Rapper Pa Salieu ‘dropped’ from Commonwealth Games closing ceremony

The British rapper Pa Salieu has stated he has been blocked from performing on the Commonwealth Video games closing ceremony due to a “failed background verify”.

The 24-year-old musician from Coventry was acquitted in March of participating in violent dysfunction throughout a mass brawl, by which his good friend Fidel Glasgow was knifed to demise.

Nonetheless, the singer was convicted of possessing a bottle as an offensive weapon and had beforehand admitted a second depend of violent dysfunction regarding an assault on a person shortly after the brawl.

The trial concluded in March and his last sentencing date was on account of be in Could however has been postponed.

Sharing video footage from rehearsals of his Video games efficiency on Instagram, he wrote: “Yesterday I obtained a name to say that I’m being faraway from the present as a result of I ‘failed a background verify’.

“I can’t maintain being silent about these things.”

Salieu stated he had already “needed to cancel 90% of my reveals this 12 months” because the Dwelling Workplace wouldn't course of the paperwork wanted for him to journey overseas till the court docket case was completed.

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He continued: “I've totally cooperated with the method. Attended court docket on time each single day. I’ve persistently been attempting to make use of my profession to indicate individuals the place I’m from that there's one other life for us. One away from the roads.

“However what are you able to do if the police, the justice system and the Dwelling Workplace don’t care about you and put the whole lot potential in your option to cease you attempting to get on along with your life? Subsequent week’s efficiency ought to have been a celebration.”

Salieu, who launched his debut mixtape Ship Them To Coventry in 2020, incessantly makes use of his music to speak about violence in his hometown. In a single track he refers to it as “C-O-V, hashtag metropolis of violence”.

In October 2019, he suffered head accidents after being shot exterior a pub in Coventry metropolis centre, however made a full restoration and returned to music.

The closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Video games is because of happen at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on Monday night time, marking the top of 11 days of sporting competitors within the metropolis.

The federal government has been contacted for remark.