'Documentary was right thing to do' says Pa Salieu

Rapper Pa Salieu was one of the UK's rising music stars and was named the winner of the BBC's Sound of 2021 and nominated for a Brit award.

But the Coventry musician's momentum came to an abrupt halt when he was jailed for his role in a violent brawl which happened years earlier in 2018.

Two people were stabbed during the incident and one of them, Salieu's close friend Fidel Glasgow, died from his injuries.

In 2022, Salieu received a 33-month prison sentence for violent disorder and possessing a bottle as an offensive weapon.

After serving 16-and-a-half months of his sentence, he was released on probation and has since been working to rebuild his life, which was recently the subject of BBC Three documentary The Trials of Pa Salieu.

The film followed him as he prepared to return to live performances, including Glastonbury 2025 while subject to curfews and travel restrictions.

He told BBC Radio CWR it offered a "glimpse" into his life, which he said had "always been open" since he started making music.

"I think it was the right thing to do," he added. "I was really vulnerable but it was the right thing to do."

Salieu likened appearing in the documentary to how people of his generation "expose" themselves on social media.

He said: "We all influence each other. This is just my way of doing it.

"I'm just fulfilling my role. Everyone has a role in life - we find it, recognise it and we choose to do the right or wrong thing."

The British-Gambian musician said he spent a lot of his time in jail writing, adding that while he was physically imprisoned, his mind remained free, describing freedom as a "responsibility".

"Reading and writing was my freedom," he said. "You find your own freedom and use it. It's more than just a cage - your mind is free."

He added: "You can be stuck anywhere for years and years but there's nothing like your mind. Embrace your mind and embrace your thoughts."

Salieu said he hoped the documentary would help to encourage others in similar situations to his own and also spoke of his love for his home city.

"If I wasn't in Coventry, would I have pursued music? Probably not," he said. "Coventry is where I found myself."

Asked about when he would release new music, he said "really soon", adding: "Creating is something I can control."

Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.