AJ Tracey says the grime scene is “not what it used to be”

AJ Tracey has opened up about grime in a new interview.

• READ MORE: AJ Tracey: “I’ve gone through so much. It’s been so hard, and I’m still here”

Speaking to The Guardian, rapper Tracey said he’s unlikely to ever return to the genre unless he was asked to do so by grime veterans such as P Money or D Double E.

Reflecting on his grime roots, Tracey said: “It was a long time ago,” before adding: “Grime is not really lit any more. It’s not what it used to be, and it’s their fault because [people in the grime scene] don’t like change.

“I was in there, I was open to change, I changed and I’m doing well. They did not want to change and it’s just crabs in a barrel.

“They don’t want to see anyone do better than themselves; it’s a horrible culture and I really don’t like it. I will not be making any more grime music…unless P Money or D Double E asked me to.”

Still from AJ Tracey’s ‘Little More Love’ video

Yesterday (April 16), Tracey shared a new music video for his new track ‘Little More Love’, with the clip honouring the late DMX.

The video picks up where the visuals for previous single ‘Anxious’ left off, opening with a dark city skyline. Tracey then pulls up outside and walks through a nightclub soaked in neon blue light – similar to the opening scenes of 1998 film Belly, which DMX starred in alongside Nas.

The video, co-directed by Tracey himself and KC Locke, also ends with a more explicit tribute to X, with the closing title reading: “In loving memory of DMX, thank you for everything”.

‘Little More Love’ is taken from Tracey’s new album ‘Flu Game’, which arrived yesterday (April 16).

The 16-track album features collaborations with T-Pain, Kehlani, MoStack, Mabel and more, and follows up the West London rapper’s 2019 self-titled debut LP along with last year’s ‘Secure the Bag! 2’ EP.

In a four-star review of ‘Flu Game’, NME said the album “cements AJ Tracey as a commercially successful rapper still discovering new ways to craft hooks and clever wordplay.”

“…AJ has here crafted another successful project whose streaming numbers, singles and infectious melodies will live on in memory.”

The post AJ Tracey says the grime scene is “not what it used to be” appeared first on NME.