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AJ Tracey reveals ‘headlines’ from her ‘funky’, dancehall-inspired new album

Posted on by angelo
AJ Tracey reveals ‘headlines’ from her ‘funky’, dancehall-inspired new album

AJ Tracey has announced that her upcoming dancehall-inspired album will be “funky” and include “big features.”

The West London rapper appeared as a special guest on Capital XTRA Breakfast with Robert Bruce and Shayna Marie last week (July 5). On the morning show, Tracey confirmed that her third studio album will be released later this year.

“One hundred percent. The album will be out before the end of the year. Before, I was a little hesitant to say it, because it wasn’t finished. But now, it’s practically finished,” he told Bruce and Marie (via Music News).

When asked about what to expect from the upcoming album, the rapper said: “Good features, but I will say it’s not just about the features. It’s about me, actually. No, kudos on the features, they rocked it, yeah. But obviously, you know, the majority of the work is me.”

“A few songs but they’re well chosen – I didn’t pick all my mates who are the most enlightened, I just picked people who sound good on the record. So it’s sonic, you know what I mean? At the end of the day – and this is no shame to anyone else – like, the big songs, they matter, right?

“But I think it’s really about making sure that the sound is cohesive and that when people hear it, they’re like, ‘Oh, these people had fun making this record.’ There’s a meaning behind it, rather than, ‘Oh, they’re both turned on and they’re just kind of…’ You know what I mean? Heads banging.”

He continued: “I can give you the theme. The theme is just being British – my British experience – what it means to be British. Growing up I listened to funky, so this beat is like a little funky reference; grime obviously, dancehall, like, whatever my influences are as a black British person, that’s what the album is going to sound like.”

Speaking previously to NMEThe rapper opened up about his upcoming LP – the follow-up to 2021’s acclaimed “Flu Game” – and said it’s “pretty much done and definitely coming out this year.”

“I’m putting the finishing touches on it and polishing up some records,” he said, adding that people can expect “a very British sounding album, which is what people should be looking forward to.”

“There will definitely be surprise moments and guests,” he continued, “but I’m not one to spoil the surprise.”

He also revealed upcoming artists he’s a fan of, including “Jayo, Sainte, Lancey Foux, Len and Pozer,” adding that his current favorite is Nemzzz: “He’s chill. He raps for his city and doesn’t try to sound like anyone else. He just does his thing.”

In a four-star review of “Flu Game,” NME shared: “The final quarter of the album brings us back to Tracey’s brief. ‘Flu Game’ confirms that AJ Tracey is a commercially successful rapper who is still discovering new ways to craft clever choruses and wordplay. While not every track is a total smash, AJ has crafted another smash here whose streaming numbers, singles and infectious melodies will be remembered like Michael Jordan’s infamous game.”

In other news, the rapper was recently featured on Headie One’s latest album, ‘The Last One’. Tracey appeared on the track ‘Make AW’ alongside Skrillex and BEAM.