S-Wrap

S-Wrap is a rap and spoken word artist born in Bristol, Pennsylvania. At age 11, he was introduced to freestyle rapping by his childhood neighbor. Shortly after discovering battle rap, he began freestyling and battling any chance he was given. Throughout middle school and high school he continued rapping until he was challenged by one of friends on the authenticity of the content in his lyrics. That was a pivotal time for S-Wrap. He had a moment of self-realization and narrowed moving forward into two choices. “I could either live the life I rap, or rap the life I live.” After various negative experiences related to drugs and gangs, he decided to quit rapping altogether. After graduating high school in 2008, he began attending Middle Tennessee State University where he started to pursue a degree in audio engineering. While attending, he became involved in a student-based performance collective known as Word Up. Students would meet in a courtyard in the middle of the campus around 8pm in the middle of the week. There would be live instruments, a DJ, dancing, spoken word performances, and battle rapping. These meetings would last until campus police would show up and shut it down. S-Wrap would occasionally battle rap at weekly meetings and then was introduced to a new avenue of verbal self-expression, which was Spoken Word. S-Wrap became a crafty “wordsmith” after intensely studying the lyricism and dexterity of his favorite rap artist, Lupe Fiasco. Lupe’s music taught him that it is possible to be very artistic with words. He began to gain a deeper understanding about literary devices and techniques. This helped him better communicate with his audience as well as better articulate his thoughts, experiences, and emotions. After performing one of his first spoken word pieces, Roses, at a Word Up event and people shared how that poem deeply resonated with them, he began to see how words and music can impact a person for better, or worse. In 2010, He accepted Jesus Christ, and that was a huge turning point. He read the verse in Proverbs 18:21 that talks about the power of speaking life or death within every word and action. He had seen the power of positive music and lyrics and decided in order to continue to give positivity through his art, he had to give up battle rapping. In 2012, S-Wrap studied abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata, Japan. During this time he linked up with a group and became a member of a group named HERC. HERC performed a couple shows during S-Wrap's stay in Japan. He also collaborated with a Japanese rapper based out of Osaka, CZ Tiger. He returned to the States and in December of 2013, he graduated with a Bachelors. S-Wrap was able to pick up Japanese and now makes bilingual music. In 2014, S-Wrap started working for a non-profit organization, Southern Word, that is based out of Nashville, TN. Southern Word is an organization that teaches students (middle school, high school, college students) to find their voice. This is done through the vehicle of spoken word. Southern Word has allowed him to become a spoken word and music production mentor to teens around Nashville. Using his passion to interact with teens is one way S-Wrap chooses to act out his phrase "Speak Life." S-Wrap uses his art to inspire people to pursue passions By "Speaking Life" in all his work, whether spoken word, rapping, or production, S-Wrap is able to reinforce authenticity and integrity in this environment and culture. He aims to embody the phrase Ex-Nihilio, creating something from nothing.... all through art. S.L.A.P. [Speaking Life And Positivity] Speaking Life and Positivity. [SLAP] For booking and other inquiries: swrapmusic@gmail.com www.soundcloud.com/swrapmusic