AJ Tracey: “I have bought a house for my mother and that alone is already a goal accomplished”

Rapper AJ Tracey (London, 27 years old) has just released a new album,

, his second, by surprise. On the cover he is seen dressed as the Chicago Bulls. He is a well-known fan of Tottenham, a team that joined the invention of the European Super League. Are you turning your back on soccer in favor of basketball? "Not a joke," he answers with a half smile. He has somewhat sleepy eyes, dreadlocks, and a scruffy beard. He has connected to Zoom from a large, white room: he has a wall full of Tonttenham jerseys. “Yes, the Super League [which the formation joined and disbanded in a matter of days in April] was a joke but I love football with all my soul. Almost as much as music, the same, the two go hand in hand ”.

It is not the only sample of American culture on the album.

Rapper T-Pain and singer Kehlani appear on one of the album's 16 tracks, in which Tracey jumps from genre to genre.

From aggressive

British

jumps to

, classic hip hop and

.

"I can't think of a genre that I don't want to play," he proclaims.

If his first record made him a name to follow in British rap, the second seems designed to cement future world domination.

"I got on with him as soon as I finished with the first one," he explains.

“Although my creative process was different, because we were with swimming.

He wasn't very inspired, because he couldn't travel, he didn't have concerts.

I had to learn what I was listening to when I was little: 50 Cent, Nas, Mobb Deep ... ”.

Tracey belongs to a new generation of British rappers who aspire to change the game. In 2017, he endorsed Jeremy Corbyn, a Labor candidate for prime minister, and encouraged young black people to make their voices heard at the polls. In pandemic, in addition to working on

, he collaborated with Foo Fighters in the recording of a charity single and donated the sales of the first week of his song

to an association in favor of British public health. He was one of 52 names featured in Stormzy's memorable performance at the 2019 Glastonbury festival and was nominated for Best British Singer at the 2021 Brit Awards. He lost, by the way. The more famous he becomes, the more pressure he must feel, he is supposed. “There are more people who depend on you, and also more people who question whether you will be able to replicate your success. I will be able? Have I reached the top? I don't know, but I have bought a house for my mother, and that alone is already incredible, a goal achieved. Once she has a house of her own, as if I'm sinking. I can always live with her, it doesn't matter. "

Mental health is a theme present in

Did you suffer in confinement? "I'm fine, thank you," he replies. “I have tried to work on myself, take care of myself ... no baking cakes. There is a stigma surrounding men's mental health, I like to play that topic with my music. In rap, in addition, the stereotype asks you to be tough and be cool and be successful. If you are a penniless kid trying to be famous, and you see that your idols are screwing up instead of talking about mental health, let alone cry or admit that you are afraid, you are left with the idea that this is what you should do . And no. No way". He continues: “Once you have settled down, you are already in a calmer place and, if you want, you can talk about it. I have arrived there. I feel like talking about this. It can come in handy ”.

What he has ahead of him is spending the summer going from festival to festival.

"I want to work on the album, let it be heard," he says.

“Now the music is over in two weeks.

It's a bit sad.

I've worked too hard to forget it in 14 days. "

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