Pa Salieu

Born in Berkshire in 1997, MC Pa Salieu approaches every bar he writes from the perspective of an outsider. His infectious delivery and aggressive flow are rooted in the tradition of British rappers like The Streets, Skepta and Wiley, but his natural gift for melody and rhythmic cadence pays tribute to his true roots—his African heritage; his parents emigrated to the UK from The Gambia (in West Africa) before he was born. He exists somewhere in between these two worlds on 2020’s Send Them To Coventry, which, alongside the release of fellow rapper slowthai’s Nothing Great About Britain introduced global audiences to a new iteration of British MCs. Despite his success, he still approaches his work as an artist with everything to prove. “I didn’t get a formal education with music,” he told Apple Music. “I’m someone that is just starting to experience life. Until now, my life has been about survival. Music is still so exciting to me. I’m learning every day.”