Latest news with #AJTracey
Perth Now
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
UK rapper guarantees Aussie show next year with new album
'I love the Australian saying, 'How you going', because we say, 'How's it going', or 'How you doing', but you guys have kind of merged the two.' UK rapper AJ Tracey loves performing in Australia due to high-energy crowds and passionate fans, and he can't wait to be Down Under some time next year. The 31-year-old has just released his third studio album, Don't Die Before You're Dead, which marks a return from a self-imposed hiatus. The album traverses grief, therapy, faith, family, healing and what it means to be British, where recent singles like 3rd Time Lucky tackled his mother's battle with cancer, and West Life closes in on private, romantic corners of the star's life. 'I'm excited for this new music to come out, and I'm excited to get touring, get to festivals, and hopefully get back to Australia soon,' he said. 'I never really intended to take a massive break. It kind of just sort of happened. I was just living life and trying to take a break and clear my mental state. And it just ended up being longer than I thought. 'I want to say (to the fans) thank you so much for waiting, and I appreciate it. Every time I come to Australia, you show up for me and show me love. I'm not joking. Everywhere I go, whenever people say, 'Where do you like performing? ' I always say, 'I love performing in Australia'. AJ Tracey (middle) with Headie One and Aitch. Credit: Supplied And also it feels like home. It feels like when I'm in the UK, the same feeling is when I'm in Australia. It just feels very similar. Everyone understands we've got the same kind of culture. The music taste is the same.' AJ said he wanted to be in Australia playing summer festivals at the start of next year to get away from the UK's brutal winter. The album took three years to create and sees the Ladbroke Grove native become more vulnerable in his lyrics. 'I think this album is basically my experience of being British as a mixed-race man,' he said. 'I want to showcase growth, to hammer home that the UK is a melting pot of cultures, and that I'm proud to be British—no matter how hard people try to make it about 'us versus them'. 'All the features are British. 99 per cent of the production is British. And I just feel like it's cool to champion where you're from and just celebrate what we have here.' One of his favourite songs from the project is Crush featuring Jorja Smith, whom he worked with on 2019's triple-platinum Ladbroke Grove. AJ Tracey and Jorja Smith for their song Crush. Credit: Supplied 'She's the goat, yeah, she's a G Man. We went into the studio, and she was like, 'Yeah, I want to rap on this record'. And then she just killed it,' he said. Reflecting on his break from music, AJ said he 'realised I hadn't been doing enough growing'. 'Learning new things, going to new places, spending time with my mum, studying Islam. It was necessary for me to take my time,' he said. 'I went to therapy, had difficult conversations, spent time with my mum, and finally made peace with my dad. He's just a human who made mistakes.' He also said it was important not to get caught up in social media. 'It's cool to use Instagram and TikTok. Obviously, they're a tool, and it's good to have fun on them. But I think they're not the end of the world. 'You need to experience things like going for a walk in the park, enjoying your family time, and enjoying being with your friends. I just think that's really, really important. And I think COVID-19 taught me that, because during COVID-19, the whole world was just locked down, and I felt like I needed to be grateful for the things that I do have going for me. When we came out of lockdown, I needed to enjoy life more than I have been, because we take things for granted.' It seems AJ fans won't have to wait another four years for an album to drop as he said he plans on keeping to release singles and 'another album soon'. He also revealed he hoped to collaborate with Australian singer and rapper The Kid Laroi.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
AJ Tracey says he ready to open up on his new album
AJ Tracey is back with his first album in four years, and this time it's personal. "I've avoided speaking about quite personal things," he says, reflecting on his earlier music. The rapper, real name Ché Wolton Grant, tells 1Xtra's DJ Target he's always preferred to keep his real self separate. "I like to keep AJ Tracey as a persona and a person that I don't have to always be connected to," he says. "When I speak about personal things I've gone through as AJ Tracey, then I can't really get away from it." But on his latest album, Don't Die Before You're Dead, he says that's about to change. As his career's progressed, Ché and AJ Tracey can be "quite hard to separate", he says. It's made even harder as an independent artist, AJ says, because "you don't want to ever miss an opportunity". "I feel like when I should be turning off, I'm still awake." Now though, the 31-year-old says he feels "secure and stable enough" to open up more in his music. "If Ché's gone through something and I can speak about it as AJ Tracey I'm willing to receive whatever conversation arises as AJ or as Ché," he says. "I'm happy to divulge, especially if it's going to help someone." Don't Die Before You're Dead delves into British identity, resilience and stories of the west London rapper's journey from Ladbroke Grove to the heights of the UK scene. Single 3rd Time Lucky, which was released in advance of the album, explores AJ's relationship with his mum and her recovery from cancer. She's meant "everything" to his journey, he says. "My mum gave the mandem somewhere to just chill that's away from danger and let us really foster our talent and be creative without being outside on the roads. "Instead of having mandem outside on the streets, it's better that we're in the house and she knows she can keep an eye on us. Even just that gave us the platform to jump off and go do what we're doing." AJ Tracey is speaking to DJ Target at an intimate gig at Maida Vale Studios, performing tracks from the new album in front of friends and family. TV chef and rapper Big Zuu, who's also AJ's cousin, is there and says they used the family's front room as a "harbour". "We would go there and write bars," he says. "It gave us a safety net to just be ourselves, have fun, connect." AJ has been a passionate supporter of dedicated services for young people, lending his voice to calls for more youth clubs and even partnering with Children in Need and McDonald's to pair restaurants with youth workers. "It's essential," he says. "We need safe spaces." AJ Tracey will be live and direct at smaller venues Stormzy launches film company with starring role Radio 1's Big Weekend: Five takeaways from 'Scouse Coachella' With more personal tracks, AJ says it's important his music stays relatable. "That's how you build your fanbase and keep them locked in, by giving them things and showing them you're human," he says. "Like some of Drake's lyrics, I'm not rich enough to relate to any of that stuff. "It's nice to sometimes show people it's not easy but we're kicking on." AJ acknowledges four years has been a long time to keep his followers waiting for new music, and in a promotional video announcing the album earlier this year fans at his beloved Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ask "where is he?" But he thinks it will be worth the wait. "I don't like rushing music," he says. "Music lasts forever - when I'm not here no more the music will still be here and if you put out music that you rush, it's just going to leave a legacy you're not really proud of. "I want to be proud of all my music." 1Xtra's Album Launch Party with AJ Tracey is available on BBC Sounds and will air on DJ Target's 1Xtra show at 20:00 on Monday 16 June. It's also available to watch on YouTube and BBC iPlayer. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
AJ Tracey says new album more personal than before
AJ Tracey is back with his first album in four years, and this time it's personal."I've avoided speaking about quite personal things," he says, reflecting on his earlier rapper, real name Ché Wolton Grant, tells 1Xtra's DJ Target he's always preferred to keep his real self separate."I like to keep AJ Tracey as a persona and a person that I don't have to always be connected to," he says."When I speak about personal things I've gone through as AJ Tracey, then I can't really get away from it."But on his latest album, Don't Die Before You're Dead, he says that's about to change. As his career's progressed, Ché and AJ Tracey can be "quite hard to separate", he made even harder as an independent artist, AJ says, because "you don't want to ever miss an opportunity"."I feel like when I should be turning off, I'm still awake."Now though, the 31-year-old says he feels "secure and stable enough" to open up more in his music."If Ché's gone through something and I can speak about it as AJ Tracey I'm willing to receive whatever conversation arises as AJ or as Ché," he says."I'm happy to divulge, especially if it's going to help someone."Don't Die Before You're Dead delves into British identity, resilience and stories of the west London rapper's journey from Ladbroke Grove to the heights of the UK scene. Single 3rd Time Lucky, which was released in advance of the album, explores AJ's relationship with his mum and her recovery from cancer. She's meant "everything" to his journey, he says. "My mum gave the mandem somewhere to just chill that's away from danger and let us really foster our talent and be creative without being outside on the roads."Instead of having mandem outside on the streets, it's better that we're in the house and she knows she can keep an eye on us. Even just that gave us the platform to jump off and go do what we're doing."AJ Tracey is speaking to DJ Target at an intimate gig at Maida Vale Studios, performing tracks from the new album in front of friends and chef and rapper Big Zuu, who's also AJ's cousin, is there and says they used the family's front room as a "harbour"."We would go there and write bars," he says. "It gave us a safety net to just be ourselves, have fun, connect."AJ has been a passionate supporter of dedicated services for young people, lending his voice to calls for more youth clubs and even partnering with Children in Need and McDonald's to pair restaurants with youth workers. "It's essential," he says. "We need safe spaces." With more personal tracks, AJ says it's important his music stays relatable. "That's how you build your fanbase and keep them locked in, by giving them things and showing them you're human," he says."Like some of Drake's lyrics, I'm not rich enough to relate to any of that stuff."It's nice to sometimes show people it's not easy but we're kicking on."AJ acknowledges four years has been a long time to keep his followers waiting for new music, and in a promotional video announcing the album earlier this year fans at his beloved Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ask "where is he?"But he thinks it will be worth the wait."I don't like rushing music," he says. "Music lasts forever - when I'm not here no more the music will still be here and if you put out music that you rush, it's just going to leave a legacy you're not really proud of."I want to be proud of all my music." 1Xtra's Album Launch Party with AJ Tracey is available on BBC Sounds and will air on DJ Target's 1Xtra show at 20:00 on Monday 16 June. It's also available to watch on YouTube and BBC iPlayer. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Furious Lorraine viewers 'turn off' and swipe 'her days are numbered' after catty remark about Love Islanders' looks and 'cringe' debate
Furious Lorraine viewers 'turned off' and swiped 'her days are numbered' after a catty remark about Love Islanders' looks on Thursday's episode of the ITV show. The 65-year-old returned to our screens for another instalment of the popular early morning programme. Lorraine was joined by Lucie Cave and influencer Emily Clarkson during the show to talk about a segment on the dangers online beauty filters - and they got chatting about ITV2's Love Island. The broadcaster pointed out: 'I'm interested in programmes like Love Island... 'They to me, I have to say I don't watch it necessarily, but I see clips, it's inevitable to see clips. 'They all look the exactly the blinkin' same! From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'I'm like why do you all want to look the same, why do you all want to have that same sort of look about you? 'Children, I mean they are in their 20s, and they're having work done. 'It's heart breaking. It's crazy.' Love Island returned to our screens on Monday for its 12th series, with Maya Jama, 29, as host. The revived series of the show premiered in 2015 and has gone on to become a fan favourite every summer. During Thursday's instalment of Lorraine, some took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts on the episode. After a chat with rapper AJ Tracey, 31, one said: 'Lorraine is so cringey had to turn it off #lorraine.' Another chimed in: 'This interview is just [vomit emoji] get rid of her ffs!' While others said: 'Two voices on #Lorraine that hurt my ears.' '# lorraine Kelly 's days are numbered total fraudster.' It comes after Lorraine fought back the tears as a guest interrupted their interview to pay an emotional tribute to her as a 'friend and ally' on Tuesday's episode of the show. Author Paris Lees, 38, appeared on the ITV programme to chat to the Scottish star, 65, about her new BBC show What It Feels Like For A Girl, which is inspired by her own life. The eight-part series hit our screens on June 3 2025. During her appearance on Lorraine, the pair opened up about how proud she is of the show, but also wanted to thank the broadcaster for all her support towards the transgender community. Paris, who is a trans woman, said to Lorraine: 'We see you and we really appreciate it, you really use your platform for good.' An emotional Lorraine replied: 'You're going to make me cry.' Paris told her: 'Honestly, not everyone is there speaking up for us. We're less than 0.5 percent of the population and we are under attack. 'You are using your platform for good and you are a friend. 'I should have brought some flowers or something. I hereby declare you an honorary diva.' As she wiped a tear from her cheek, Lorraine said: 'I'll take that!' 'We thank you, we thank you,' Paris said. Earlier on in the chat, Paris said: 'This is such a full circle moment for me, because you were so kind about the book last time I was on. 'I know you were saying it's got to be a TV show and now it is a TV show!' Lorraine told her: 'We manifested it, Paris!' Earlier on the chat, Paris said: 'This is such a full circle moment for me, because you were so kind about the book last time I was on. I know you were saying it's got to be a TV show and now it is a TV show!' She continued: 'After I came on your show, did other publicity... 'It sounds like a humble brag, but I did have all these production companies get in contact with me. 'I just thought I'm ready to collapse in a heap, I've done all the photos and everything. 'And then They said do you want to develop it? 'I thought well it's my story, so I'd never done it before, very different type of writing, lots more people giving opinions. 'I'd never written a script before, I'd never had any aspirations or pretentions for writing for television. 'This is my story, I really wanted to rise to the challenge and do it justice. 'Can I tell you Lorraine, it's been so fun.' Her memoir What It Feels Like For A Girl was released in 2021. Earlier this week Lorraine was left squirming after a co-star bluntly asked her 'where have you been? ' After talking about the headlines over in the US, celebrity correspondent for LA Ross King asked her on Monday: 'Apart from all that, what about you, where have you been?!' Lorraine replied: 'Oh I've been in the far north, I've been so far north I nearly came back on myself. I'll tell you all about it. I sadly can't say too much about it now.' It comes after earlier this month Lorraine disappeared from our screens again after ditching her show amid huge cuts. Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Family favourite pizza chain reveals huge menu change including ‘cheeseburger' crossover & three new flavours
AN ICONIC pizza chain has announced a huge shake-up to its menu just in time for the summer. Diners will be able to get there hands on three exciting new flavours that have become available at its restaurants around the UK. 2 2 A unique Cheeseburger Pizza range has been launched by family-favourite chain Pizza Hut. The crossover of the two favourite food items means customers no longer have to make the difficult choice of deciding between the two popular meals. On top of that, they will get the option the choose from three different burger-flavoured sauces to go on their pizza. The flavours in the Cheeseburger range include beef, breaded chicken, and veggie. And they will be available on all bases, with the stuffed crust particularly recommended. The chain has been looking increasingly into innovation and creativity with its menu offerings and bold flavours. Chief Marketing Officer at Pizza Hut UK & I, Jana Ulaite, said: 'Pizza Hut are the original rebels, and we know how to cut through the market and create something that delivers on taste, creativity and excitement all at once." Pizza fans have been told to keep on the look out for other potential changes from Pizza Hut over the summer. The release of the new Pizza Hut flavours come as a part of a partnership in the release of a new Sky series with rappers Big Zuu and AJ Tracey. It is a food travel show, where the pair seek out unique, bizarre and expensive dining experiences around the world. Big Zuu is reported to "got a sneaky first try of Pizza Hut's new big and bold flavour. "Of course, he loved it!" Big Zuu, who is a cook and the star of the new series, said: 'I'm really excited to be collaborating with Pizza Hut for the launch of my new show, Rich Flavours. "We travelled the world sampling the best food there is, and now we're bringing that energy home.'
