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.