The son of Puerto Rican and Tejano parents, Josue better known as Sway’s life has been nothing less of a rollercoaster. Born in the countryside of Juncos, Puerto Rico, Sway was forced to relocate to Chicago after the destruction of Hurricane Jorge. It was here in Chicago where Sway was introduced to the lifestyle of young, hungry teenagers willing to do anything for respect. Drugs and violence were everywhere so Sway used music to pass his time. He listened mostly to 90s Hip Hop, R&B and pop but soon became hooked to salsa and Reggaeton. Sway began building up his Reggaeton library, often singing to his favorite songs.
Lazie
Lazie, like Sway was also born out of state. Santa Cruz, Bolivia was were Lazie spent the first 10 years of his life. In those early years, Lazie would go down to the local radio station and party with his cousin. There he learned about old school Reggaeton (El General, Don Chezina and Vico C.) Fast forward a few years and Lazie found himself in Arlington, Virginia.It was not easy adapting to American culture but he found a mutual understanding with the lifestyle through music, more specifically Tupac’s music. “I loved writing music even though I hated reading and writing for school but it used to calm me down when at times I couldn’t explain what I used to feel”. Growing up as an “Illegal Immigrant” was tough for Lazie. He was constantly in trouble and soon found himself banned from Arlington public schools. Sometime during his high school years, his focus shifted from violence to women. It was during that time where he picked up on Reggaeton.
Years later, Sway and Lazie are a formidable duo on the rise. They are striving to be part of the new sound of Reggaeton/Latin Hip Hop and the Sangre Nueva de Reggaeton movement. While artists from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic have experienced a wave of success over the last few years, Sway and Lazie are determined to lead the wave of Latin artists coming from the United States.
- (Both) Describe your partnership with each other. How did that start?
We have always been close friends since middle school. We attended the same church and hanged out together. We were always known for being up to date with Reggaeton music and the people to go to for mix cds. After high school we gave singing and rapping a try for fun with our other friend Carlos aka Poecy and we formed Candelas Muzik. Starting off with Sony Acid Pro and a Microphone from a camera we started doing remixes to songs and rapping on beats from the internet. These "unreleased" songs can still be found around the web and Reggaeton forums. We then came across Antezana (Test Music Founder and Producer) and decided to become part of Test Music.
- (Sway) As the singer in the group, is there anyone’s style (Yandel, Ken-Y etc.) that influences you?
A major influence in my singing has been Zion from the duo Zion y Lennox and Yandel from the duo Wisin y Yandel. Ever since High School I have been a loyal fan. The 1st CD to get me hooked on them was Blin Blin Vol 1 which had songs featuring both duos. I would sing along to their lyrics testing my vocal skills to see if I could match theirs. I like their versatilities in their songs, being able to sing different tones and about different topics. Once I took singing seriously De La Ghetto made a major part in my dedication towards singing by pushing my limits. This is where I decided to be a different sound to peoples ears just like his. By showing my high pitches like Zion, showcasing meaningful lyrics like Yandel and versatility like De La Ghetto I strive to become a mix of all and at the same time showing off my own swagger and style. My only wish is to inspire upcoming artists the way these artists inspire me.
- (Lazie) You are a big Tupac fan. Can you speak more about that?
Ha Tupac. Lovely topic. To tell you the truth Tupac might be the only rapper that inspired me to write and love music. Ever since my trouble days during Middle School in Arlington "All eyez on me" and "Greatest Hits" were the Cd's that would calm me down and just made me sit back and think through things. You know how people go to shrinks to share their problems well Tupac was my therapy. Even now as I'm answering this questions chillin' back listening to Pac. Tupac was way ahead of his time. Don't get me wrong I'm from VA, East Coast all day baby, I also loved Biggie, but Tupac was always on the real talk and true things that happened in this world. People like him make me strive for more and give me the energy to work hard. Tupac recorded 6 songs A DAY! Their shouldn't be no reason why I wouldn't one day do that if I just stick to the mentality he had and not just be the best rapper alive but THE BEST RAPPER EVER.
- (Both) At what point did you start to take music seriously?
(SWAY)- After the passing of my close cousin Christina I. Serna who was like a sister I dedicated a song to her that can be found on our Myspace page; I decided to take the singing serious because she really believed in me. My last conversation with her before was exactly the day before she passed away. We talked a while about my music and what I had planned with it. She told me she could see me making it big one day. I wasn't sure about that because I was just having fun with it and taking it as a pass time. But she really had faith in me, always wanted to know when my next song was coming out and did her best to be able to hear it. She really didn't have internet down in Texas. She would spread my name around her school and said her cousin was going to be someone. When I told her my mixtape "Pensamientos Callejero" was out she was excited and I promised her I would send her a copy. Instead I had to end up burying the CD that I promised her, in her coffin. It's for her and myself that I'm striving to become not just a Reggaeton artist but to leave my mark on the whole music industry.
(Lazie)
I took this game serious once our mixtape "Pensamientos Callejero" came out and we received mad love from everyone in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia). Loved it when people hated and tried to go against us and call themselves "KING" and claiming they had the music game on lock when I haven't even heard about them even once. Disses were dealt and feelings were crushed. The feeling of the love from fans and the Hate from the envious mixed in with that wonderful feeling of performing made me decide that I want to do this for a living. Seeing the smile and happiness on my families faces, making my little sister feel like her brother is an All Star just made me feel so good and helped me decide to put my 100% heart and effort to music and TEST MUSIC "Get Use To It".
- (Both) You have both lived in many places, which area made the most impact on you?
(Lazie)
Being born in a very wealthy family in Bolivia and coming to America for that American dream that many go thru. From having it all to barely having any food to eat, seeing your parents work 12+ hours a day just to get us to a better place here in Virginia has made me felt like yes I’m Bolivian but Arlington Virginia was where I learned life lessons, where I was involved in a lot of trouble and learned many rules from the streets. That's why I proudly represent the movement of DMV. Because for Bolivia and DMV I do this. So one day when they ask anyone from here where they from and they say DMV? I want people to be like “whoa DMV mad respect”.
(Sway)
La Isla Del Encanto, Puerto Rico means everything to me. Right in the city of Juncos con mi mai y mi abuela. That's where I lived through the most struggle in my life even though there were good times, I grew up a lot those years. I was away from my father for two years while he was working to support us and money still wasn't there. That's when we got out of PR and went to Chicago where all I saw was drugs, gangs, and gun shots at night. Things got out of hand and that's what brought me to VA where I began to sing and do Reggaeton. Later I linked up with Test Music here in Woodbridge and the rest is history.
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