Rah Swish

Rah Swish, born Rahlique Devawn Wilks on December 4, 1997, in Canarsie, Brooklyn, New York, is an American rapper and songwriter prominently associated with the Brooklyn drill subgenre of hip-hop.^[1] His music features a lean, athletic flow characterized by metronomic precision, blending gritty drill beats with occasional R&B influences and samples, drawing from early inspirations like 50 Cent, Jay-Z, and The Notorious B.I.G.^[2][3] Raised in a large family in underserved Brooklyn neighborhoods, Swish initially pursued football as a promising wide receiver and cornerback before an injury shifted his focus to music.^[2] He began rapping around 2014 at age 17, forming the collective Swish Gang (originally called Never Broke Again) with local friends immersed in the emerging Brooklyn drill scene.^[2][3] This period marked his entry into a vibrant hip-hop ecosystem alongside peers like Pop Smoke, 22Gz, and Sheff G, with whom he shared close ties, particularly as a friend and collaborator in the "Woo" movement.^[3][4] Swish gained local traction with early singles like "Debo" in January 2017, which amassed over 600,000 YouTube views, followed by tracks such as "Back Up," "This N That," and the 2019 hit "Treeshin'," which surpassed 3.5 million YouTube views.^[2] His debut mixtape, Look What They Started, arrived in late 2019, showcasing his raw drill energy.^[3] The 2020 EP WOO Forever served as a poignant tribute to Pop Smoke following his murder earlier that year, featuring melodic drill cuts like "Hustlin" and highlighting Swish's versatility.^[2] Subsequent releases include the 2021 album Mayor of the Streets, the 2022 EP The Old Me, and collaborative projects like SAY DAT (2022) with Ron Suno and Dusty Locane.^[5] In recent years, Swish has continued to evolve his sound, releasing the introspective album 9 SHOTS IN THE RUGER in 2023 and the diverse project Elevator Music on May 24, 2024, which he described as his most varied work to date, incorporating new creative processes.^[6] His latest single, "Boss Talk," dropped on October 17, 2025, via 20NYNE Entertainment and Empire Distribution, underscoring his ongoing presence in New York's hip-hop landscape.^[7] Through consistent output and collaborations with artists like Fivio Foreign and Maino, Swish remains a key figure in sustaining Brooklyn drill's global influence.^[5]

Early life and background

Childhood and family

Rahlique Devawn Wilks, known professionally as Rah Swish, was born on December 4, 1997, in Canarsie, Brooklyn, New York City.^[8] Growing up in a large, underserved family in Brooklyn's working-class neighborhoods, Swish faced economic hardships that required his household to exert double the effort just to afford basic necessities like food.^[2] His early years were marked by the urban grit of East New York, where he lived from around age eight to fourteen, describing the area as "more hood, more rough around the edges" compared to other parts of Brooklyn.^[9] At that time, his family relocated to Canarsie, a somewhat more suburban enclave within the borough, though still deeply embedded in Brooklyn's vibrant street culture.^[9] These environments exposed Swish to hip-hop from a young age through the pervasive influence of local street life and peers who casually engaged with the genre.^[3] Surrounded by friends dabbling in rap amid the challenges of underserved communities, his childhood was shaped by the raw energy of Brooklyn's hip-hop scene, laying the groundwork for his later interests.^[3]

Initial interest in music

Rah Swish, born and raised in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn, discovered his interest in rap during his late teens amid the burgeoning local drill scene. In his late teens, around 2014–2015, he began rapping at the encouragement of friends who were already dabbling in music, transitioning from street life and a promising high school football career derailed by injury to freestyle sessions that honed his rapid-fire delivery.^[10][3][2] Around 2014–2015, Swish co-formed the rap collective Never Broke Again (later rebranded as Swish Gang) with a group of close friends from his neighborhood, positioning himself as the standout MC in the crew. The collective quickly gained traction through early YouTube videos that amassed millions of views, blending raw Brooklyn energy with drill's aggressive beats and establishing a foundation for Swish's presence in the local underground.^[2][11][12] Swish's initial solo efforts emerged alongside the group, including his debut track "50 Bars Pt. 1" in 2015—a dense, lyrical freestyle recorded in a studio session with Swish Gang members that captured his deep-toned flow and began building buzz in Brooklyn circles. He experimented with unreleased demos during this period, often freestyling over beats inspired by Chicago drill influences adapted to New York's street narratives, while performing at informal local spots and block parties to test his material.^[13][9][3] The early New York drill scene, pioneered by figures like Pop Smoke, profoundly shaped Swish's sound development, as he and Pop—fellow Canarsie natives—formed a close friendship through shared street experiences before Pop entered rap. Swish, who started rapping slightly ahead of Pop, provided feedback on his friend's initial tracks, fostering a competitive yet supportive dynamic that infused their music with authentic Brooklyn grit and melodic hooks over haunting production.^[14][2][11]

Musical career

2017–2019: Group affiliations and debut releases

The rap collective co-founded by Rah Swish in 2014 with friends in Brooklyn, originally called Never Broke Again and later known as Swish Gang, served as a stepping stone in the local drill scene as he shifted toward solo projects.^[1][2] This allowed him to channel his deep-toned delivery and aggressive lyricism into individual releases, marking the beginning of his independent rise within New York's underground rap circuit. His debut single, "Debo," released in January 2017, quickly gained traction in Brooklyn, amassing over 600,000 views on YouTube and establishing local buzz through its raw depiction of street life and drill-infused production.^[15][2] The track's viral success highlighted Swish's potential as a standout voice in the emerging Brooklyn drill movement, resonating with audiences via platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube. Swish's first mixtape, Look What They Started, arrived in December 2019 via Empire Distribution, compiling 11 tracks that solidified his presence in the drill subgenre.^[16] Key highlights included "Load It" featuring Pop Smoke, an early collaboration with the rising Woo affiliate that showcased layered ad-libs and booming 808s produced by 808Melo, and "Treeshin'," a gritty standout with over 4 million streams across platforms, emphasizing confrontational flows over sparse, ominous beats.^[16][15] These efforts drew initial media nods from outlets like XXL, which spotlighted Swish amid the growing Brooklyn drill wave for his contributions to the scene's energetic, territorial sound.^[3]

2020–2022: Breakthrough mixtapes and rising prominence

In 2020, Rah Swish achieved a significant breakthrough with the release of his mixtape WOO Forever on June 26, via Empire and WOO Entertainment, comprising 11 tracks that paid homage to the late Brooklyn drill pioneer Pop Smoke. The project, which included the track "Feel Like Pop" explicitly honoring Pop Smoke's influence and the broader Woo movement, resonated with fans for its raw energy and continuation of the drill sound, earning praise as Swish's most polished work to date. While it did not chart on major Billboard lists, the mixtape garnered substantial streaming attention, with standout singles like "Feel Like Pop" accumulating over 14 million Spotify streams by 2022, reflecting strong reception within the New York drill community.^[3][17][18] Swish followed with his debut studio album Mayor of the Streets in 2021, expanding on his drill foundations with tracks blending street narratives and melodic elements.^[5] Building on this momentum, he released the single "Watchu Like" featuring Dream Doll in November 2020, which sampled Aaliyah's "Are You That Somebody?" and quickly became a fan favorite for its catchy drill-trap fusion, amassing more than 16 million Spotify streams. By 2022, he released the single "Tell 'Em" in May, showcasing his signature aggressive delivery and street narratives, further solidifying his presence in the genre. That year also saw the EP The Old Me and the collaborative album SAY DAT with Ron Suno and Dusty Locane. Another key track, "Treeshin'," originally from his 2019 project but refeatured on WOO Forever, gained renewed traction during this period, surpassing 10 million Spotify streams and highlighting Swish's ability to build on earlier buzz through consistent output.^[19][20][5] Swish's rising prominence was amplified by increased visibility on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, where his catalog, including WOO Forever tracks, featured prominently in drill playlists and garnered millions of plays. His profile received a boost from a feature in XXL Magazine's "The Break" series in December 2020, where he discussed his Brooklyn roots, drill influences, and aspirations, introducing him to a wider audience beyond local scenes. The COVID-19 pandemic severely limited live performances across the music industry, including for emerging artists like Swish, forcing a pivot to digital promotion strategies such as music videos, social media teasers, and virtual interviews to maintain fan engagement during lockdowns.^[1][3][21]

2023–present: Recent albums and evolving style

In 2023, Rah Swish released the mixtape 9 SHOTS IN THE RUGER on June 9 through 20Nyne Entertainment and Empire Distribution. The nine-track project features collaborations with Sdot Go on "ME & MY GUN" and Ron Suno on "GET DROPPED," maintaining his connections within the New York drill community while introducing denser, trap-influenced production elements that emphasize aggressive rhythms and minimalistic beats. This release marked a pivot toward more introspective street narratives, reflecting personal resilience amid ongoing industry challenges, as highlighted in the lead single "INFRARED."^[22] Following a period of consistent output, Swish delivered the album Elevator Music on May 24, 2024, again via 20Nyne Entertainment and Empire. The 14-track effort showcases guest appearances from Rowdy Rebel on "BT," Jim Jones on "Felon Music," and Sheff G on "Us Against Them," blending high-energy drill flows with smoother, elevator-like melodic hooks that signal a maturation in his delivery. Critical reception noted the album's accessibility, with tracks like "Who Am I" and "Dasani" (featuring Lonny Love) praised for their catchy refrains and thematic focus on urban perseverance, though user ratings averaged around 2.2 out of 5 on platforms like Rate Your Music, citing it as solid but not groundbreaking.^[23] Extending his momentum into 2025, Swish issued the single "I Know RS" on January 24 through the same labels, a raw track addressing skepticism about his career trajectory with pointed lyrics over sparse production.^[24] Later that year, he appeared on Tay Savage's album NO EMOTIONS FROM A KING, contributing to the collaborative cut "Horror Story," which integrates his signature drill cadence with darker, horrorcore-inspired beats.^[25] These releases, building on the foundation of his 2020–2022 mixtapes, demonstrate Swish's adaptation toward versatile production and broader collaborations, including features with artists like 34Zeussy and TaTa on related projects, amid a shifting New York rap landscape.^[26] In October 2025, he released the single "Boss Talk" via 20NYNE Entertainment and Empire Distribution.^[7]

Artistic style and influences

Musical style and production

Rah Swish's music is deeply rooted in the Brooklyn drill subgenre, characterized by production that emphasizes heavy 808 bass lines creating a woozy, gliding foundation, rapid hi-hat patterns that drive the rhythm, and ominous, dark synths that contribute to an aggressive and atmospheric tone.^[11] These elements, often produced at moderate tempos around 70 BPM, draw from Chicago and UK drill influences while adapting to a danceable New York edge, as seen in his tracks that prioritize hard-hitting drums for visceral impact.^[11] Lyrically, Swish frequently explores themes of street life, loyalty to his crew, and unyielding bravado, reflecting the harsh realities and code of conduct in Brooklyn's urban environment. In "Finish What I Started" (2022), he raps lines like "Chase him, we lit a spark up in that building" to depict violent confrontations and "I'm only steppin' with niggas that's 'bout it" to underscore selective allegiance, while boasting "Bitch, I'm a shark up in the water" to assert dominance and fearlessness.^[27][28] His vocal delivery stands out in the New York rap scene through a deep, resonant tone delivered with sharp flows and double-time cadences, often layered with incendiary ad-libs that amplify energy and territorial claims, such as echoes of "woo" or aggressive interjections that echo the drill collective's camaraderie.^[29][3][30] Over time, Swish's production has evolved from the raw, gritty mixtape aesthetics of early releases like WOO Forever (2020) to more polished, melodic integrations in recent releases, such as his 2024 album Elevator Music, incorporating R&B flips and smoother synth arrangements for broader appeal. He frequently collaborates with producers such as 808 Melo, AXL Beats, and 5STARBEATZ, who blend bleak, ominous elements like church bells and hums with refined beats to maintain drill's cynicism while enhancing commercial viability.^[29][31][32]

Influences and collaborations

Rah Swish's influences include early inspirations from classic New York hip-hop artists such as 50 Cent, Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G., and Lil Wayne, which shaped his lean, athletic flow and storytelling style.^[3] His primary musical influences also stem from the burgeoning Brooklyn drill scene, where he draws heavily from peers like Pop Smoke and Fivio Foreign, whose energetic flows and street narratives shaped his aggressive delivery and thematic focus on local bravado.^[33] He has often referenced Pop Smoke as a pivotal figure, not only as a close friend from Canarsie but also as a stylistic blueprint, evident in Swish's deep-voiced tributes and shared affinity for booming basslines that echo Pop's breakout sound.^[4] Additionally, the broader UK drill movement, adapted into New York's faster-paced, melody-infused variant through producers like AXL Beats, informs Swish's rhythmic intensity and minimalistic beats, blending transatlantic elements into his Woo-affiliated aesthetic.^[11] Swish's collaborations have amplified his reach within the drill ecosystem, beginning with early ties to WOO-affiliated artists and extending to cross-regional partnerships. His longstanding connection to Pop Smoke manifested in joint tracks like "Load It" from Swish's 2019 mixtape Look What They Started and a guest feature on Pop Smoke's posthumous 2021 album Faith with "Brush Em," where Swish's verses complemented the late rapper's signature energy.^[4] These mutual shoutouts in the drill community, including shared performances and interviews highlighting their brotherly bond, underscore how such alliances propelled Brooklyn's collective momentum.^[3] The Brooklyn collective scenes further expanded Swish's network, as a founding member of the Never Broke Again (N.B.A.) group alongside artists like Curly Savv, Dah Dah, and Zay G, fostering joint projects that solidified his role in the local underground.^[12] More recent collaborations, such as "YUKATAN" with 310babii and AllBlack on his 2024 project Elevator Music, demonstrate Swish's evolving partnerships beyond New York, incorporating West Coast trap influences while maintaining drill's raw edge.^[34] Other notable joint efforts include the 2022 mixtape Say Dat with Ron Suno, Dusty Locane, and Onpointlikeop, which highlighted the interconnected Brooklyn drill circuit.^[35]

Discography

Studio albums and mixtapes

Rah Swish's discography features a series of mixtapes and albums that highlight his evolution within the New York drill scene, often emphasizing gritty street narratives, affiliations with Brooklyn's WOO movement, and introspective growth. His early mixtapes established his sound with high-energy beats and raw lyricism, while later studio albums incorporated more polished production and collaborations, reflecting his rising prominence. None of his projects have achieved significant positions on major Billboard charts, though they have garnered substantial streaming numbers on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.^[36][1]

Mixtapes

Rah Swish's initial mixtapes laid the foundation for his career, focusing on aggressive drill flows and tributes to his neighborhood and crew loyalties. These releases helped build his fanbase through viral singles and consistent output.

• Look What They Started (Reloaded): Released on December 24, 2019, this 11-track mixtape compiles early hits and new material, centering on themes of confrontation and rising from the streets. It received positive fan reception for tracks like "Treeshin'," which amassed millions of streams, marking Swish's breakthrough in Brooklyn drill.^[37][38]
• WOO Forever: Issued on June 26, 2020, via Empire and WOO Entertainment, this 11-track project serves as a homage to Swish's WOO affiliations, with themes of resilience and crew solidarity amid street challenges. The mixtape was well-received for its energetic production and features from artists like Curly Savv, solidifying Swish's position in the drill subgenre.^[39][40][41]

Studio Albums

Swish transitioned to studio albums with more structured releases, blending drill intensity with personal reflection and high-profile collaborations. These projects showcase his maturation, often exploring past experiences and current dominance in the rap landscape.

• MAYOR OF THE STREETS: Debuting on June 16, 2021, this 10-track album asserts Swish's self-proclaimed leadership in Brooklyn's rap scene, with themes of authority and hustle. It earned acclaim for its cohesive sound and promotional singles, boosting Swish's visibility through features and visuals.^[42][43]
• SAY DAT (collaborative with Dusty Locane, Ron Suno, and OnPointLikeOP): Released September 23, 2022, this 8-track mixtape-style album unites Brooklyn drill talents to deliver high-octane tracks on competition and unity. The project was praised for its chemistry and standout cuts like "Bust Down," enhancing the artists' collective buzz in the underground scene.^[44]
• The Old Me: Dropped on December 16, 2022, this concise 7-track album delves into themes of personal evolution and shedding past struggles. It received favorable responses for its introspective lyrics and minimalistic production, serving as a bridge to Swish's more mature phase.^[45] (Note: Spotify lists it as an album with 7 tracks.)
• 9 SHOTS IN THE RUGER: Released June 9, 2023, this 9-track effort confronts themes of violence and survival with intense, gun-toting narratives. Featuring Sdot Go and Ron Suno, it was noted for its raw energy and visualizers, maintaining Swish's drill authenticity while experimenting with faster tempos.^[46][47]
• Elevator Music: His most recent full-length as of 2024, released May 24, 2024, comprises 14 tracks exploring everyday triumphs and relationships in an urban context. With collaborations including Rowdy Rebel and Jim Jones, the album was commended for its varied features and "sexy drill" elements, marking a commercial evolution.^[48][34][32]

Singles

Rah Swish has released several singles as a lead artist, often through independent labels like WOO Entertainment and EMPIRE, showcasing his drill-influenced style with energetic flows and street narratives. His early work gained traction in Brooklyn's hip-hop scene, while later releases achieved wider streaming success. As lead artist "Debo," released on January 11, 2017, via WOO Entertainment and EMPIRE, marked one of Swish's initial breakthroughs as an independent single. The track features aggressive drill production and lyrics about street loyalty, accompanied by a music video directed by Voice2Hard that depicts urban settings and crew dynamics, amassing over 600,000 views in its early years.^[49] It has accumulated approximately 234,000 streams on Spotify as of recent data, establishing local buzz without major chart entry.^[1] "Treeshin'," dropped on November 11, 2019, also under WOO Entertainment and EMPIRE, served as the lead single for his mixtape Look What They Started (Reloaded).^[50] The song's booming bass and confrontational lyrics propelled it to viral status on platforms like Spotify Viral Charts in New York, with the official video—shot by Voice2Hard—featuring high-energy street scenes and choreography that contributed to over 10 million Spotify streams.^[51] No certifications have been reported, but its performance highlighted Swish's rising prominence in the drill subgenre. In 2022, "Tell 'Em" was released on May 6 via EMPIRE, sampling Soulja Boy for a catchy hook that resonated in club and street settings.^[52] The official video portrays Swish in luxurious urban environments, emphasizing confidence and success, and the track has surpassed 25 million Spotify streams, marking his strongest streaming performance to date without Billboard chart placement.^[53] "Finish What I Started," issued on November 18, 2022, through EMPIRE ahead of his EP The Old Me, delivers introspective yet hard-hitting bars over trap beats.^[54] The accompanying video, released the same day, shows Swish reflecting in a dimly lit, narrative-driven setup, underscoring themes of perseverance; it has garnered steady streams but no specific certifications or major chart peaks.^[55] More recently, "I Know RS" debuted on January 24, 2025, via 20NYNE Entertainment and EMPIRE, featuring raw drill energy with personal storytelling.^[56] The official video captures Swish in Brooklyn locales, reinforcing his authentic roots, and as a fresh release by November 2025, it continues to build momentum on streaming platforms without reported certifications.^[57][58] "Boss Talk," released on October 17, 2025, via 20NYNE Entertainment and Empire Distribution, underscores Swish's ongoing presence with confident drill bars.^[7] As featured artist Rah Swish's featured appearances have amplified his visibility, particularly through collaborations with major Brooklyn figures. On Pop Smoke's posthumous album Faith, he contributed to "Don't Know Em," released July 31, 2021, via Republic Records.^[59] Swish's verse adds drill flair to the track's ominous production, and the feature—leveraging Pop Smoke's massive fanbase—helped expose Swish to a broader audience, resulting in nearly 10 million Spotify streams and contributing to the album's overall chart success on the Billboard 200.^[60] This collaboration solidified his ties to the Woo movement and boosted his streaming profile significantly.^[61]

Notable guest appearances

Rah Swish has made several impactful guest appearances on tracks by other artists, particularly within the New York drill scene, where his aggressive, high-energy verses often amplify the song's intensity and contribute to cross-promotion among Brooklyn rappers. One early notable feature came on the 2018 track "Word to My Granny" by Mauley G and Fetty Luciano, a local drill collaboration that showcased Swish's rapid-fire delivery and street narratives, helping solidify his presence in underground NY compilations and mixtapes. His contributions to Pop Smoke's posthumous album Faith (2021) marked a significant escalation in visibility, with Swish delivering haunting, motivational bars on "Brush Em," emphasizing resilience and legacy in the drill sound. This feature, on the standard album, tied into Pop Smoke's enduring influence and garnered millions of streams, highlighting Swish's role in preserving Brooklyn drill's momentum.^[62] Similarly, on the reissue track "Don't Know Em," Swish's verse added a layer of confrontational energy, further embedding him in high-profile posthumous releases that bridged local talent with mainstream hip-hop exposure.^[63] In more recent years, Swish's guest work has evolved toward broader collaborations, as seen on Leaf's 2024 single "Luv In The Club" from the Dreamgirl Deluxe project, where his gritty flow contrasted the track's club-oriented vibe, facilitating cross-genre promotion between drill and emerging pop-rap artists. This appearance, released in December 2024, exemplifies Swish's expanding reach beyond strict drill circles while maintaining his signature hype-driven style.^[64][65] Overall, these features have not only boosted streaming numbers—such as the Pop Smoke tracks surpassing 10 million plays—but also underscored Swish's versatility in elevating collaborative efforts within the evolving New York hip-hop landscape up to 2025.