US rapper forced to cancel UK gig

US rapper Tyler returned to the UK on Saturday, four years after he was banned from entering the country, only to see his impromptu gig cancelled when legions of fans turned up to watch him perform.

The rapper, whose given name is Tyler Gregory Okonma, was banned from the UK in 2015 over the content of his lyrics, at that time the Home Office alleged the songwriter “encourages violence and intolerance” and “fosters hatred with views that seek to provoke others to terrorist acts”.

The Guardian understands that the ban, which was originally imposed for three to five years, no longer applies and he is able to enter the UK legally.

Okonma, who was forced to cancel performances in the UK, responded with incredulity when the ban was imposed, saying the lyrics the government had cited were from six years ago. His manager,

Christian Clancy, mounted a defence of his client, arguing Okonma had “evolved and grown out of that”.

The rapper posted a video and picture of himself outside Buckingham Palace, in London, on Twitter on Saturday. He was dressed in a pink and red suit and, in the video, appeared to be shadowboxing. He said he would perform at the Bussey building in Peckham at 3pm on Saturday.

But before 3:30pm, he tweeted to say “cops cancelled it” due to the crowds who arrived to watch him perform, including some “gate climbing”. However, a spokesman for the Metropolitan police said while officers were present on the ground for public safety, it was the venue and not the police force that cancelled the gig. Images posted on social media saw huge crowds in the streets around the venue.

Okonma is one of a number of rappers who to have been banned from the UK. Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg have both been temporarily excluded from the country.