British rapper J Hus has been sentenced to eight months in prison, after pleading to possession of a knife. The award-winning rapper, who appeared at the Snaresbrook Crown Court, Redbridge, London, on Friday the 14th of December 2018, was sentenced after admitting to carrying a knife in public.

The 23-year-old rapper, who’s real name is Momodou Jallow, was caught with the weapon after police stopped a car near the Westfield shopping centre, in Stratford, east London, on the 21st of June 2018. Police stopped Jallow and his girlfriend, in their, after they smelt cannabis.

Speaking to the rapper they asked whether he was in possession of anything illegal, to which he revealed that he was in possession of a 10cm folding knife. Following his arrest officers asked why he was carrying the weapon, to which he replied: “You know, it’s Westfield.”

In July he plead not guilty to the charge of possession of a bladed article in a public place, but he then changed his plea, in October. The court heard that Jallow, has six previous convictions for ten offences between 2011 and 2016, which includes possession of a knife and violent disorder, he has also previously received an asbo.

Judge Sheila Canavan said she would be “failing in my duty”, if she did not jail him. Recognising his “considerable talent”, Canavan told the rapper he was a “role model to many”, but “failed to leave his past behind him”. Continuing she added: “This, in such a young life, is the fourth occasion when you have gone out armed with a knife.”

In a letter read out by his lawyer, Henry Blaxland, Jallow said he was sorry and that he “fully accepted his actions were careless”. He told the court how his decision to carrying a knife was “ill advised” and “utterly stupid”. Continuing he said I was not in the right state of mind” and “I’m deeply sorry and regret my foolish actions.”

Blaxland told Judge Canavan that the arrest was a “watershed moment” for the rapper, who knows “he has a responsibility” to others. He told the judge of how it has had “huge consequences” to his performance schedule.

J Hus is a rising star of the British rap scene, with his debut album, ‘Common Sense’, being nominated for the 2017 Mercury music prize. He was nominated for three Brit awards this year. However, following his arrest in June, he was removed from the line-up of this summer’s Wireless festival and dropped out of a scheduled appearance at the TRNSMT music festival.

Blaxland told the court his client had felt isolated because of his fame, and could have been drawn back to Newham, east London, which is where he grew up, “like a moth to a flame”. He said that the defendant had been seeing a therapist and has mild PTSD, after being stabbed five times, back in 2015.

The rapper hit the scene in 2015, with his song ‘Dem Boy Paigon’. It wasn’t until last year that J Hus released his debut studio album, ‘Common Sense’, which reached number six in the UK chart.

The album received widespread critical acclaim upon its release, and ended up being nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, as well as Album Of The Year, at this year’s Brit Awards.

The rapper was also a contender for Best British Breakthrough, at the awards show. Meanwhile, his song ‘Did You See’, reached the top ten, was also up for British Single Of The Year and was awarded Best Song, at the 2017 Mobo Awards.