Savage

Savage is a rapper from New Zealand who began his career as a member of the group Deceptikon but was most successful as a solo artist, releasing smash hits such as "Swing," a chart-topper in his homeland. Born Demetrius Savelio on June 28, 1981, in Auckland, Savage is of Samoan heritage. In 1996 he founded the Deceptikon with fellow Auckland rappers Devolo, Alphrisk, and Mareko. They made their full-length album debut in 2002 with Elimination on the label Dawn Raid Entertainment. Savage subsequently made his full-length solo album debut on the same label with Moonshine (2005). The album spawned the chart-topping smash hits "Swing" and "Moonshine," the latter featuring Akon, and it also features the Top Three hit "They Don't Know." Following a second album with the Deceptikonz, Heavy Rotation (2006), Savage took his solo career to America, where his 2005 chart-topper "Swing" was prominently featured in the hit comedy Knocked Up (2007). A remix of "Swing" featuring Soulja Boy marked Savage's American debut in 2008 in affiliation with Universal Music Group.