★★★☆☆

I first heard Central Cee on ‘Day In The Life’ and could instantly tell he had a recipe for success. It became a TikTok trend, without intention, and refused to blend in with a stream of other drill music of the time. A drill flow, skipping on a low toned menacing beat, accompanied by strings and feats of classical chants. Despite rapping for a while, it was in the months leading from ‘Day In The Life’ to another single, ‘Loading’, in which Central Cee established himself as a notable artist. It was not only the compound of a punchy flow and beat, but a treat by bars – which starred a day in the life of a young aspiring rapper. It is such an approach Central Cee took with his debut mixtape, Wild West, and has epitomised in his debut album, 23. 

23 is a statement, a reflection and a moment of flexing of Central Cee’s career so far. He is speaking to us, and writes as if affirming goals, heeding trials and tribulations, as well enjoying the moment he is in. It is a very mature approach to a debut album, collating experiences of his life, mentality, and approach to his newfound fame. In the fittingly named ‘Khabib’, Cee starts the tape commanding respect, acknowledging how undefeated his career is so far. “Success is the best revenge, no stress, I still ain’t missed”.

As the hottest rapper out right now, Cee is at the top of the game. Despite the competitive nature of the genres of UK rap, drill, and grime, he is never too far away from discussion. He was first lambasted as a one hit wonder, critiqued and compared to other rappers – as if he hasn’t grafted for his success and crafted his own lane. In ‘Cold Shoulder’, he notes “I took that shot and I followed it through”, as many actual one hit wonders don’t. He highlights the grind in ‘Straight Back To It’, which tells us there’s no time to dwell on shortcomings or L’s (losses) as you have to get back on the job. The video also features Central Cee in Stamford Bridge, with friends, donning yellow Chelsea away kits. It was a fitting moment for homage to Jamal Edwards, who without his influence and access such wouldn’t be possible. It also features timely advice from Young Adz. He tells Cee to remember when he was homeless, sleeping on trains, noting the love and hate he will get for his success, but ensuring he knows he is this era’s Golden Boy. 

The production of 23 accompanies Central’s flow, and some may say it is more of the same, but what I appreciate is the fragments of other sounds it incorporates. There’s tones of Garage, like in ‘Ungrateful’, a solemn song that ruminates over the things he’s been through and should pay homage to, and the hugely successful ‘Obsessed With You’. There are themes of Grime, like in Bunda, a bouncy riddim that parades Cee at his best. It leads into ‘Retail Therapy’, and ‘Eurovision’ – the most energetic of his collection, that completes a great first half of it. Despite these small additions, it is all mastered through Drill, and the later half of the album isn’t as captivating despite some great standalone songs. I really like ‘Mrs’, the first track of the second half, which asks Cee to offer a sweeter approach to a song. But alongside ‘Terminal 5′, which felt a throwaway intro that could have set the project up differently, and a hard-hitting, consciously aware ‘Lil Bro’ – where Cee breaks down any glorification of instant gratification by road life – the other songs aren’t so polished to be memorable in some way. Nevertheless, for a debut album, Central Cee has done well, showcasing the entirety of him thus far.