Australia’s most infamous rapper claims he’s turned over a new leaf since being released from jail after serving two years for a vicious attack on a man in the pokies room of a pub.
Pio Misa, or YP as he’s known, is one of the founding members of Mount Druit hiphop group OneFour, which popularised ‘drill’ rap in Australia.
In 2019 he was jailed for two years after being convicted of reckless grievous bodily harm after hitting Anthony Hayward twice in the back of the head in the pokies room of Rooty Hill’s Carousel Inn, in Sydney’s west.
But since leaving prison on December 3, the 22-year-old said he’s changed – and he attributes his new attitude to his time behind bars where he focused on his fitness.
‘I hope I can help other people wanting to change their life…because that’s what I did,’ ‘ he told Men’s Health.
‘Real s***, we weren’t doing the most positive things for our community and sending the right message.
‘But with my mindset now, I just hope I can inspire kids who are in the same shoes.’
Pio ‘YP’ Misa (pictured) wearing the chain he was gifted upon his parole release from prison
Parole Paradise
Late last year, Misa celebrated his parole by drinking a champagne tower and wearing his new chain.
His chain features the letters YP and a 1 and 4 engraved on it, he wore it while filling up a tower of glasses with champagne at the party celebrating his parole.
He’s also reportedly begun seeing influencer and law student Chaye Connelly.
Pio ‘YP’ Misa was filmed in bed with Chay Connelly the former partner of an ex-bikie who she has a child with
In footage posted to Instagram Misa is seen showing off his new jewelry which has been engraved with ‘YP’ and the number 14 and pouring champagne (pictured).
Since being released in December, Misa has also worked on and released a single of his own.
His debut solo track ‘Out of Sight’ was released in February, is more vulnerable than OneFour’s previous material.
On it, YP raps ruminative lyrics over a synth strings and piano beat ‘I don’t understand why grown men don’t cry, that’s a damn lie.’
’23 hours in a cell, one hour yard time, that shit gave me plenty time to reflect,’ he raps.
Misa said that his new song is a result of his changed mentality and that his fans need to understand that he and his music have changed.
‘If they can’t understand, it’s on them, bro. If they don’t wanna accept it and don’t wanna accept me growing as an artist, then that’s something they gotta deal with.’
‘If I want to grow, I’ve got to take different routes. ‘I can’t stay that same person I was before I went inside.’ he said.
‘Temptations the street has to offer’
At sentencing the Sydney District Court was told: ‘They (OneFour) have the capacity to succeed if they remove themselves from any temptations the street has to offer’.
In 2019, on-off OneFour member Dahcell ‘Celly’ Ramos was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement in the same Carousel Inn brawl.
The court heard that Ramos had used a hammer from within his jacket to hit another man in the head multiple times.
Chilling CCTV footage of the incident shows the man’s head getting stomped on straight after.
Two of Misa’s fellow group members ‘Celly’ and ‘Lekks’ were also jailed for their involvement in the brawl
Front-man Salec ‘Lekks’ Sua was also imprisoned for four-and-a-half years over the incident.
The melee victims sustained multiple fractures around their heads, one suffering two wounded ears after the earrings were pulled out of them.
Justice James Bennett in sentencing, had described the earlier interaction between the groups in the Rooty Hill pub as ‘racial comments, perhaps extending to slurs.’
In 2019, OneFour had to cancel their tour after multiple venues pulled out, the drill group’s managers say that was because police pressured them to do so
There have been calls in the past for drill music to be banned. The genre originated in London and heavily draws upon themes of socioeconomic struggle, pride and violence.
OneFour had to cancel their 2019 tour due to venues pulling out.
Police have maintained that they didn’t pressure the venues to cancel their events with OneFour, though the rap group’s management insist that is the case.
