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.

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