South Central’s own AzSwaye, widely recognized as a pioneer of “Traffic Rap” in Los Angeles, returns with a striking new music video for his latest single, “Rap Cap.” Unapologetic and brutally honest, the video is a sharp critique of the inauthentic personas dominating the rap game, challenging the legitimacy of their stories and testing the lines between image and reality.
Set in the heart of South Central L.A., “Rap Cap” blends present-day visuals of Swaye in his element with flashbacks and gritty depictions of real-life moments from his upbringing. More than just scenery, these visuals serve as a visceral reminder of the environment that shaped him—and the truth behind his words.
“Rap Cap is me holding the mirror up,” Swaye explains. “There’s a lot of actors in this rap sh*t. They talk it, but they never lived it. I’m from a place where everything gets checked—your past, your name, your story. You can’t fake that.”
Known for spearheading Traffic Rap, a raw and unfiltered subgenre that emerged from L.A.’s underground scene, AzSwaye has long been a voice for the streets—one that trades flash for facts. With his trademark aggressive delivery and no-frills authenticity, “Rap Cap” doubles down on what his core fans have always known: Swaye doesn’t cap.
Directed with a documentary-style lens, the video complements the track’s hard-hitting production and lyrical precision. It’s more than a visual—it’s a statement on the state of hip-hop and a reassertion of what real credibility looks like.