Pa Salieu Rounds Out A Blockbuster Year With Debut 'Send Them To Coventry'

Pa Salieu Rounds Out A Blockbuster Year With Debut 'Send Them To Coventry'


November 16, 2020

There is simply no other artist like Pa Salieu right now.

His debut full-length, Send Them To Coventry, is a fusion of influences ranging from his Gambian ancestry to his Coventry upbringing. Specifically, the tape blends dancehall, traditional Gambian sounds, drill and UK rap, for something so unique that the Pa Salieu sound has become a genre all of its own.

We open with pre-released "Block Boy", littered with hard-hitting, patois-seasoned lyrics before hitting "No Warnin'" with Boy Boy, a gritty rendition of life in Coventry (hailed by Pa Salieu as the "city of violence") that opens up with freight train-like horns, signalling the impending fire. "Frontline", "Betty" and "My Family" (the latter featuring BackRoad Gee) are all serious, chart-ready bops in their own right that reinforce Pa Salieu's compelling, fresh voice and vigorous flow.

As we move towards the end of the tape, "B***k" offers a global celebration of Blackness, closing with a sample of traditional West African sounds to amplify the joy he finds in his culture and heritage. Like mid-point track "More Paper" with Eight9FLY, "Energy" (which features Mahalia) is a more solemn affair, exploring the nature of life itself, mixing an irresistible groove with profound and introspective lyricism.

Send Them To Coventry is a truly cohesive work of art, a fresh and unforgettable presentation of the man Pa Salieu is today. As an artist, his trajectory remains star-bound as he continues to turn heads with a sound unlike any other.

Watch the fresh visuals for "Energy" below and then stream Send Them To Coventry in full at the bottom.



Words: Ian Opolot
Photography: DC


Recommended: