Central Cee, whose real name is Oakley Neil H T “Cench” Caesar-Su (born 4 June 1998), is a British rapper and songwriter hailing from ‘Wild West’ London — Shepherd’s Bush, to be exact. He seemingly became an overnight sensation last summer as people started taking notice of his artistic raps, which often play out over zippy, UK drill-style beats. Check out our blog for some more drill artists to add to your playlist!
The name Central Cee carries considerable weight in the UK rap scene. With each viral release, the West Londoner has steadily built his momentum and reached audiences worldwide with his slick take on drill. In an era when artists suddenly emerge from the shadows with no previous catalog, Central Cee has been steadily honing his craft since he wrote his first bars around 8.
The last week has seen TikTok flooded with videos featuring the eyebrow-raising opener, Doja. From its smart-dumb lyrics to its sampling of Eve and Gwen Stefani’s 2001 hit, “Let Me Blow Ya Mind,” this song is custom built for a viral hit. Cole Bennett directed the video, his first time working with a British artist.
While the subject matter and approach to his music remain largely consistent with Wild West, it’s clear that Central Cee will keep his foot firmly on the accelerator this year, delivering moment after moment that keeps the public’s and the industry’s attention.
Are you a Central Cee fanatic? Tune into him on Spotify!