* En anglais uniquement
After spending his adolescence building up a street buzz under the name Young Savage, the Philadelphia rapper Shawn Smith reclaimed his own name for his autobiographical debut, SINK OR SWIM: A SHAWN SMITH STORY. Once known for his voracious freestyles and quippy punchlines, Smith’s latest chapter brims with big-picture storytelling and astute social commentary. “I figure I can be a spokesperson because they never gon’ be able to tell their own story,” he says, casting a light on his Southwest Philly friends and family. “People being aware of that cycle could open their minds up,” he adds optimistically. And yet, there’s no preachiness in his perspective. Instead, Smith has figured out a careful balance in rapping about his upbringing: he’s equal parts sharp-tongued and warm-hearted.