and Friends by DJ Hoppa". Apple Music. March 31, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  84. "The Growing Process by Dizzy Wright". Apple Music. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  85. "Stoney Point by Demrick & DJ Hoppa". Apple Music. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  86. "Pound Syndrome by Hopsin". Apple Music. July 24, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  87. "Wolff - Lycanthropy Pt. II (feat. Komatose, Donnie Menace, SwizZz, Reverend Fang Gory, GrewSum". Retrieved January 25, 2020.
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