NEWS
Pa Salieu has continued his comeback run and dropped two new powerful freestyles, ‘Epiphany’ and ‘Crash’. Check them out below.
The BRIT-nominated rapper was discharged from prison last month after serving roughly 21 months in prison. Back in 2021, he was convicted of possessing a bottle as an offensive weapon and a second count of violent disorder, stemming from a 2018 fight following the stabbing of his friend Fidel Glasgow, grandson of The Specials’ Neville Staple. Shortly after his release, he dropped the massive comeback single, ‘Belly’.
Today (October 11), he continued his streak by dropping the double single ‘Epiphany/Crash’ – both songs being produced by Salieu’s frequent collaborators, Felix and AoD. On ‘Epiphany’, Salieu holds a mirror to systemic corruption and global injustices, going after the current and former British Prime Ministers: “Greed always falls in power, ask Boris [Johnson] / Puppets always looking confused, fuck Rishi [Sunak] / I used to vote for Labour, now I don’t know what to do / No hope, fuck Keir Starmer, he a puppet too.”
The Coventry star also brings up his time in prison and many societal issues such as poverty, war, prison reform and climate change: “They’ll be no more ego, when we learn how to take the truth / Take away the evil politician, no corruption.”
In contrast, ‘Crash’ is focused on offering an intimate glimpse into the Gambian-British rapper’s journey through pain and adversity – showing his vulnerability and painted a portrait of himself seeking redemption: “The lord will not favour the man of corruption / But I still try heart full of kindness / Never been perfect, I pray for more guidance.”
Speaking on the inspiration behind the freestyles, Salieu said: “While I was in jail, I realised how fortunate I was to always have my thoughts for company. My mind was my escape, and I fell in love with the pen and paper and that’s when I had an epiphany – I have a voice, a platform, and something meaningful to say.”
“Growing up in a Pan-Africanist family, I was raised with a strong sense of history, and I know the power of words,” he continued. “Reading Tupac’s [1999 poetry collection] The Rose That Grew from Concrete inspired me, especially the way he expressed himself through poetry. I love philosophy, history, culture and humanity. ‘Epiphany’ and ‘Crash’ are raw reflections of that, taken directly from my jail notes.”
The double single came a month after ‘Belly’, which peaked at Number Four on the UK official singles chart. The 27-year-old then shortly followed up with ‘Allergy’. The latter song soundtracked Arsenal’s recent North London Derby ‘hype film’ and will feature on the EA FC 2025 soundtrack.
The last body of work Salieu released was his 2021 EP ‘Afrikan Rebel’. In a four-star review, NME shared: “Pa Salieu is forever championing his heritage as a proud fan and contributor to Africa’s growing subgenres all over the continent. He might be known here in the UK as an alternative grime ground-breaker, but he is truly more than that when he dabbles in making music with his fellow Africans. Taking his rebellious nature in his stride, ‘Afrikan Rebel’ is a great EP to tide us over for his debut album proper.”
The rapper also performed at the 2022 edition of Glastonbury at Worthy Farm, which earned him a glowing five-star review from NME. Sam Moore wrote: “Let’s hope he’s prepared for a good few more years of this, then: watching a talent like Salieu put in such a polished and poised performance at the world’s biggest music festival so early in his career bodes very well indeed.”
NEWS
NBA YoungBoy has faced several hardships in recent years. Along with serving time behind bars, the rapper has also dealt with mental health challenges linked to the painful experiences in his life.
His music has often given listeners insight into that pain. During a recent appearance with Funny Marco on Open Thoughts, YoungBoy opened up even further about what he has been going through.
During the conversation, YoungBoy revealed that he no longer plans to live in the United States. He confirmed that he currently resides in South Korea. Although he did not share why he chose that country, his comments suggest he is ready to leave his life in America behind.
Funny Marco asked YoungBoy whether he might ever move back to the United States. The rapper responded with “never in life,” though he admitted that he could return for a visit someday.
Before relocating, YoungBoy lived on a ranch in Utah, where local residents had gradually started becoming more comfortable with him. His new home in South Korea now places him in a completely different cultural environment.
Adjusting to such a major change may not be easy, but YoungBoy has shown his strength and appears confident about where he wants to live. After experiencing so much pain in the United States, he seemingly feels more comfortable keeping his distance.
The move also comes as he deals with serious health concerns involving his heart. The condition remains an ongoing concern, and we hope the artist receives the support he needs as he continues facing this difficult medical situation.
