The drill rapper becomes the first British rapper to feature in the class since Steff London in 2018.

Just in the past few months, the rapper took the world by storm when he made a long-awaited collab with fellow rapstar Dave to create the smash hit “sprinter”. A single that has since broken UK rap streaming and charting records.

Some have argued that he is probably the biggest British rap breakthrough of the past few years - and by the way things are going, it is clear to see why he would be “XXL freshman” material.

Reacting to the news, the 25 year old said in an interview with XXL mag, “I think it’s important to me to be part of Freshman ’cause I’m the first [male] U.K. rapper, I think. That’s a statement to me. I kinda like making statements. Forget even opinions or the public or anything, it’s just nostalgic to me. I think that’s the most important thing. It’s kinda like full circle. I just wanna see the cover and put it on my wall”.

“I never really thought I had to be on the cover back then. I don’t care about like them sort of accolades, to be fair. I never cared about hip-hop s**t, awards or hip-hop magazines as an artist. I used to like them as a fan, but I never really aspired for it to be for me. I just wanted money”, he added.

Central Cee has been behind several other British rap hits in the past year including, Doja, Let Go and Sprinter and his admission to the XXL freshman class of 2023 only proves the respect and attention his music is gaining overseas. 

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