Speaking to GRM about his stage name, AJ explained:
"Basically when I used to shot, I couldnβt give my real name. I used to wear loads of Armani, so I called myself AJ. The Tracey comes from this guy called Stacey in my ends. Everyone used to be/is scared of him so I thought, if a man has a girlβs name and heβs still scaring people, the maybe I should try doing it so I can be THAT guy."
Whether itβs sets on Rinse or Radar Radio alongside his crew, My Team Paid, street singles with rising talents like Dave and Reeko Squeeze, or collaborations with big names like Gorgon City, Tinchy Stryder and P Money, over recent years, AJ has proven himself to be one to watch.
Sure enough, in 2016, he won Best Breakthrough Act at the Rated Awards, and was nominated for the Best Newcomer and Best Grime Act categories at the MOBOs. Following the release of his Lil Tracey EP in December, he also made the BBC Sound of 2017 longlist, the Independentβs Ones to Watch 2017 and the VEVO dscvr Ones to Watch 2017 list. He toured the UK and US throughout 2017.
In October 2017, he released the Secure the Bag! EP, featuring guest vocals from Jme, Denzel Curry, 67 and Craig David. The eight-track project became his first to enter the UK Albums Chart, coming in at number thirteen.
In early 2018, AJ Tracey modelled for the OVO clothing line in 2018.[26] In May 2018, Tracey released the single "Butterflies" featuring Not3s. The song served as AJ Tracey's commercial breakthrough, peaking at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart. The single was followed up with "Lo(v/s)er", which peaked at number 38. Tracey also featured on Craig David's album "The Time is now" collaborating on the track "Somebody like me". In early July 2019 the Swedish rapper Z.E [sv] released his second album, Mer Γ€n rap ("more than rap"). Tracey was featured on the title track "More Than Rap".
On 21 November 2018, Tracey announced the pre-order of his self-titled debut album, released on 8 February 2019. The lead single, "Doing It", was released for streaming and digital on the same day. Four more singles were released to promote AJ Tracey: "Butterflies" featuring Not3s, "Psych Out!", "Necklace" featuring Jay Critch, and "Ladbroke Grove". AJ Tracey debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart and is certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). "Ladbroke Grove" became Tracey's highest-charting single peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart. On 10 October 2019, Tracey announced the upcoming release of a deluxe edition of AJ Tracey, to feature five new songs and a couple of surprises. The album was released on 25 October. On 14 February 2020, AJ Tracey announced his Australian tour starting in Adelaide on 24 April, but was later postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 22 March 2021, AJ Tracey announced via a fake press conference on YouTube his second studio album titled Flu Game as well as the album's tracklist, which was released on 16 April 2021. The album includes singles such as Dinner Guest, West Ten, "Anxious", and "Bringing It Back". 5 hours prior to the release of the album, AJ released the single "Little More Love" as well as releasing a music video on YouTube.
Cat Pack
AJ Tracey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me, I set pace and I'm active (ahh)
Your girl wants me as a captive (yeah)
Smoking gelato, it's cat piss
If it weren't bro, then I slapped it (bow!)
West London, call me the savior (woah)
Won't do a shawty a favor (no)
We do the most with the paper (let's go!)
Me, I set pace and I'm active (ahh)
Your girl wants me as a captive (me)
Smoking gelato, it's cat piss (wow!)
If it weren't bro, then I slapped it (boo-boo!)
West London, call me the savior (woah)
Won't do a shawty a favor (no)
Come to the block, you're in danger (ahh)
We do the most with the paper (yeah)
Run out this money, I'm running it back (running)
Running the show, I was running the packs
How can a blogger try say that I'm wack? (huh?)
Nowadays, every song I do's a plaque (ching!)
Paigons don't like me, but like how I rap (yep!)
Prolly 'cause their girl's been making it clap (clap-clap)
Police are mad at the fact that I'm black
And that their house isn't half of my stack (oh well)
I was in cunch with the ting on my lap
And now I'm in the club with a ting on my lap
You niggas cappin', you ran out of facts
Try racing me, you gon' run out of gas
Come get your girl 'cause she choosing
Only Chief Keef when I'm cruising
Everything wet when I'm shooting
The club can't be lit 'cause there's you in
Me, I set pace and I'm active (ahh)
Your girl wants me as a captive (yeah)
Smoking gelato, it's cat piss
If it weren't bro, then I slapped it (bow!)
West London, call me the savior (woah)
Won't do a shawty a favor (no)
Come to the block, you're in danger (ahh)
We do the most with the paper (let's go!)
Me, I set pace and I'm active (ahh)
Your girl wants me as a captive (me)
Smoking gelato, it's cat piss (wow!)
If it weren't bro, then I slapped it (boo-boo!)
West London, call me the savior (woah)
Won't do a shawty a favor (no)
Come to the block, you're in danger (ahh)
We do the most with the paper (yeah)
I used to sleep in my lectures (yawn)
My jeweler just gave me necklace (bling-bloaw)
I need my shit with the extras (facts)
Might rock Off-White with the textures (facts)
We used to spend it on Vespers (vroom)
Now the gang pull up in Teslas
I had some cats that went teachers (huh?)
I used to give them the testers (take it)
I got a little bit older (little bit)
Now my chain go supernova (bloaw)
Foot out, you know I'm a soldier (brrrt!)
F&N over my shoulder (let's get it!)
All of this shit got a hold of me (yeah)
No record man ain't controlling me (no)
I know the opps tryna roll on me
I'm out in the sticks with a pole on me
Me, I set pace and I'm active (ahh)
Your girl wants me as a captive (yeah)
Smoking gelato, it's cat piss
If it weren't bro, then I slapped it (bow!)
West London, call me the savior (woah)
Won't do a shawty a favor (no)
Come to the block, you're in danger (ahh)
We do the most with the paper (let's go!)
Me, I set pace and I'm active (ahh)
Your girl wants me as a captive (me)
Smoking gelato, it's cat piss (wow!)
If it weren't bro, then I slapped it (boo-boo!)
West London, call me the savior (woah)
Won't do a shawty a favor (no)
Come to the block, you're in danger (ahh)
We do the most with the paper (yeah)
Daytrip took it to 10
In the song "Cat Pack" by AJ Tracey, the rapper talks about his fame, lifestyle, and experiences in the music industry. The chorus emphasizes his confidence and dominance, as he declares that he sets the pace and is active. He boasts that he gets attention from women, mentions smoking gelato ("cat piss"), and warns his enemies that they're in danger on his block. The second verse focuses on his rise to success, claiming that he went from sleeping in lectures to owning a supernova chain. AJ Tracey also mentions his gang and how they used to spend money on Vespers but now ride Teslas. He adds that he used to give his friends drugs to test, but now he's too wealthy for anyone to control him.
The song is filled with slang and street terms usually used in the UK urban music scene, such as "Paigons" (a term for a person who doesn't like or dislikes something someone has done) and "Chief Keef" (a Chicago rapper). Overall, the song shows AJ Tracey's confidence, pride, and power as he navigates the industry and shows off his wealth.
Line by Line Meaning
Me, I set pace and I'm active (ahh)
I'm a leader, always on the move
Your girl wants me as a captive (yeah)
I'm so attractive, women are drawn to me
Smoking gelato, it's cat piss
I'm smoking high-quality weed
If it weren't bro, then I slapped it (bow!)
If it didn't meet my standards, I rejected it
West London, call me the savior (woah)
I'm hailed as a hero in my neighborhood
Won't do a shawty a favor (no)
I don't do things for free
Come to the block, you're in danger (ahh)
Entering my territory is risky
We do the most with the paper (let's go!)
We make the most money and live life to the fullest
Run out this money, I'm running it back (running)
I always reinvest my earnings
Running the show, I was running the packs
I was in charge of the drug dealing operation
How can a blogger try say that I'm wack? (huh?)
I'm a successful artist and don't understand why anyone would criticize my music
Nowadays, every song I do's a plaque (ching!)
All my songs are certified hits
Paigons don't like me, but like how I rap (yep!)
My haters don't want to admit they like my music
Prolly 'cause their girl's been making it clap (clap-clap)
Their girlfriends are fans of mine
Police are mad at the fact that I'm black
The police unjustly target me because of my race
And that their house isn't half of my stack (oh well)
They're envious of my wealth
I was in cunch with the ting on my lap
I carried a gun for protection while selling drugs
And now I'm in the club with a ting on my lap
I still carry a gun for protection in dangerous situations
You niggas cappin', you ran out of facts
You're lying and have no evidence to back up your claims
Try racing me, you gon' run out of gas
You can't keep up with my success
Come get your girl 'cause she choosing
Your girlfriend is interested in me
Only Chief Keef when I'm cruising
I enjoy listening to Chief Keef's music while driving
Everything wet when I'm shooting
I'm a great shooter and score every time
The club can't be lit 'cause there's you in
The party is not enjoyable because you're there
I used to sleep in my lectures (yawn)
I was never interested in school
My jeweler just gave me necklace (bling-bloaw)
I recently purchased an expensive new necklace
I need my shit with the extras (facts)
I demand the best quality for everything I own
Might rock Off-White with the textures (facts)
I enjoy the style of Off-White clothing, especially the textures
We used to spend it on Vespers (vroom)
We used to spend our money on scooters
Now the gang pull up in Teslas
We now have expensive cars, like Teslas
I had some cats that went teachers (huh?)
I have friends who used to be teachers
I used to give them the testers (take it)
I used to give them free drugs to test
I got a little bit older (little bit)
I've matured a bit with age
Now my chain go supernova (bloaw)
My jewelry is incredibly shiny and eye-catching
Foot out, you know I'm a soldier (brrrt!)
I'm always ready for action
F&N over my shoulder (let's get it!)
I carry a F&N gun for protection
All of this shit got a hold of me (yeah)
My lifestyle has a strong grip on me
No record man ain't controlling me (no)
I'm in control of my own career
I know the opps tryna roll on me
I'm aware my enemies are plotting against me
I'm out in the sticks with a pole on me
I carry a gun even in rural, peaceful areas
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management
Written by: Che Grant, David Biral, Denzel Baptiste
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
I A
[Chorus]
Me, I set pace and I'm active (ahh)
Your girl wants meβ asβ a captive (yeah)
Smokingβ gelato, it's cat piss
If it weren'tβ bro, then I slapped it (bow!)
West London, call me the savior (woah)
Won't do a shawty a favor (no)
Come to the block, you're in danger (ahh)
We do the most with the paper (let's go!)
Me, I set pace and I'm active (ahh)
Your girl wants me as a captive (me)
Smoking gelato, it's cat piss (wow!)
If it weren't bro, then I slapped it (boo-boo!)
West London, call me the savior (woah)
Won't do a shawty a favor (no)
Come to the block, you're in danger (ahh)
We do the most with the paper (yeah)
[Verse 1]
Run out this money, I'm running it back (running)
Running the show, I was running the packs
How can a blogger try say that I'm wack? (huh?)
Nowadays, every song I do's a plaque (Ching!)
Paigons don't like me, but like how I rap (yep!)
Prolly 'cause their girl's been making it clap (Clap-clap)
Police are mad at the fact that I'm black
And that their house isn't half of my stack (oh well)
I was in cunch with the ting on my lap
And now I'm in the club with a ting on my lap
You niggas cappin', you ran out of facts
Try racing me, you gon' run out of gas
Come get your girl 'cause she choosing
Only Chief Keef when I'm cruising
Everything wet when I'm shooting
The club can't be lit 'cause there's you in[Chorus]
Me, I set pace and I'm active (ahh)
Your girl wants me as a captive (yeah)
Smoking gelato, it's cat piss
If it weren't bro, then I slapped it (bow!)
West London, call me the savior (woah)
Won't do a shawty a favor (no)
Come to the block, you're in danger (ahh)
We do the most with the paper (let's go!)
Me, I set pace and I'm active (ahh)
Your girl wants me as a captive (me)
Smoking gelato, it's cat piss (wow!)
If it weren't bro, then I slapped it (boo-boo!)
West London, call me the savior (woah)
Won't do a shawty a favor (no)
Come to the block, you're in danger (ahh)
We do the most with the paper (yeah)
[Verse 2]
I used to sleep in my lectures (yawn)
My jeweller just gave me necklace (bling-bloaw)
I need my shit with the extras (facts)
Might rock Off-White with the textures (facts)
We used to spend it on Vespers (vroom)
Now the gang pull up in Teslas
I had some cats that went teachers (huh?)
I used to give them the testers (take it)
I got a little bit older (little bit)
Now my chain go supernova (bloaw)
Foot out, you know I'm a soldier (brrrt!)
[?] over my shoulder (let's get it!)
All of this shit got a hold of me (yeah)
Your record man ain't controlling me (no)
I know the opps tryna roll on me
I'm out in the sticks with a pole on me
[Chorus]
Me, I set pace and I'm active (ahh)
Your girl wants me as a captive (yeah)
Smoking gelato, it's cat piss
If it weren't bro, then I slapped it (bow!)
West London, call me the savior (woah)
Won't do a shawty a favor (no)
Come to the block, you're in danger (ahh)
We do the most with the paper (let's go!)
Me, I set pace and I'm active (ahh)
Your girl wants me as a captive (me)
Smoking gelato, it's cat piss (wow!)
If it weren't bro, then I slapped it (boo-boo!)
West London, call me the savior (woah)
Won't do a shawty a favor (no)
Come to the block, you're in danger (ahh)
We do the most with the paper (yeah)
Oliver Calvert
One of Aj Traceys most underrated songs π€·πΌββοΈ
Colm Hynes
This bangs better each time I listen to it
Willy Junior
one hundy my G
Dani'yel Bepo
AJ the only artist in the UK that I've heard pull of this flow
Mate Predovan
β@Sacred_Vivere right? I was thinking the same
Human
Little Simz
Sacred_Vivere
Skepta? JME? excuse me what the fuck
SnakewriteYT *Buttercup
Here tat
Mai
AJ doesnβt disappoint straight facts
OnlyWolves
Who else thinks aj is killing the uk scene π€©π¬π§