Central Cee, the burgeoning star of the UK rap scene, has officially released his debut album, Can't Rush Greatness, on January 24, 2025, and it's generating considerable buzz. With 17 tracks and collaborations featuring heavyweights like Skepta, Lil Durk, Dave, Lil Baby, and 21 Savage, many expected nothing less from the man who has captured the attention of millions.
The excitement for Can’t Rush Greatness is palpable among fans. Central Cee, born Oakley Neil H.T. Caesar-Su, has made no secret of his ambitions. With over 28 million monthly listeners on Spotify, expectations were high, yet Cench, as he’s affectionately known, maintains the authenticity and drive he’s exhibited since his days of dropping mixtapes. Reviews highlight standout tracks such as “CRG,” “BAND4BAND,” and “GBP”—each showcasing his evolution as both a rapper and artist.
Opening the album, Cench asserts his presence with bold confidence with lyrics like, “no introduction needed/ but girls still ask what my name is.” This sets the tone for the album, which promises to engage listeners over its 45-minute run. The incorporation of genres from UK drill to trap adds depth to the listening experience, illustrating Central Cee's maturation creatively.
The collaborations on the album are particularly noteworthy. Notable contributions come from Puerto Rican artist Young Miko on the track “Gata” and the king of British grime, Skepta, on “Ten.” Central Cee's reunion with Dave on the album's title track, “CRG,” marks their first collaboration since their acclaimed EP, Split Decision. They rise to the occasion, producing lyrical introspection wrapped up with hypnotic beats.
On the track “Limitless,” listeners are treated to Cench's vulnerability as he raps: “I say I’m alright but I’m stressed within/ deep breaths won’t help with the mess I’m in.” This echoing sentiment of authenticity resonates throughout the album, giving fans insight not just to his artistry but also to his personal struggles.
The reception has been overwhelmingly positive, as critic Zainab awarded the album four stars out of five, capturing the essence of Cench's authenticity and lyrical prowess. Meanwhile, with Central Cee’s status on the rise, attention has shifted to the visual aspects of his music. A recently released music video for his collaboration with Lil Durk has already amassed 1.3 million views, showing how well-received his music is across various platforms.
Adding to the excitement, Central Cee has announced his first worldwide arena tour, which kicks off on April 1, 2025, across Europe and the UK, transitioning to North America and culminating with performances across Australia and New Zealand by July. Presale tickets were made available on January 28, hinting at his increasing global presence and fan engagement.
While Can’t Rush Greatness is shaping up to be not just critically acclaimed but also commercially successful, not all fan reactions have been positive. Many were taken aback by the absence of one prominent figure: Drake. Speculation surrounding his collaboration on the album has been rampant, particularly since the two recently worked together on the viral On The Radar freestyle. Central Cee, breaking the silence on the matter, shared with FunX, “I don’t like it when people can guess these kinds of things right away... A lot of people didn’t see it coming.” He explained his decision to “save” the track for another time, stating he wanted to build suspense rather than follow predictable routes.
The anticipation around the unexplored avenues of his collaboration with Drake only adds to Central Cee's mystique as he seeks to cultivate excitement about future projects. With the successful rollout of his debut album, it will be interesting to see how this clever marketing strategy plays out moving forward.
So whether you're deeply integrated within the UK rap scene or just starting to tap your foot to the beat of modern hip-hop, Central Cee's Can't Rush Greatness is sure to capture your attention—both as part of the current musical zeitgeist and as an indicator of what the future holds for this innovative artist.