EXCLUSIVE: DJ Swamp Izzo Signs with YMCMB; Talks Birdman, Breaking New Artists & Why You Can’t Stop Dreaming

I always tell everybody man, just keep dreaming. I think the most important part of the plan got to start from the dream. – DJ Swamp Izzo

The city of Atlanta is a breeding ground for talented DJ’s. However, not every man with two turn tables and a mic can rock a club or break new artists. Too bad you can’t say that about DJ Swamp Izzo. The streets has saluted Swamp for quite some time. And this week he received a greater acknowledgement from the Cash Money CEO himself, Birdman. He announced that the Atlanta DJ was now officially signed to YMCMB/Rich Gang.

The business move on behalf of Birdman can be noted as strategic-yet-justifiable. Why not sign one of the hottest DJ’s in Atlanta? Especially one who’s repertoire for discovering new artists is almost unmatched. From Young Thug, Future, Young Scooter, Cash Out, and let’s not forget Rich Homie Quan, DJ Swamp Izzo created a spotlight for these rappers. If it wasn’t for him playing their music in the clubs or hosting a mixtape, they may not be the chart toppers that they are today.

I think it was real special to Bird himself. By him having two other DJs in other markets like Miami, it was good  to have one down here [ATL] and  to cover a wide base around here, too. Basically, I’m already working with the artists he likes. Plus, I founded Young Thug. He’s [Birdman] really interested in that guy and he knew where it came from. And he like, “oh and you got the ear for this. Yeh, you definitely need to be along for this ride.”

While many would think there’s some sort of scientific method to knowing how to pick hot artists, Swamp Izzo says there is none. He attributes his ability to pick “what’s next” to the man above.

I couldn’t say that its a science to it or a certain idea. It’s like..if you know somebody who cooks real good, you just refer back to them. Like the guys I been working with. I knew they sound pretty good. So, I just be letting everybody know that they got some great music. And then, while I’m in the club, I let people that never heard of them hear it and it just grow from there. With my luck, it just be some great music. It’s really no science to it. For the past four years, I’ve been blessed. With God’s blessing, I be finding these guys who are the next big thing.

Growing up in a small town in South Carolina, DJ Swamp Izzo says his dreams were always large.

Like I’m in a small town with nothing but trees. We ain’t got nothing but time to think or go under. So I just started dreaming this crazy dream and everybody used to be like you the biggest joke in the world. I used to tell people I was gonna be on 106 & Park. I been on that three times. Back then, being from a small town, that’s big. That’s major. So that’s all I’m still doing…just dreaming.

For the past 10 years, Swamp has made Atlanta his home. With the Hood Rich squad and his own Swamp Izzo brand, he’s made a significant impact on the Dirty South’s  musical landscape. He admits that being different is why he’s been able to maintain his own identity. Many patrons and dancers of the Blue Flame strip club – Swamp’s weekly gig on the Westside of the Atlanta – can attest to that as well. Swamp brings high energy to the club, which is incomparable to other DJ’s. Local artists, oftentimes, label him as the “go-to” guy.

Every time I do an interview I always forget to talk about this one guy name Kwony Cash. I got his first deal with Soulja Boy. I did his first ever mixtape. He was major out here in these streets but he’s incarcerated now. I started his career off so I just wanted to make sure I say that. I do apologize to him. He’s a good guy. I remember the first mixtape. No lie…he had it for a couple of months. He didn’t put it out unless I got involved with it. He’s like, “yo, I can not put it out in these streets unless you on this tape man. I can’ t do it.”  Then I listened to it and listened to it, we went back and got some more records and we put it out. And that got him a deal. So, it’s by default sometimes.

YMCMB has skyrocketed the careers of major artists like Drake, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj. The label is known for turning artists into megastars. DJ Swamp Izzo is deserving of his new found affiliation. He ‘s on the right team at the right time. He’s grateful for the opportunity to represent a major brand. Even being homeless at one point in time, Swamp can’t help but recognize this moment as a blessing.

By me being a part of those letters, the YMCMB, it’s big itself. I watched my brother DJ Scream do it at MMG [Maybach Music Group]. Then, I get a guy that I been playing his music all my life to come and tell me I like what you doing. Come over here with us. Be a part of this.  This legacy they’ve built with the biggest artists in the world. You got to think about who’s over there. You got Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne… it’s a blessing itself just to be a part of it. The millions of records they’ve sold. Now, you can affiliate my name with that. I think that’s big in itself. So, I can go down in history and tell my little daughter(s) that I was part of something big.

As a true testament of humility, DJ Swamp Izzo knows that it was not only his work ethic that has put him in this position. Therefore, he’s thankful to the people who’s helped him on this journey.

I just want to give a major shout to Ayisha, my PR. She go so hard for me, before I was even here. She was going hard to make me understand like, “You don’t even know who you are!” Yeh, I know who I am. the person paying this light bill. But,I never though of it that big. so i want o give a major shout out to her.

And My HoodRich brothers for just believing in me in the beginning and to help me build my brand up. Those are are the guys who really said “Yo, you got something over here on Bankhead. Man, I think you just need to structure it different and build a brand off of this. So you won’t be stuck out here as just a DJ, a regular DJ.” So salute to those guys also.

Mike Smoak. He’s like the head honcho for the whole positioning me in to be with the YMCMB movement. He was a big inspiration on that. So I definitely shout him out also.

To follow DJ Swamp Izzo’s movement, visit www.DJSwampIzzo.com. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @SwampIzzo. Also, check out his catalogue of mixtapes on Livemixtapes.com/DJSwampIzzo and be on the lookout for his forthcoming project VVS 4.