麻豆社

Adele, Jessie J, Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith, they are all previous winners of 鈥榯he 麻豆社 Music's Sound of 鈥� and now we can add a Coventry Kid to that list.
Pa Salieu, the musician from Hillfields has been crowned 麻豆社 Music Sound of 2021.

The 23-year-old rapper was selected by a panel of 160 industry experts and alumni artists including Billie Eilish, Stormzy, Jorja Smith, Wolf Alice, AJ Tracey, YUNGBLUD, Foals, and Charli XCX.

Pa Salieu was born in Slough and spent his formative years in The Gambia before moving to Coventry at the age of 8. His new home later became the inspiration behind his breakout track Frontline and his debut mixtape Send Them To Coventry, which he dropped late in 2020 to widespread acclaim. He began his journey with 麻豆社 Music back in the summer of 2019, with his track Dem A Lie premiering on 麻豆社 Radio 1Xtra for Target Embargo. He has since recorded freestyles for Toddla T and Tiffany Calver on 1Xtra, and joined the likes of Headie One, Ghetts and Burna Boy on the bill for 1Xtra Live 2020.

He has performed live in session for Radio 1鈥檚 Future Sounds with Annie Mac, with his recent single My Family featuring BackRoad Gee making the longlist for Annie鈥檚 Hottest Record of the Year 2020. He has also picked up consistent Tune Of The Week support from Nick Grimshaw and Clara Amfo.

Pa Salieu says: 鈥淚 was just really happy to even be included on the list alongside some amazing artists, a few of who I know personally. They鈥檙e all crazy talented, so to be the winner of something like this so early in my journey just feels mad."

Annie Mac says: 鈥淚鈥檓 delighted for Pa Salieu winning the prestigious Sound of 2021. As a man whose childhood was split between The Gambia and Coventry, he has a unique perspective on Britain. His songs are exquisitely produced, with enough restraint for Pa鈥檚 voice to shine through and have the space to tell the stories of his life. They are stories of friendship and family, of violence, exclusion and racism and they act as timeless evidence of British street life at the turn of new decade.鈥�

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