On Wednesday 16 October, the Afro-Caribbean Society had the honour of hosting rapper AJ Tracey, an influential figure in the UK rap scene. His talk was one of the most anticipated events that the School has hosted so far this year and boys were incredibly eager to come and hear him speak.
AJ Tracey is an entirely independent, multi-platinum selling artist, and he has been instrumental in shaping the modern UK music scene. His talents span many genres, including rap, grime, hip-hop and beyond. He has collaborated with various prominent artists such as T-Pain, Skepta, Aitch, Gorillaz and Dave – to mention a few. His highest-charting single, titled Ladbroke Grove, peaked at number three on the UK albums chart, and was certified platinum by the BPI.
AJ Tracey started by outlining how his upbringing, from a disadvantaged household In London, had taught him valuable lessons. After deciding to leave his criminology degree at London Metropolitan University to pursue music full-time, his career quickly gained momentum. Tracey also shared his wisdom with the audience, saying: “You’ve got to have fun with the music. You can’t be too conscious of what you think you should do.”
When addressing the music industry, he expressed his preference for releasing tracks only when they are fully prepared, rather than “producing music just because you can.” Tracey also commented on the future of music, saying that something new might come and change the landscape of the music industry forever, and that it is up to artists to adapt.
On the topic of TikTok and other social media platforms, Tracey explained that it is used as a “testing ground” for both established and emerging artists. “There are some really talented artists who are not utilising TikTok and probably deserve a bit more credit,” he noted.
Regarding independent artistry, Tracey expressed strong support for pursuing an independent path before potentially signing with a record label, drawing a parallel to a career in football. On the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, he expressed how he tried to live alongside the regulations but was disheartened after seeing that leading politicians had been breaking the rules frequently.
AJ also spoke about the AJ Tracey fund, created to support students in large “prestigious establishments” who belong to ethnic minorities. He expresses his passion for helping students go to prestigious schools and hopes that students can go to school based on their “intelligence, and not the size of their parents’ wallet.”
Questions were then opened to the floor. Many light-hearted questions were asked about his personal life, and many jokes were cracked and the sound of laughter echoed around the Farrer Theatre. Stories of his tours and of his concerts were well-received by the boys, and the evening lightened the busy week before half-term.
AJ Tracey is one of the 300+ speakers that Eton College hosts every year for boys and students from partner schools on diverse topics.
