“I was vulnerable”: Pa Salieu reflects on BBC documentary and life after prison

Pa Salieu, once hailed as the brightest star in British music, is stepping into a new chapter. After a high-profile fall from grace that saw his career paused by a prison sentence, the Coventry rapper has opened up to the BBC about his journey toward redemption and the decision to film his comeback for the cameras.

The British-Gambian musician was the subject of the recent BBC Three documentary, The Trials of Pa Salieu. The film provided an intimate look at the rapper as he navigated life on probation, balancing strict curfews and travel restrictions with a return to the stage at Glastonbury 2025. Speaking to BBC Radio CWR, Salieu admitted that while the process was difficult, it was necessary.

“I think it was the right thing to do,” he told the BBC. “I was really vulnerable, but it was the right thing to do.” He likened the experience to the way his generation “exposes” themselves on social media, viewing the film as a way to fulfill his role and influence others positively. “Everyone has a role in life—we find it, recognise it, and we choose to do the right or wrong thing.”

Salieu’s momentum was halted in 2022 when he was sentenced to 33 months for violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon, stemming from a 2018 brawl in which his close friend, Fidel Glasgow, was fatally stabbed. Reflecting on his 16-and-a-half months behind bars, the former “Sound of 2021” winner revealed that he found a different kind of liberty through literature.

“Reading and writing was my freedom,” he explained. “You can be stuck anywhere for years and years, but there’s nothing like your mind. Embrace your mind and embrace your thoughts.”

Despite his global aspirations, Salieu remains deeply rooted in his hometown, crediting the city for his artistic identity. “Coventry is where I found myself,” he noted. As for what’s next, the rapper promised new music “really soon,” emphasizing that in a life often dictated by external restrictions, “creating is something I can control.”

The Trials of Pa Salieu is currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer.