Pa Salieu’s story has always been about transformation; moving from shadows into the light. His music, raw with emotion and laced with themes of loss and redemption, reflects a rare intensity that sets him apart in UK rap. Now, after serving 21 months of a 33-month sentence for violent disorder, the British-Gambian artist is back with his new single 'Belly', reintroducing himself to a fanbase that has been eagerly waiting for his return.
Since breaking out with 'Frontline,' Pa Salieu has been a genre-bending force, pulling from drill, Afrobeats, and beyond, to create a sound that’s undeniably his own. Tracks like 'My Family,' a gritty collaboration with BackRoad Gee, showcased his ability to merge beauty with roughness - his music is both vulnerable and unflinching. His debut mixtape, 'Send Them To Coventry,' captured the essence of his youth in the Midlands and The Gambia, painting vivid pictures of poverty, discrimination, and the pull of street life. But beneath it all was a message of hope, as Pa sought to find his way toward a brighter future.
His journey was tragically interrupted by the events of 2018, when Pa Salieu lost his close friend Fidel Glasgow in a fatal stabbing. Pa found himself embroiled in the aftermath, both a victim and a participant in the violence that followed. Despite his efforts to turn his life around through music, his past came back to haunt him, culminating in a prison sentence that severed his rising career.
But Pa Salieu’s return marks a new beginning. 'Belly' picks up where he left off, blending his unique style with a renewed sense of purpose. Produced by Felix Joseph and AoD, the track is a bouncy, infectious reintroduction, featuring a neck-snapping beat and bass-heavy synths. There’s a playfulness in his delivery, but also a depth; Pa is not just making music, he’s owning his story, finding a way to turn his pain into power.
“I been gone for a while / But I still made it back to you,” he raps in the opening lines, addressing both the streets and his fans. It’s a line that hits harder knowing the struggles he’s been through. The UK rap scene missed Pa Salieu’s energy, his ability to push against the grain, and his defiance in the face of adversity. Now, with 'Belly,' it feels like he’s back where he belongs; on top, with a story that’s far from over.
Pa Salieu’s release is more than just a comeback; it’s a reminder that UK music needs voices like his. Voices that speak to the realities of life while finding moments of beauty and resilience. With 'Belly,' Pa Salieu is blending darkness with light, and UK rap is all the better for it.
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