Antwan Afram,[1] (born 1 January 1998) known professionally as Ant Wan, is a Swedish rapper and songwriter. After initially releasing his first song in 2016, he has since achieved major success in the Swedish music scene and considering a rising star in Swedish hip-hop.
Afram made a few songs in 2017 and later in 2018 changed his artist name to Ant Wan.[2] His debut EP, Wow, was released in 2019 and included the tracks "Wow", "Kall", "Rikare", "Fendi" and "Boo",[2] each of which reached the top of the Swedish Albums Chart.
Early life
Afram was born on New Year's Day, 1998 and was born to an ethnic Assyrian family originally from Syria, although he has also been recognized under the Syriac-Aramean label.[3][4] He grew up in the Råby area of Västerås, Sweden and released his first songs in 2016.[5][6] His first song was titled Jett on Jett, and he initially released it under the same name of the area he grew up in (Råby), but he would later change his artist name to Ant Wan in 2018.
Afram first released the song "Sativa" in 2018, reaching #67 on the Sverigetopplistan and staying for 14 weeks. In 2019, Afram released his debut EP Wow, which contained five singles and had one single, "Kall", reach number two on the charts and bring the EP to the top spot, beginning his rise to fame.[7] He would release his debut album, 724, the following year, reaching 2nd place on the charts and the main song of the album (under the same name) being certified platinum.[8]
Afram previously glorified a gangster lifestyle in his work and persona, but later backtracked on this and has since kept a relatively low profile.[9] [10]
Career
In 2022, Afram was featured alongside fellow Swedish rapper Yung Lean for the latter's single "Paradise Lost".[11] The music video for the single featured Afram and Lean in a wooden chapel and a dimly-lit underground garage, and was released in May of that year.
In 2023, Afram performed his very first arena concert at the Avicii Arena, a concert which sold out the same day that tickets went on sale.[12] The concert was organized with the online magazine DOPEST alongside German concert promoter FKP Scorpio.[13]
In early 2024, Afram was awarded "Artist of the Year" as well as the "Guldmicken" award for Best Live Artist at the Swedish P3 Gold Awards.[12] Despite him winning the awards at the event, Afram was not physically present at the ceremony.
In late 2024, Afram made headlines for performing a sold out concert at the Tele2 area in Stockholm, which set a new attendance record of 40,899 people.[4] The attendance number of the concert broke the previous record that Maddona held of 40,577 since 2015, and he made history as being the first Swedish hip-hop artist to hold his own concert in the area.[14][15] He would thank everyone in attendance at the concert, saying:
"For me, you are not fans, for me, you are my family. Whatever happens after the concert, if it ends, I will always love you."[16]
Afram is set to perform at the 2025 edition of Sthlm (Stockholm) Fields on June 28th.[17]
Grammy rant controversy
In late 2022, although having been nominated for the Swedish Grammis, Afram took to Instagram in a public post, where he questioned why he wasn't nominated in all the categories before exclaiming, "Grammis and P3 can run their prices up their asses".[18] Although he was initially furious about having received only one nomination from the Grammis, he would later accept his award nominations from P3.[19]
Album takedown
Early in 2024, it was noted that Afram's album Leylas World was temporarily taken down from Spotify due to a copyright claim on the song "Jag and Du".[20] The album was later put back on the platform, but the song remained the only one that was still unavailable afterwards.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Year | Peak positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWE [21] |
NOR [22] | ||
| 724 | 2020 | 2 | — |
| 710 (Deluxe) | 4 | — | |
| Leylas World[23] | 2021 | 1 | — |
| Wow 2[24] | 1 | 38 | |
| The Only Wan | 2022 | 1 [25] |
30 |
| The Only Wan (Deluxe) | 2022 | 1 | - |
| Wanderland | 2024 | 1 [26] |
23 |
Extended plays
| Title | Year | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| SWE [21] | ||
| Wow | 2019 | 1 |
| Ghettostar | 4 | |
| Kapitel 21 | 1 | |
| For Those Who Believed | 2024 | 1 [27] |
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWE [21] | |||
| "Sativa" | 2018 | 67 | Non-album singles |
| "Legend" | 99 | ||
| "Mitt liv" | 81 | ||
| "Kall" | 2019 | 2 | Wow |
| "Drip" | 7 | Non-album singles | |
| "Blessed" | 11 | ||
| "Designer" (with Lamix) |
33 | A.D.H.D | |
| "Mama" | 7 | Ghettostar | |
| "Ikon" | 24 | ||
| "Chubby Bunny" | 93 | Non-album single | |
| "Hon" | 14 | Ghettostar | |
| "Ya rab" | 15 | Kapitel 21 | |
| "Cleopatra" | 24 | Non-album single | |
| "Ingen Autotune" | 2020 | 53 | 724 |
| "Goat" | 12 | ||
| "Gango" | 38 | ||
| "R.O.D" (with Matte Caliste, featuring Dave East) |
91 | Non-album single | |
| "Jag & du" | 18 | Leylas World | |
| "Mamacita" | 27 | Non-album single | |
| "Bars" | 22 | Leylas World | |
| "No Love" | 2021 | 14 | |
| "Marbella"[28] | 6 | Wow 2 | |
| "Free"[29] | 16 | Non-album single | |
| "Komplicerat" | 2022 | 1 | The Only Wan |
| "Habiba" | 6 | ||
| "Loyal" | 2 [30] | ||
| "Dum" | 1 [31] | ||
| "Gata" | 2023 | 2 [32] |
Non-album singles |
| "En till dans" | 3 [33] | ||
| "Go" | 1 [34] | ||
| "Sova" | 2024 | 1 [35] |
For Those Who Believed |
| "Faller" | 2 [36] |
Non-album single | |
| "Lover" | 2 [37] |
Wanderland |
Featured singles
Other charted songs
| Title | Year | Peak positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWE [21][37] | |||
| "Fendi" | 2019 | 31 | Wow |
| "Wow" | 52 | ||
| "Rikare" | 65 | ||
| "Boo" | —[A] | ||
| "Ghettostar" | 31 | Ghettostar | |
| "Livsstil" | 56 | ||
| "Kokain City" | 61 | ||
| "Flera Days" | 63 | ||
| "Thug" | 74 | ||
| "Va mig" | 7 | Kapitel 21 | |
| "Je t'aime" | 21 | ||
| "Maria" | 40 | ||
| "724" | 2020 | 9 | 724 |
| "Madame" | 26 | ||
| "Fukushima" | 56 | ||
| "Annan kaliber" | 60 | ||
| "Bang bang" | 61 | ||
| "Dyin" | 67 | ||
| "Modigliani" | 80 | ||
| "Vit Cola" | 95 | ||
| "Lalala" | —[B] | ||
| "Kopior" | —[C] | ||
| "Immanu El" | —[D] | ||
| "Puss" | 48 | 724 (Deluxe)[40] | |
| "1942" | 2021 | 4 | Leylas World |
| "Malaika" | 11 [41] | ||
| "Dom Pérignon" | 45 | ||
| "Wavy" | 52 | ||
| "Magic" | 54 | ||
| "Leylas World" | 66 | ||
| "Shot Caller" | 75 | ||
| "Heartbreaker" | 14 | Wow 2 | |
| "5AM" | 19 | ||
| "Innan musiken" | 22 | ||
| "Wenak" | 5 | ||
| "Live n Learn" | 34 | ||
| "Jayzee" | 33 | ||
| "Walkin" | 36 | ||
| "En" | 2022 | 7 | The Only Wan |
| "Med dig" | 20 | ||
| "Testa" | 21 | ||
| "Dexter" | 22 | ||
| "Hennessy" | 17 | ||
| "Kärlek" | 17 [31] | ||
| "Drama" | 26 [31] | ||
| "22 Freestyle" | 34 [31] | ||
| "Misstag" | 2024 | 18 | For Those Who Believed |
| "Mirakel" | 26 | ||
| "Kokaina" | 40 | ||
| "Luv" | 16 | ||
| "Legacy" | 29 | ||
| "Guten Tag" | 56 | Wanderland | |
| "Sweden" | 20 | ||
| "Marisol" | 49 | ||
| "Bad Boy" | 34 | ||
| "Wesh" | 58 | ||
| "Toxic" | 51 | ||
| "24 Freestyle" | 61 | ||
| "Hur" | 88 | ||
| "SOS" | 33 | ||
| "Fatti" | 66 |
Notes
- ^ "Boo" did not enter the Sverigetopplistan, but peaked at number five on the Swedish Heatseeker chart.[38]
- ^ "Lalala" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number 12 on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[39]
- ^ "Kopior" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number 14 on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[39]
- ^ "Immanu El" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number 15 on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[39]
References
- ^ "Ant Wan berör med sin halvt dolda sorgsenhet". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 6 April 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ a b Dopest.se Ant Wan släpper sin debut-EP "WOW"
- ^ "When did Ant Wan start making music?". Genius. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ a b SyriacPress (17 October 2024). "Syriac hip-hop artist Antwan Afram breaks records with historic concert in Sweden". Syriac Press. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Ant Wan släpper nytt album om uppväxten i Västerås". Kingsizemag.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ "Ant Wan: "Ingen bar mig, jag kom hit själv"". Gaffa. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ "Ant Wan: "Ingen bar mig, jag kom hit själv"". gaffa.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Search – Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Ant Wan". Dopest (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Sjunger om ständig rädsla för att dö på Råby – läs kulturredaktörens kärleksförklaring till Västeråsstjärnan". VLT (in Swedish). 28 November 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Yung Lean releases "Paradise Lost" video featuring Ant Wan". The FADER. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ a b Nyheter, S. V. T. (26 January 2024). "Ant Wan och Maggio P3 Guld-galans stora vinnare". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Nilsson, Pontus (2 October 2023). "Allt om Ant Wan på Avicii Arena". Dopest (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ TT (12 October 2024). "Publikrekord när Ant Wan intog Tele 2 Arena". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Nyheter, S. V. T. (12 October 2024). "Alan Max om fenomenet Ant Wan: "Driver kulturen framåt"". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Audience Record as Ant Wan Takes Over Tele2 | Sweden Herald". swedenherald.com. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Ant Wan to Sthlm Fields | Sweden Herald". swedenherald.com. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Hörmark, Andreas (12 October 2024). ""En generationsröst – som Ulf Lundell"". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2412. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Nylin, Lars (1 September 2024). "NYLIN om fenomenet Ant Wan (och lite om Oasis)". Musikindustrin (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Nyheter, S. V. T. (22 January 2024). "Ant Wan-låtar tillbaka på Spotify". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Ant Wan discography". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- ^ Peaks in Norway:
- Wow 2: "VG-lista – Topp 40 Album uke 42, 2021". VG-lista. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- The Only Wan: "Album 2022 uke 36". VG-lista. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
- Wanderland: "Album 2024 uke 35". VG-lista. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "Leylas World av Ant Wan i iTunes" (in Swedish). Apple Music. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Ant Wan ger oss efterlängtade albumet 'WOW 2'". dopest.se (in Swedish). 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- ^ "Veckolista Album, vecka 36". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- ^ "Veckolista Album, vecka 35, 2024". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "Veckolista Album, vecka 7". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ "Marbella – Single by Ant Wan on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- ^ "FREE – Single by Ant Wan on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 36". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 42". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 9". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 17". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 40". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 7". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 29". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 35". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
- ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 2, 2019" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
- ^ a b c "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 15". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ "724 (Deluxe)". Spotify. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 41". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
External links
- Ant Wan at AllMusic
- Ant Wan discography at Discogs
- Ant Wan discography at MusicBrainz
- Ant Wan at Genius
- Ant Wan on YouTube
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