Shwayze

It's the summer after college. You're broke. You're homeless. What would you do? If you're Aaron Smith, aka Shwayze, you'd "party all night, every night" and find time to record your debut album.

A 22-year-old rapper who describes himself as the "only black kid in Malibu," Smith grew up on classic rock before discovering hip hop in middle school, where he earned his nickname, a tongue-in-cheek homage to '80s movie star Patrick Swayze. Smith worked in construction before he met his future producer, Cisco Adler, a musician better known for dating celebrities like Paris Hilton and Mischa Barton.

Shwayze hit it off with the hard-partying Adler, who had previously produced Hollywood rock-rapper Mickey Avalon's breakthrough single Jane Fonda, and the duo eventually signed with Suretone Records, home of Angels & Airwaves and The Cure. Buzzin', the first single from Shwayze's self-titled debut, is a breezy track featuring Smith's laid back flow and Adler's Sublime-meets-Gym Class Heroes backdrops. The song, already featured in a Pontiac car commercial, could become a surprise summer anthem.

Smith, who prides himself on delivering energetic live performances alongside his producer, will get a chance to impress some heads when Shwayze the live duo join the Warped Tour next month.

See: myspace.com/shwayze