SwizZz

Justin Ritter, better known as SwizZz, is a rapper from San Fernando Valley, California. Raw, honest, and confident, he expresses his struggles and conflicts through his aggressive, energetic music. He is known for his distinctive nasal voice as well as his contact lenses, which make his eyeballs appear to be solid black. SwizZz first reached public attention through his association with fellow rapper Hopsin, whom he met in high school. After dropping out of college to pursue music full-time, SwizZz signed to Funk Volume, the label co-founded by Hopsin and Damien Ritter (SwizZz's brother). SwizZz and Hopsin released Haywire, a collaborative mixtape, in 2009, and the two toured together in 2011. Good Morning SwizZzle, Ritter's debut solo mixtape, appeared soon after. SwizZz toured with several of his labelmates, including DJ Hoppa, Jarren Benton, and Dizzy Wright, during 2012, and a tour documentary was subsequently released. SwizZz released a solo single, "Zoom In," in 2013, but he went on a hiatus the following year. He made guest appearances on several Funk Volume releases in 2015, but the label shuttered in early 2016 over disputes between its co-owners. SwizZz continued releasing singles independently, including 2016's "Automatic," a response to Hopsin's "Ill Mind of Hopsin 8," which was his detailed account of why Funk Volume disbanded. ~ Paul Simpson