There’s an observation CLASH has heard time and time again: UK rap lost something vital when Mr. Salieu was sent to prison. Now, that may be reductive – plenty of good music was released when Pa went away – but it also highlights his importancethe sheer presence he commands. An artist who walks his own path, Pa Salieu draws from afrobeats and drill, highlife and grime, producing something that speaks to multiple disciplines, while forging his own.
Pa Salieu’s return, then, is pretty big news. Moving like a man with a point to prove, his post-incarceration run ranks with the best slate of any UK rapper in the game right now – the likes of ‘Belly, ‘Allergy’, and ‘Round & Round’ are certified anthems, immediately shifting the narrative.
There’s a palpable air of anticipation at the Garage tonight. The queues outside are enormous, the stage time pushed back slightly to accommodate this – in truth, it only serves to ratchet up expectations still further.
Onstage, Pa Salieu more than meets fans’ hopes. A livewire bundle, every single aspect of the set feels both thought-through, a pleasingly loose. The band are incredible, with a jazz-like elasticity to the performances allowing Pa to twist and tease out fresh nuance to his words. Dressed in army fatigues like a rebel general, it’s a playful take on his heritage, while also asserting his place at the top table of UK rap’s military squad.
Indeed, taken a whole the set stands as testimony to the strength of Pa’s catalogue. It moves from those early bumpers through highlights of his vastly influential mixtape ‘Send Them To Coventry’- by a curious twist of fate, mere hours from the fourth anniversary of its release.
But this isn’t some look back, or a simple reminder – Pa Salieu’s best work in front of him. His post-release singles are magnetic, while appearances from Backroad Gee – on the explosive ‘My Family’ – point to the creative forces around him. It’s a joyous exhalation, a night of freedom and celebration; closing with a promise to fans that more shows are on the way, Pa Salieu is ready to write his next chapter – the past is simply more fuel for his fire.
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Words: Robin Murray