Central Cee: An Intimate Unravelling of the Brit Award Nominee

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‍In a recent revisit by Vogue, the spotlight once again falls on rap sensation Central Cee, a now global star who recently received four Brit Award nominations. The accolades include Artist of the Year, two for Song of the Year including the global hit 'Sprinter' featuring Dave, and the  Best Hip-Hop/Grime/Rap Act. Central Cee, whose real name is Oakley Neil Caesar-Su, provided an intimate look into his life and journey in the interview. 

Central Cee opens up  about the complexities of his upbringing, describing how his perceptiveness forced him to "grow up quick." His “unique” perspective on life, he explains, has been both a gift and a curse: "I never really got the chance to enjoy what little kids would enjoy because I’m not seeing life from a little-kid perspective. My head is always on." 

The rapper opens up about his ethnicity, which has long been a subject of skepticism. "My dad’s Guyanese and Chinese, and my mum’s English," he revealed.

The interview sheds light on Central Cee's early years, marked by his parents' separation when he was seven. Moving with his mother and two younger brothers to Shepherd’s Bush, he observed the challenges his mother faced during the breakup. "Not having much, my mum’s hardships… I was taking them on myself, subconsciously," he shares. This early sense of responsibility fuelled his determination to succeed and support his family.

The feature traces his artistic journey, from writing poetry as a child to his transition into the music industry. Despite challenges, including a period of dealing party drugs to support his dreams, Central Cee's artistic focus remained. A pivotal moment came when he met Ybeeez, now his manager, leading to the creation of his first drill track, "Day in the Life." "The rest is history," he states.

The piece touches upon Central Cee's personal life, including his on-again-off-again relationship with TikTok star Madeline Argy.

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The rapper's perspective on fashion is also explored, addressing controversies surrounding his appearance at events like the British Fashion Awards. Central Cee dismisses assumptions of forcing a "gangster" persona, stating, "I just know my style now.”

He reflects on his style evolution, emphasising the importance of comfort. "If I’m not comfortable in my clothes, I feel uncomfortable the whole day," he notes. In contrast to his earlier experimental fashion choices, Central Cee now prefers a consistent silhouette for comfort over constantly changing his look. “Back in the day, I had less and I was trying more,” he says. “That septum [ring] and all of that… I was, like, 14, just trying a ting. I know I can pull off bare things, but at the moment I just like to have one silhouette to repeat and feel comfortable, rather than always changing it up.”

Central Cee's journey, from the intricacies of his childhood to the visibility of fame, the feature provides a different view of the artist behind the nominations.