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.

The two North London rappers used to be friends and collaborators, both part of the legendary grime crew The Movement, alongside Ghetts, Devlin and Mercston. It’s said that their friendship fell apart after Wretch began a relationship with Scorcher’s long-term partner while Scorcher was in prison. Apparently, Wretch and Scorcher’s ex are still together today.

Wretch recently appeared on the Zeze Millz show, where the presenter asked “Do you see all the online noise? Are you ever gonna clear up rumours… about Scorcher… are you ever going to talk about it?”

Wretch 32 clears up the Scorcher beef on the Zeze Millz Show.

Wretch says it happened 10 years ago, sometimes the heart overrules the head, and the story was misconstrued pic.twitter.com/quCIELEBKp

— TMC Music Connoisseur x THEUNPECTEDTV (@MusicConnoisseu) May 2, 2025

Wretch responded regarding the online discourse, saying “just because something’s entertaining, doesn’t mean it’s entertainment.” He then commented on the situation with Scorcher: “no one took no one’s partner when no one was in jail… not that the situation was ideal, but in the court of the body, sometimes the heart overrules the head. The heart overrules the head. You won’t understand that until it’s your heart.” He then went on to say that he “doesn’t take it personal”, and that he and his partner have been together for 10 years.

After Wretch’s interview and the revival in online discussion about their situation, Scorcher shared a voice note on social media. Scorch confidently cut to the chase, dissing Wretch’s integrity and standing within the rap scene: “I’ve been silent on a few things but I’m gonna talk my mind quickly.”

SCORCHER RESPONDS https://t.co/WtT9kXdbb7 pic.twitter.com/saCAwIrb4c — TMC Music Connoisseur x THEUNPECTEDTV (@MusicConnoisseu) May 4, 2025

“Number one, a snake rap weasel could never trick me out of my spot. I’ve earned it, I’ve earned it. Me, against… I don’t know what and who.”

“Number two, a punk could never use me – never use me – to sell his mix CD cos there ain’t no gas in the car no more. That’s your business. That’s your bed go lie in it.”

“And thirdly, do you know what else? There’s only one me. And that ain’t you. I don’t care what you’ve got going on, I don’t care what good things you’ve got going on in your life. There’s only one me, and it ain’t you.”

Wretch has just dropped his sixth studio album, ‘HOME?’. The conscious, sweeping selection of songs has garnered high praise from critics – Rolling Stone appreciated its themes, claiming that “Once Wretch switches his gaze to the UK, his knack for incisive social commentary — with no wasted words — comes to the fore.”

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Wretch explained some of the concept behind his new release: “I think the word that comes to mind is ‘displacement’,” he says. “For anyone who feels like: ‘I’m here, but am I accepted here? Or am I just tolerated here?’ Anyone who is in the middle of that, this record is for you.”

More recently for Scorcher, he managed to win the ‘Best Grime Act’ award at the 2025 MOBO’s. Upon accepting the award, he gave some words of inspiration for independent artists who are trying to make it:

“This MOBO here, this beautiful award, this ain’t even my award… this award’s for all the artists that ain’t got a billion streams, that ain’t got a million followers, ain’t got no distribution, no record label, no manager… but they know their music’s good!”

You can order or stream Wretch’s new album ‘HOME?’ and look through his merch on his official website, here.

The UK rap legend has shared details of the record – it will be comprised of 15 songs, fusing different genres such as afrobeat, dancehall, reggae and grime. The album will delve into themes of identity as well as the black British experience. Saluting his fans, on his twitter he wrote: “IT’S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY & THE MUSIC STILL SOUNDS BETTER WITH YOU”

HOME ?
MY 6TH ALBUM
OUT 02/05/25
YOU CAN PRE-ORDER IT NOWhttps://t.co/VO6dnJQZUn

ITS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY & THE MUSIC STILL SOUNDS BETTER WITH YOU pic.twitter.com/7GDWp9OxWt

— Black and British (@Wretch32) March 17, 2025

A press release gives us a preview into the concept of the record: “The album is a powerful reflection on the strains, joys, and injustices experienced by Black British people, offering a poignant commentary on the broader social and political landscape,”

“But more than that, the record is universal, a powerful and relatable story of place and identity, one that cuts across the many intersections of society, from hurricane Beryl that has devastated Grenada and other places in the Caribbean, the increasing widespread homelessness in Britain, refugees seeking solace from wars in countries like Ukraine, Afghanistan, Palestine, Congo, many things make people question the concept of home.”

The announcement also saw Wretch release the latest single from the project, ‘Like Home’ featuring Teni. Over a smooth, atmospheric afrobeat instrumental, he delivers some melodic verses and some heartfelt lyrics about finding true love.

Wretch has put out a few new tracks in the past months. His downtempo, conscious collab with Lil Simz and Benjamin A.D “Black and British” was highly praised, and more recently he took to the COLOURS studio to drop “Feels”, a bouncy, soulful rap number.

Wretch’s last album, “little BIG man” came out in 2021. Since then, he’s kept busy as the creative director at 0207 Def Jam, the British subsidiary of the legendary US hip-hop label. He also released his debut book, ‘Rapthology: Lessons in Life and Lyrics’ in 2022. The book serves as a lesson in lyric writing as well as a personal piece – part autobiography, part guide to creativity and part cultural history. The Independent gave a glowing review to the work, calling it ‘Groundbreaking… Part memoir, part guide, this is a must-have.’

As well as his new material and various creative ventures, he’s partnered with BIMM and the Black Music Coalition to launch a new scholarship supporting Black music industry professionals.

Last November, Wretch announced the partnership, stating: “Music has always served as a lifeline to me and opened up a world that I may not have come to know otherwise,”

“Understanding that power, and finding ways to pass that to future generations is crucial to legacy building and purpose. It is needed from all of us to sustain the art – a part of building is making sure it’s left in safe hands.”

‘Home?’ is available for pre-order here.

‘Black and British’ reveals profound and nuanced insight into the experiences and reality of being Black and British. Wretch 32 and his collaborator’s abilities to present a powerful message throughout the track highlights the necessity for such tracks to be released during Black History Month.

This single is bold and impactful, following themes of marginalisation, discrimination, heritage and belonging within forms of individual and collective identity. The single explores this much needed topic which is relatable to Black Britons whilst being insightful to White Britons and racial allies.

Black and British out now pic.twitter.com/5obmF6AAGd

— Black and British (@Wretch32) October 26, 2024

The North London rapper also provided insight into the collaboration and input of Little Simz on the single. He revealed to NME: “It’s an honour to work alongside a sister who carries themselves in the right way. Someone who puts the art first, someone who’s not cutting any corners… She’s an artist in every sense of the word. I’ve always known that girl was extremely talented. I’ve always said that girl is a special one… It would be an honour to have a female perspective on a record titled ‘Black and British’, especially hers”. Little Simz’s contributions to the track display the reality of being a Black women from Britain.

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‘Black and British’ is the lead single from the rapper’s upcoming seventh album. Despite portraying the Black British experience, according to NME, Wretch 32 believes his upcoming album is for individuals who “need soul food and need something to fulfil them, that have messages and will help them grow”.

This newly released single alongside the promise of a new album, explores a profound and compelling presence of introspection, which further elevates Wretch 32’s music.

‘Black and British’ features a sample at the end of the track. This sample is from Wretch 32’s grandmother Beverly Scott, taken from her contribution to the Broadwater Farm estate documentary, Scenes From The Farm, televised in 1988.

The single ‘Black and British’ accompanies the release of the track’s music video. The music video takes the main theme of heritage by including familial scenes alongside clips of Wretch 32 and his collaborators reciting their lyrics against a backdrop of an archival exhibition on Black British culture at V&A East museum in Stratford.

Wretch 32 debuted the music video at an event on October 23, delving into the single along with giving wider insight into his upcoming LP, which remains untitled.

The release of Wretch 32’s latest single, ‘Black and British’ all in all welcomes a new musical era for the talented rapper. An era which signals a carefully conducted and thoughtful contribution to 21^st century British rap music whilst placing Black experiences at the forefront.