Newport three-piece Skindred burst onto the scene with 2002’s ‘Babylon’, an album that married nu metal with rap and reggae to create something wholly their own. Due to their unique sonic fusions and their unmatched stage performances, the band have drawn fans from all manners of backgrounds and become one of the most in-demand alternative live acts in the country. Download Festival have booked them 9 times since 2006 as a foolproof way to guarantee a good party, and their raucous live shows have seen them receive awards and nominations from Kerrang, Metal Hammer, the Heavy Awards and the MOBOs.

Since eighth album ‘Smile’ hit Number 2 in the Official UK Album Chart and Number 1 in the Rock and Metal Chart, the band went on a massive nationwide tour in 2023. They then did even more impressive numbers on their three-night arena run in 2024 – sold out dates at Manchester Academy and O2 Academy Birmingham, and a massive gig at the Wembley OVO Arena. 2025 saw them trade huge crowds for smaller, more intimate venues for a UK tour, followed by one of Germany with Alien Ant Farm.

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The ‘You Got This’ Tour was announced today to tear across the UK and Ireland in October and November, including a massive night at London’s Alexandra Palace on Halloween. Drummer Arya Goggin is clearly already excited, saying “Halloween is always such a special night, for both us and our fans, so this year our annual ‘Night of the Living Dred’ show will be its biggest-ever at London’s Alexandra Palace! Along with Alien Ant Farm we have Spineshank and Orgy joining us. It’s going to be a really special night with loads of surprises.” The three support bands are each popping up on different nights of the tour – here’s the full list of where and when you can catch Skindred this Autumn:

• 24 October – Rock City, Nottingham w/ Spineshank
• 30 October – O2 Academy, Birmingham w/ Alien Ant Farm, Spineshank and Orgy
• 31 October – Alexandra Palace, London w/ Alien Ant Farm, Spineshank and Orgy
• 6 November – 3Olympia, Dublin w/ Alien Ant Farm
• 7 November – Telegraph Building w/ Alien Ant Farm
• 13 November – Barrowlands, Glasgow (no support confirmed for this date)

So far Skindred have released two singles from ninth album ‘You Got This’, including the groovy title track and the super-fun jam ‘Can I Get A’, which came out at the start of March. The album releases on the 17th of April on Earache Records, with pre-order links here. The full track listing looks like this:

1. You Got This
2. Can I Get A
3. Born Fe Dis
4. This Is The Sound
5. Broke
6. Glass
7. Big ‘Em Up
8. Do It Like This
9. My People
10. Give Thanks

Real name Jermaine Lamarr Cole, J. Cole has been one of the most insightful hiphop artists of the last 20 years, bringing an introspective depth and social consciousness to his art that can be uncommon in the current American rap scene. His fourth album 2016’s ‘4 Your Eyez Only’ was his biggest commercial success, while his 2018 fifth album ‘KOD’ broke a record previously held by The Beatles, by having six singles simultaneously in the Billboard Charts top 20. Cole has received 18 Grammy nominations, winning Best Rap Song in 2020 with 21 Savage’s hit ‘A Lot’ and in 2024 claiming Best Melodic Rap Performance for his feature on Lil Durk’s ‘All My Life’.

‘The Fall-Off’ is at its heart a concept album, telling over its two discs a story of J. Cole’s rise to stardom following the launch of ‘2014 Forest Hills Drive’ in 2014, and the emotions he felt trying to work out what he would do next. He has explained that A-side “Disc 29” discusses his experiences returning to his hometown at the age of 29 grappling with the realities of achieving his wildest dreams so young, while “Disc 39” covers another visit home as an older, more grounded person. The full release runs for over an hour, spanning aggressive hiphop flows, moving singing, and lo-fi instrumentals, all packaged in a brilliantly polished mix. If this is to be his last album, it’s a fantastic send-off.

J. Cole recently took to Instagram to share his comments from an Ask Me Anything post in a forum on his site inevitable.live, saying “’The Fall-Off’, a double album made with intentions to be my last, brings the concept of my first project full circle”. He has expressed that in the not-so-distant future, he wishes to dedicate his time to his passion of making beats, working to produce for other artists instead of himself.

Before stepping away from releasing his music, he’s going out with a bang – ‘The Fall-Off’ tour was announced yesterday, opening with a North American run from July to September this year, before heading to the UK and Europe in October, ending with dates in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. These are the dates for the UK and Ireland, including extra London and Manchester dates added due to popular demand:

19/10 – London- O2 Arena
20/10 – London- O2 Arena
22/10 – Dublin- 3Arena
25/10 – Birmingham- Utilita Arena
26/10 – Glasgow- OVO Hydro
28/10 – Manchester- Co-op Live
29/10 – Manchester- Co-op Live
31/10 – Nottingham- Motorpoint Arena
02/11 – London- O2 Arena

Tickets go on sale this Friday, the 20th of February, at 9AM and can be found here, although news site HotNewHipHop have reported multiple complaints about long queues and difficulties purchasing tickets for the US leg. ‘The Fall-Off’ released on the 6th of February through J. Cole’s label Dreamville and Interscope records.

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Loyle Carner, whose stage name is a spoonerism of his given name Benjamin Coyle-Larner, continues to establish himself as one of the most distinctive voices in British hip hop. The 30-year-old rapper from Croydon is building momentum following the release of his fourth studio album ‘hopefully!’, a project that has already been met with critical acclaim and is set to anchor a worldwide tour later this year.

Carner’s reputation has long been tied to his willingness to combine vulnerable lyricism with immersive production. On ‘hopefully!’, the instrumentation is shaped by airy percussion loops, soft layers of synth ambience and lightly strummed guitar lines.

The track ‘home!’ exemplifies his approach, incorporating natural percussion textures alongside the chatter of young children to create a sonic world centered on themes of family and fatherhood. Having become a father of two in recent years, Carner reflected on the process in an interview with Junkee, stating: “I still want to celebrate my family because that’s one of the most important things in my life. It’s trying to find a way of maintaining a mystery or an abstraction as to who they are but still being able to celebrate them in a way that’s meaningful to them when they grow up and listen to it. It’s a really hard thing to navigate. I’m learning, I guess, bit by bit.”

The album’s artwork, featuring Carner’s face marked with felt-tip pen scribbles, reinforces its thematic focus on parenthood and childhood perspective. ‘hopefully!’ follows ‘hugo’ (2022), an album that drew inspiration from Carner’s complex relationship with his father and that propelled him to wider international recognition.

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Carner introduced the new material on a major stage earlier this summer, premiering ‘hopefully!’ at Glastonbury alongside artists including Jorja Smith, Sampha and Ezra Collective. The performance was met with strong reception, and the album went on to reach No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart. Later in the season, he stepped in for Michael Kiwanuka at We Out Here Festival, headlining the slot to a sold-out crowd.

As his forthcoming tour approaches, Carner has confirmed a lineup of support acts reflecting his collaborative ethos. Dublin rapper Rejjie Snow will join the bill, bringing his genre-blurring style and smooth delivery. Also appearing is Brooklyn rapper and skateboarder Navy Blue, recognized for his introspective verses and textured production. French singer Léa Sen, who previously collaborated with Carner on hugo, contributes her distinctive, soulful presence, while London’s Brian Nasty offers a multi-disciplinary approach that captures the city’s restless creative energy.

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Carner’s four-night residency at London’s O2 Academy Brixton this November sold out immediately, underscoring the continued growth of his audience. Following the UK performances, he will bring hopefully! to stages across North America and Australia. In keeping with the family themes that underpin the album, Carner has expressed a desire to have his children join him on portions of the tour, a gesture that reflects the personal experiences at the core of his latest work.

The Tottenham-born rapper Wretch 32, real name Germaine Scott, has long been a pioneer of the evolving UK hip-hop scene. Beginning his career in grime before developing multi-genre fusions, his music has consistently balanced soulful storytelling with sharp social commentary.

His latest album HOME?, released in May 2025, is one of his most ambitious projects to date. Blending grime, afrobeat, reggae, garage, R&B, and spoken word, the record explores the question of what “home” means for a Black British artist raised in Tottenham. Critics praised it as a daring work of social documentation. Rolling Stone UK called it “a piece of social documentation that stretches back generations,” while Hive Magazine described it as “raw, unfiltered and unapologetic artistry.”

Wretch 32 grew up on the Tiverton Estate, situated next to the Broadwater Farm, notorious for the riots of the 1980s. He is the third generation of his family to be raised there, his great-grandparents having emigrated from Jamaica. His upbringing exposed him early to the realities of racial injustice in the UK. His father was active in community activism and frequently appeared on television campaigning for equality. Wretch himself was featured as a baby in the 1988 documentary Scenes from the Farm, filmed in the aftermath of the riots and capturing the lived realities of 1980s Black Britain.

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This background informs much of ‘HOME?’. In “Black and British,” his collaboration with Little Simz and Benjamin AD, he recalls being abused on Black Boy Lane: “On Black Boy Lane I was caught on my own / He told me to go back to my country / I thought I was home.” That kind of raw commentary runs throughout the record, where personal experience intersects with broader cultural questions of belonging and displacement. Speaking to The Guardian earlier this year, he admitted his sense of home remains unsettled: “I feel like it always moves. I feel like it always changes. I’m still trying to put an exact location on it but as it stands it’s more who I’m with. I feel like I could make a home in any house.”

Now, following the release of the album, Wretch 32 will make his National Theatre debut with a dramatized adaptation of ‘HOME?’. Directed by Clint Dyer, the performance will combine music, spoken word, dance, and theatrical staging. Special guests will join him as he explores themes of Black British identity, belonging, and legacy in a production that blurs the line between theatre and live music.

The event is scheduled for one night only, on Thursday, 23 October at 9:00 p.m. at the Olivier Theatre.
It is part of the National Theatre’s autumn season, the first under new creative director Indhu Rubasingham, which signals a fresh and inclusive programming approach that welcomes artists from beyond traditional theatre circles.

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Presale for the ‘Psycho’ tour begins on February 27, with general ticket sales opening on February 28. Given his increasing global popularity and previous sold-out shows, tickets are expected to go quickly. VIP packages, offering premium seating, exclusive merchandise, and other perks, will also be available for select dates.

Don Toliver, born Caleb Zackery Toliver in Houston, Texas, rose to fame in 2018 after Travis Scott featured him on ‘Astroworld‘s’ ‘Can’t Say’. The song introduced his distinct melodic rap style to a wider audience and led to his signing with Scott’s Cactus Jack Records. That same year, Toliver released his mixtape ‘Donny Womack’, further showcasing his blend of rap and R&B.

His debut 2020 album, ‘Heaven or Hell’, reached number sixteen on the UK Official Charts, featuring viral hits like ‘No Idea’ and ‘After Party’. In 2021, he followed up with ‘Life of a Don’, which included tracks such as ‘What You Need’ and ‘Way Bigger’. 2023’s ‘Love Sick’ continued his rise, with notable singles like ‘Private Landing’ featuring Justin Bieber and Future. His most recent project, ‘Hardstone Psycho’, marks his fourth studio release and has been praised for its artistic depth and sonic experimentation, it’s utterly impressive how quickly he manages to pump out great new music.

In early 2025, Toliver collaborated with BTS’s J-Hope on ‘LV Bag’, a track produced by Pharrell Williams. The song debuted at the Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall-Winter 2025 fashion show in Paris on January 21 and was officially released on February 21. The collaboration blends Toliver’s signature sound with J-Hope’s dynamic Korean rap style, further expanding his international reach amongst English and non-English speaking fans.

With only three dates in the UK and Ireland, the ‘Psycho’ tour is set to be one of the most in-demand hip-hop events of the year. Given his reputation for high-energy performances and a growing international fanbase, these shows are likely to sell out fast. No doubt this year will also bring more new exciting things for the artist.

For full details and ticketing information, click here.

The West London rapper released his debut album eight years after his first releases, a career journey marked by eight Top 10 singles, two EPs, six MOBO Awards, and now a No.1 Album. In his track ‘No Introduction’, he reflects that he’s “been on the grind” preparing for this album, a persistent effort that has clearly paid off. 

The 17-track record is a deep dive into the Rap genre, showcasing themes of success, struggle, violence, and love, while offering personal insights into his life before and after fame. Cench’s rise mirrors industry trends where artists achieve stardom at unprecedented speeds, fuelled by social media and viral hooks. He has become renowned for his skill at capitalising on social media’s appetite for catchy, trend-setting music with tracks like ‘Doja’ and ‘Commitment Issues.’

The album features collaborations with notable US rappers, including 21 Savage on ‘GBP’ and Lil Baby with ‘BAND4BAND’, showcasing his ability to break into the American rap scene and establish himself on a global stage.

Yet, he remains loyal to his British roots, which shapes the narrative of the album through tracks like ‘Limitless’ in which he discusses UK gang culture and its lasting impacts on him, even after attaining material success.

One of the most talked-about moments from the album comes from the track ‘5 Star’, where he raps, “I felt like a p**** when I went to the BRITs and they gave the award to a guy called Aitch.” This lyric sparked controversy and a swift response from Manchester rapper Aitch in his bold and witty single, ‘A Guy Called?’

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Beyond the album’s success, two tracks – ‘GBP’ and ‘CRG’ - have soared into the UK Top 10 Singles Chart, with ‘Truth in the Lies’ closely following at No.13.

The album’s impact extends to the 2025 BRIT Awards, to be held in March, as it has earned nominations in three major categories: Song of the Year (‘BAND4BAND’), Artist of the Year, and Best Hip-Hop/Grime/Rap Act.

To commemorate this milestone, he celebrated with a signature rose gold edition of the No.1 award, a recurring motif throughout his album campaign.

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Ultimately, Cench’s No.1 album certification cements the album’s impact on UK and Global Rap. With successful singles, iconic collaborations, a diss track that sparked controversy, and a worldwide tour, this No.1 achievement is the crowning moment in a career-defining week for Central Cee.

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The tour will kick off with a European leg starting in Oslo. Throughout April, Cench will travel across Europe before heading to the UK, stopping in cities such as Hamburg, Berlin, Amsterdam, Milan, Paris, Brussels, Birmingham, Manchester, Dublin, London, and Glasgow.

The UK Tour Dates are:

April 18 – Birmingham

April 19 – Manchester

April 24 – London

April 27 – Glasgow

On May 2, the London rapper will head over the the US with his first show in Portland, Oregon. From Portland, he will perform in cities across North America such as Seattle, San Francisco, Houston, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Toronto, Brooklyn, Boston, and finally Montreal on June 1.

After touring North America, he will head down to Australia and New Zealand. 

The ticket pre-sale will open at 10am on Wednesday (January 29) with subsequent sales throughout the week. The general ticket sales on Friday (January 31) at 10am, UK tickets are available to purchase here.

The tour supports his recent debut album ‘Can’t Rush Greatness’  – released with Columbia Records and his own label CC4L, the album has been eight years in the making. It features transatlantic collaborations such as ‘BAND4BAND’ and ‘GBP’ as well as collaborations with UK Rap legends Dave and Skepta. The album focuses on the contrast between his life before and after fame with intertwined themes of success, struggle, violence, and love.

The track ‘5 Star’ sparked controversy over the lyric “I felt like a p**** when I went to the BRITs and they gave the award to a guy called Aitch” and prompted a response from Aitch in the form of the single ‘A Guy Called?’

The bold, assertive response discusses Aitch’s win at the 2023 BRIT Awards, accuses Cench of using ghostwriting, and discusses his social media presence. The verses are packed full of witty wordplay which creates a lyrical dialogue between the pair’s releases as Aitch responds to Cench’s claims with shots like “You just mad ‘cause you can’t beat me” and “Bringing the BRITs up two years later, f*** my life, you should go live yours”.

In addition to these releases, Cench took to livestream with PlaqueBoyMax to record a new song titled ‘24 Hours’. He recorded in a custom red British telephone box, a nod to his London roots, and the song has since been released on streaming platforms.

Despite this tour being his first, Cench has performed at numerous festivals which has contributed to his growing international presence. Notably he performed at Glastonbury on the Other Stage in 2023. His set featured popular tracks like ‘Doja’ and ‘Obsessed With You’ but the highlight was when fellow UK Rapper Dave joined him to perform their record-breaking ‘song of the summer’ ‘Sprinter’.

Additional to Glastonbury, he joined Lil Baby on stage at Rolling Loud to perform their single ‘BAND4BAND’ and has played global festival including Clockenflap Festival 2024 in Hong Kong and Wildlands Festival 2023 in Brisbane.

Central Cee’s world tour marks a significant milestone in his career, showcasing his rising global influence. From Europe to North America and Australia, the tour promises to bring his dynamic performances and viral songs to fans worldwide.

‘5 Star’ is the second song from Cench’s debut album ‘Can’t Rush Greatness’ (released on January 24), showcasing the London rapper’s reflections on his career. With his signature rapid-fire delivery over drill-inspired beats, Cee describes his rise in the music industry, from his struggles and success to his evolving perspective on fame. 

The introspective track begins by referencing Cench’s iconic ‘Mad About Bars’ freestyle in 2020, where he boldly stated “Should’ve known you can’t rush greatness”, inspiring the album’s title. He also touches on his public relationship with influencer Madeline Argy and his early struggles, rapping “Previously it was crime that paid, but now, I get by in a righteous way”. These elements form the core of his album’s narrative.

In the track’s most talked-about verse, Cee recalls the 2023 BRIT Awards, where Aitch won Best HipHop/Grime/Rap Act: “I felt like a p**** when I went to the BRITs and they gave the award to a guy called Aitch.”

This marks the second time Cee’s named the 25-year-old rapper in his music, building on his 2020 track ‘Molly’, where he compared their early careers with “Man said 21 with a mill/ I need the same deal as Aitch’s.”

Aitch’s win at the BRITs was met with mixed reactions, as some felt other nominees – like Stormzy, Loyle  Carner, Dave, and Central Cee – had a more impactful year than him. This was even more surprising as the latter two’s single ‘Sprinter’ was one of the biggest songs of the year globally and became the first UK Rap track in history to spend 10 weeks at No. 1.

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Hours after ‘Can’t Rush Greatness’ dropped, Aitch posted a story of a cartoon contemplating pressing a button on his Instagram, hinting at new music only a week after his latest release. By 4 p.m., he released ‘A Guy Called?’ – a sharp diss track targeting Central Cee’s credibility, musical talent, and personal life. 

The fiery and assertive song opens with an audio clip of Arsenal footballer Declan Rice announcing Aitch’s 2023 BRIT win. He sets the tone of the single with the line, “Influencers, they ain’t contenders, jump in the booth for something to do,” mocking Cee’s reliance on TikTok to boost his popularity.

Aitch’s verses are packed with clever wordplay, directly responding to Central Cee’s claims and creating a lyrical dialogue between their releases. For example, in response to Cee’s boast, “I’ve got more money than all of my elders even though they’re twice my age” Aitch counters with witty retort “You got more money than all your elders, lucky for me, I’m younger than you.” He also takes aim at Cee’s broader discography, including the single ‘BAND4BAND’, with “We can go bar for bar, BRIT for BRIT, punch for punch.”

Regarding his wider discography, throughout the track Aitch accuses the London-based rapper of using ghostwriters, naming his collaborator Clint419, founder of CORTEIZ clothing, and referencing Clint’s alleged racist tweets. 

Not holding back, Aitch mocks Cee’s social media presence and claiming he “ain’t scared of man with his hair in a bun.” He dismisses Cee’s diss entirely with, “You just mad ‘cause you can’t beat me”, before advising him to move on, rapping, “Bringing the BRITs up two years later, f*** my life, you should go live yours.”

The track ends with a direct rebuttal to Cee’s “a guy called Aitch” line, declaring “P*****, you know what my name is,” followed by a sample of Cee’s song ‘Molly’, emphasising the rivalry’s history. Aitch’s final line speaks directly to Cench, “Listen, just remember this, yeah? I made millions of my rapping ability/ You made millions of capping and imagery,” underscoring his calm confidence.

If the only response from Cench towards Aitch is an Instagram comment, then that’s acceptance of defeat. pic.twitter.com/9YzKR4uqEB — aRaYMeDiA (@aRaYMeDiA) January 24, 2025

For fans expecting a drawn-out lyrical battle akin to Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s infamous exchanges last year, Central Cee’s only response was a lighthearted comment on Aitch’s Instagram post, suggesting the rivalry may be more playful than personal.

This long-awaited project follows a period of immense growth for the London rapper, marked by eight Top 10 singles, two EPs, and six MOBO Awards. Thus, the anticipation surrounding this album is reflected in the lyrics of ‘No Introduction’, where he states “Won’t lie, I been on the grind”, hinting at the years of preparation leading up to this release.

BBC Radio 1 and 1XTRA DJ Kenny Allstar suspects this was the rapper’s plan all along. Reflecting on the fast-paced nature of the modern music industry, he marked: “[Central Cee] understood we’re in a singles market. Let’s call it ‘fast food music’. The younger generation, they’re not always ready to sit down and listen to a whole in-depth project because we’re getting so much music at such a rapid rate.”

Kenny suggested that Cee’s been strategically “biding his time” to build momentum until “fans are ready and gagging for the project, the album.”

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This release not only highlights the dominance of singles in the market (particularly with the TikTok-driven era, which Cee has become renowned for leveraging) but shows that despite this, there is still a space for albums in today’s industry. While hit singles are key to expanding an artist’s reach, an album cements this fan base by allowing listeners to connect with artists on a deeper level.

As music journalist Daisy Carter noted: “With the rise of streaming people can flick between individual songs in a way that they never used to be able to when they were just buying records. But the album format is a way for artists to really execute an artistic vision and tell a story.”

For Central Cee, the story he conveyed through the 17-track record is one that resonates deeply within the Rap genre: the stark contrast of his life before and after fame. The album opener, ‘No Introduction’, sets the stage for this narrative, exploring his whirlwind transformation since his first hit in June 2020. Throughout the album, confident and high-energy tracks like ‘BAND4BAND’ are juxtaposed with introspective moments on songs like  ‘Now We’re Strangers’.

This depiction of fame, achieved at an unprecedented pace, reflects a larger trend in the music industry. Artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan have also experienced meteoric rises, aided by social media’s ability to allow worldwide streaming and foster direct connections between artists and fans.

Part of Central Cee’s global success is due to his ability to break into the American rap scene, evident from his three platinum singles in the U.S with ‘BAND4BAND’, ‘Sprinter’, and ‘Doja’. This album further emphasises his international appeal, featuring more collaborations with American artists than British ones such as No.6 on the UK Single Chart ‘GBP’, a collaboraiton with Atlanta’s 21 Savage.

Despite this, Cench remains deeply tied to his British roots, guiding his narrative throughout the album. Addressing the challenges of UK gang culture in songs like ‘Limitless’, he demonstrates that this issue continues to affect him despite his immense success.

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Tracks like ‘CRG’ and ‘Ten’ anchor the album in the UK’s Rap and Grime scenes. ‘CRG’ sees Cench and Dave reflecting on fame and their ascent in the industry, a collaboration which has previously shattered records with ‘Sprinter’ and promises much more to come. Meanwhile, ‘Ten’ pairs grime pioneer Skepta with the young rap champion, their signature smooth flows highlighting the pair’s similarities despite their generational differences.

The final track, ‘Don’t Know Anymore’, serves as a poignant conclusion to the album offering a rare glimpse into Cee’s personal life. In this deeply introspective piece, he reflects on his upbringing, mental health challenges, and the burdens of fame, admitting “I get more money, more problems now, I had less to worry ‘bout when I was broke.”

TRACKLIST pic.twitter.com/QxqOCyYoLR — Central Cee (@centralcee) January 21, 2025

Overall, ‘Can’t Rush Greatness’ balances moments of self-reflection with bursts of high energy intensity. Bright snares and kick-heavy beats provide a cohesive foundation, though this consistency occasionally causes tracks to blur together. This creates a stark contrast between the record’s moments of stylistic experimentation and Cench’s signature sound. The album weaves together themes of success, struggle, violence, and love – often through a lens of objectification – offering fans a deeper understanding of the globally acclaimed British rapper.

Rather than sparking his career, Central Cee’s debut album solidifies his international fame, offering a chance to reflect on the evolving music industry and its evolution with technology.

Born Harrison James Armstrong, Aitch is known best for hits like ‘Strike A Pose’, his collaborative track ‘Rain’, and iconic ‘Taste (Make It Shake)’, all of which secured Top 10 chart positions and amassed over 900,000 chart units each. 

His music is defined by his signature blend of Rap and Grime, clever wordplay, and distinctive Mancunian accent. While he is celebrated for upbeat tracks and infectious hooks, he also demonstrates a more reflective side with the 2022 release ‘My G’, a heartfelt collaboration with Ed Sheeran as part of Aitch’s debut studio album ‘Close to Home’.

Although not his traditional style, ‘My G’ stands apart from discography as a deeply personal tribute to his younger sister, Gracie, who has Down syndrome. The song’s focus on family love, unconditional support, and Aitch’s bond with his sister allowed the rapper to connect and resonate with fans worldwide. 

In 2023, Aitch further demonstrated his commitment to advocacy by taking part in the World Down Syndrome Day Skydive where he fell, in tandem with his instructor, from 15,000 feet and raised a remarkable £50,000.

This year he’s decided to do something “madder than jumping out a plane” and taken on the challenge of climbing the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and increased his fundraising goal to £70,000. 

As an Ambassador for the Down Syndrome Association, Aitch shared: “My little sister Gracie is an inspiration to me and my family, so becoming an Ambassador for the Down’s Syndrome Association, DSA, the only charity in UK which addresses all aspects of Down’s syndrome, means I can help to promote the profile of the DSA on a global basis and here at home in UK, hopefully engaging and educating more younger people along the way. By representing the DSA, I hope I can make a difference for my sister and everyone else around the world with Down’s syndrome, who have as much right to a fully inclusive life as the rest of us.”

Ahead of this hiking adventure, Aitch collaborated with producer Bou on ‘Raving In The Studio’, a creative track that marks a shift into drum and bass for the British rapper. 

Buo’s production centres around the sample from Gorillaz’s 2005 hit ‘Feel Good Inc.’ featuring De La Soul. The iconic bassline provides a fresh backdrop for Aitch’s witty verses with the catchy hook “If the club ain’t open, then I’m ravin’ in the studio”. The innovative fusion of the familiar sample with Aitch’s rapid fire delivery is sure to establish the single as a beloved, energetic anthem.

VIDEO OUT NOW ! MANCHESTER BUSINESS WE ALREADY OVER 200K STREAMS LETS RUN UP HALF A MILLY TODAY AT LEAST!!!

https://t.co/jcXx89lgGd pic.twitter.com/TufE8UfFGn

— Aitch (@OfficialAitch) January 17, 2025

Aitch continues to push boundaries both musically and personally, cementing his status as a dynamic and multifaceted artist. ‘Raving In The Studio’ highlights his ability to experiment and collaborate innovatively. With his upcoming climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, Aitch solidifies his role not just as a prominent figure in the UK music scene but also as a dedicated advocate for inclusivity and positive change.