Central Cee

West London rapper Central Cee is one of the city’s strongest rising talents, forging a dynamic drill-based sound with relentless flows and volatile street tales. He built a U.K.-wide buzz with the shimmying “Loading” in 2020 and continued his success with 2021′s Wild West mixtape and subsequent singles like “Obsessed with You” from his chart-topping 2022 mixtape 23. The number two hit “Doja” continued his impressive run ahead of EPs like 2022′s No More Leaks and 2023′s Split Decision with Dave, and his 2024 Top Ten U.K. single with Lil Baby, “Band4Band.” Shepherd’s Bush-based Central Cee made his first steps in music toward the end of the 2010s, debuting with 2017′s Auto-Tune-laced “Over You.” His early career was characterized by the D-Block Europe-esque melodic trap of the era, with Cee opting for bouncy instrumentals and Auto-Tune-driven melodies on tracks like “TRANSITION” and “JUGG.” In 2020, though, the rapper found himself drawn to a different style entirely: U.K. drill. Kicking off the year with the guitar-laden “Day in the Life,” Cee’s skating flows proved a natural match for the genre’s faster-paced sonics, which he continued to develop with the gritty “Molly” and a bold showing on Kenny Allstar’s Mad About Bars. All prior successes were eclipsed in October of that year, though, when Cee released his breakout hit, “Loading.” Landing at number 19 on the U.K. singles chart, the track secured the rapper his first Top 40 hit with its inventive drill production, active flows, and a magnetic performance on the mike. This success followed him into early 2021: January’s “Pinging (6 Figures)” offered a more traditional take on drill, while February’s “Commitment Issues” hit the number nine spot in the U.K. His first mixtape, Wild West, arrived that March. Debuting at number two, the tape expanded Cee’s vivid drill sound with forward-thinking production and a wider range of narratives. He later scored another big hit with the single “Obsessed with You” before moving into 2022 with the tracks “Retail Therapy” and “Cold Shoulder.” His second mixtape, 23, arrived in March 2022 and topped the U.K. chart while reaching the Top Ten around much of Europe. A few months later, Cee scored another big hit with “Doja,” then issued an EP, No More Leaks, in October. Split Decision, a collaborative EP with fellow British rapper Dave, appeared in June 2023 and cracked the Top Ten of the Billboard Heatseekers chart. In May 2024, he delivered the single “Band4Band” with Lil Baby, hitting number three in the U.K. and 18 on the Hot 100. ~ David Crone