Pa Salieu Pays Homage to His Gambian Roots and Becomes an Afrikan Rebel With New EP

Pa Salieu has tapped into his Gambian roots with brand new 3-track EP Afrikan Rebel, featuring Nigerian music maestros Tay Iwar, Zlatan and Obongjayar. Seamlessly blending new and evolving subgenres from the motherland, the EP is groovy and rhythmic, while simultaneously imprinted with Salieu’s signature rebellious style.

Alongside the release of the EP, he announced dates for his upcoming 2021 UK tour.

The follow-up to his successful summertime anthem Glidin’ featuring slowthai, the short and sweet extended play is a tribute to Pa’s West African DNA. The first track, Shining, is infused with the light and airy vocals of Tay Iwar and the undefeated vim of Zlatan, ending lightly with chill and mellow percussion, then transitioning into the explosive Style & Fashion.

Undoubtedly the standout track of the EP, Style & Fashion is an amapiano-influenced dance track sprinkled with Obongjayar’s Nigerian pride. Finishing off the EP is Lit, a catchy track patched with sounds from UK and African drill, azonto and grimy hip-hop.

Speaking on the new EP, Pa Salieu says: “Fundamentally, Afrikan Rebel is about being proud and loud about where you come from. For me that is Africa. Growing up in the UK, especially having spent my early years in Gambia, it wasn’t always easy being black and especially not black African with an African accent, but I have always been taught to be proud of who I am and have never shied away from that fact for better or for worse.”

Pa Salieu first sent tremors into the UK music scene with his single Frontline in early 2020; his gruff and versatile voice, raw presence and determination to put the midlands on the map gave him a place as one to watch. Only a few months later and he’d firmly cemented that place, with the release of his debut mixtape Send Them to Coventry being one of the best UK projects of 2020. Now having collaborated with the likes of M1llionz, being brought out to perform by Burna Boy, and being nominated for a prestigious Ivor Novello award, Pa Salieu really is one of the most exciting acts to touch the UK in recent years.

Check out Afrikan Rebel: