Whenever you hear AJ Tracey on the mic, you know he’s representing West London.
After bringing back UK Garage with Conducta-produced anthem “Ladbroke Grove” – a track that stamped his hometown with a Triple Platinum record –AJ and his West London friends and family have continued to set the pace for trends that the rest of the world have followed.
Speaking from his home over Zoom, Hypebeast caught AJ in a reflective mood ahead of the release of his eagerly-anticipated third album. The rapper has been living it up in the build-up, where he’s been shutting down tour dates all over the globe. But having just turned 30, AJ is at a different point in life to when he first blew up, with an increased sense of humility when talking about his journey so far.
AJ’s meteoric route to the top of the UK rap game has gone by like a blur, with a flurry of fire freestyles like “Packages” building up his momentum and taste-making from early on, as one of the first rappers to spit grime flows over a drill beat.

AJ has gone on to drop plenty of smash singles and hit records ever since. Having flown the flag for his area with UK rap classics like “Spirit Bomb” and “Thiago Silva”, AJ now finds himself surrounded by greatness on his side of the capital.
AJ’s next album continues to celebrate this unrelenting energy, while also focusing on his unique perspective of Britishness. While AJ is quick to point out the UK’s dark history, he has been a part of a creative scene in West London doing the nation proud on the world stage – breaking down doors with a unique blend of multiculturalism, diligence and innovation.
AJ tells us how West’s creative scene is getting the respect it deserves. “Clint is manifesting everything he’s set out to do – I’d liken him to West London’s Kanye,” AJ tells us, “Clint is tight with Ellis (Gilbert), they came up together, I feel like he’s West London’s Virgil. Then you’ve got Walid (Labri) killing it… he’s our Spielberg. When you see a visual he’s done, y…