Rapper Killa Says He Will Not Perform at Sanremo

Milan: Rapper Emis Killa announced on Wednesday that he will not be performing at the Sanremo song festival after learning from newspaper reports that he was under investigation. The rapper, a 35-year-old AC Milan fan whose real name is Emiliano Rudolf Giambelli, explained that he discovered “from the newspapers” his involvement in an anti-Mafia probe concerning AC Milan and Inter Milan ultra leaders. Consequently, he decided to withdraw from the festival, scheduled for February 11-15.

According to Ansa News Agency, the rapper expressed his disappointment, stating that he had been preparing for his first Sanremo festival after a 15-year-long career, and extended his gratitude to presenter and artistic director Carlo Conti for the opportunity. However, he conveyed in an Instagram story his decision to “take a step back and not participate” to allow the investigation to proceed without controversies.

Emis Killa was set to perform his song “Demoni” (Demons) at the event. The Milan newspaper Corriere della Sera reported on Wednesday that despite Killa’s scheduled performance, Milan’s police chief Bruno Megale had imposed a three-year ban on him from attending football matches and other sporting events. The report highlighted his involvement in the anti-Mafia probe into AC Milan and Inter Milan ultra leaders, questioning the decision to allow him to perform at Sanremo.

Killa acknowledged his awareness of the three-year ban but claimed he was unaware of being under investigation. Reports suggest that he was identified by investigators along with 14 other ultra fans in an incident involving a stadium steward and is allegedly connected as a friend and business partner to ultra leaders involved in the investigation, including Fabiano Capuzzo and Luca and Francesco Lucci.