Aki Starr on Spanish Fly’s Billboard Hits and Thump Records History | SWAY’S UNIVERSE

Step back into the golden era of freestyle and hip hop with Sway Calloway and the legendary Aki Starr. This episode is a deep dive into the untold stories of the Bay Area music scene, from secret R&B singing careers to delivering seafood in San Francisco Chinatown. Whether you are a fan of classic freestyle or the history of Chicano culture, this conversation covers the heartbeat of the movement. 🎤 In this video, Sway and Aki Starr reunite to reminisce about their early days with Fly Dynamic Force and All City Productions. Aki shares the incredible journey of Spanish Fly, their Billboard-charting hits with Warner Brothers, and the current resurgence of freestyle music across the globe. We also get an inside look at the history of Thump Records and the cultural significance of the East Side Story compilations that defined a generation. 🚗 Key highlights include a breakdown of how freestyle was actually invented in New York by John Roby and Arthur Baker, the evolution of breakdancing from the streets to the Olympics, and a touching memory of meeting Selena in 1994. Plus, do not miss the rare moment where Sway's past as an R&B singer and songwriter is revealed! The episode wraps up with a beautiful live performance that will take you straight back to the nineties. 🎶 Chapters 0:00 The early days of New Craze and Spanish Fly 2:30 Sway's secret R&B singing and songwriting career 5:15 Delivering seafood and working at UPS in 1989 8:45 The resurgence of freestyle and oldies music 11:30 The history and impact of Thump Records 14:50 Exploring Chicano culture and lowrider history 17:30 Zoot suits and the art of breakdancing 21:00 The New York origins of freestyle music 24:15 How Planet Rock changed hip hop and new wave 27:30 Meeting Selena in Corpus Christi in 1994 31:00 Upcoming shows at the Solano County Fair 34:00 Aki Starr live performance of Always and Forever