Octavian: BBC Sound of 2019 winner announces he will be leaving music

Rapper Octavian, who won the BBC’s Sound of 2019 award, has announced that he will be leaving the music.

In 2020 the release of an album was scrapped and he was abandoned by his record label, after allegations of physical and mental abuse by his ex-girlfriend.

At the time he strongly denied the allegations and said he was addressing the issue “legally and correctly”.

This week he wrote on Instagram that “he is not in a good position” and that “all this negativity is drying up”.

“Thank you for your patience. Forever grateful. Go away for now. See you soon,” she wrote.

The rapper and his label split in November 2020.

Posting to Twitter and Instagram, the musician’s former partner claimed to have “kicked and punched her frequently” during their three-year relationship.

A spokesperson for Black Butter Records told Newsbeat at the time: “We at Black Butter have made the decision not to continue working with Octavian and will not release his album.

“We do not tolerate domestic abuse of any kind and have suggested that Octavian seek professional help at this time.”

His former partner posted a thread on Twitter, including a video and photos, saying she was subjected to physical, verbal and psychological abuse during their relationship. He supports violence including being kicked in the stomach.

Octavian acknowledged at the time on his own Instagram that she was his ex-girlfriend and said he left her. In a separate, longer video reposted from another account, he claimed he was never offensive.

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