One of the leading lights in UK rap finally drops his debut album, is he ahead of the competition?

Rap and hip-hop loving UK kids have no idea how good they have it right now. I remember the dark days of 2001 when the likes of Mark B and Blade and So Solid Crew were being heralded as the future of UK rap. Grim times, with only Roots Manuva’s ‘Run Come Save Me’ providing any genuine spark of a talented British voice rapping about ‘ten pints of bitter’ and ‘cheese on toast.’ Now you can’t move without running into a genuinely decent British rap artist; Stormzy, Dave, Loyle Carner, AJ Tracey, Pa Salieu, Ghetts, Skepta, Aitch, Blanco, Headie One and a whole load more you could throw into the mix.

With a scene that saturated you need to have something to stand out from the pack. Central Cee seems to have that, having done the impossible, selling ice to the Inuits and breaking through in the US in a way no British rapper has ever truly managed before.

So, having been content to drop plenty of singles (and a couple of mixtapes) previously how does this debut album collection, appearing eight years after his first musical release, stack up?

The answer is very decently. Beats wise there is no Dr Dre moment here, but what is present is all solidly put together. You can tap a toe along to the majority of the tracks. None of the earlier recent huge hits like ‘Doja’ and ‘Sprinter’ feature so there is a confidence here in his ability to produce new material. There are plenty of high-quality guest spots; 21 Savage, Dave and Skepta all provide memorable support, as well as an uncredited turn from Kamal.

Lyrically Central Cee has a rapid flow and solid delivery. There is perhaps a little too much time dwelling on money and girls, however given his stratospheric rise in the last couple of years it is understandable and not exactly unsurprising in the context of the genre. Much better are his more reflective moments, growing up on a London estate, how his Mum coped as a single parent, falling into a culture where drug dealing and criminality are almost a requirement to survive.

If you aren’t into this genre this will not be a Damascus Road moment, but if you like your rap and hip-hop this is going to provide plenty of enjoyment.