Speaking to GRM about his stage name, AJ explained:
"Basically when I used to shot, I couldn’t 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 girl’s name and he’s still scaring people, the maybe I should try doing it so I can be THAT guy."
Whether it’s 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 Independent’s 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 än 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.
Rina
AJ Tracey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo, she sittin' on it (Sittin'), she got me hittin' on it (Hittin')
And her lips got me twist when I'm kissin' on it (Kissin')
You can never get my baby so you're wishin' on it (Wishin')
All this water on my wrist, she go fishin' on it (Fishin')
She sittin' on it (Sittin'), she got me hittin' on it (Hittin')
And her lips got me twist when I'm kissin' on it (Kissin')
All this water on my wrist, she go fishin' on it (Fishin')
All this water on my body, my girl give me noddy
I love it when a ting so sloppy (Uh, uh)
These bruddas wanna copy (Yeah), my plug got me rocky (Rocky)
I still got the number for the poppy (Brr)
We're in the crib right now (Now)
All this magnum got me moving like a jit right now (Like a jit)
My baby come through, tell her sit right down (Uh)
She ain't on the cocaina but she lit right now (Lit, uh)
Get me, see the flows, we got plenty (Loads)
I was down lurkin' in the sewers like Penny
Hennyting is possible, I'm stupid off the Henny (Henny)
But I'm sober when it's beef, you niggas funny like you're Lenny (Brr)
Henry, man best commend me
Bad man attempt me (Uh), my gyal she tempt me
High off that sensei (Yeah)
Even when me wrong, said no man can correct me
You best respect me, you get me (Get it)
She sittin' on it (Sittin'), she got me hittin' on it (Hittin')
And her lips got me twist when I'm kissin' on it (Kissin')
You can never get my baby so you're wishin' on it (Wishin')
All this water on my wrist, she go fishin' on it (Fishin')
She sittin' on it (Sittin'), she got me hittin' on it (Hittin')
And her lips got me twist when I'm kissin' on it (Kissin')
You can never get my baby so you're wishin' on it (Wishin')
All this water on my wrist, she go fishin' on it (Fishin')
Exotic (Uh), waist is hypnotic (Hypnotic)
I drop D's, she's whipped, she can't knock it (She can't)
Her ex-man's moist, on God, he can't walk it (On God)
H2O, my chains are Team Rocket (Bling blaow)
If I ain't got it (Got it), gang, they all stock it (Stock it)
Tell that girl stop it (Stop it), fertile, I'm boppin' (Uh)
Back, she pop it (Pop it), fling it and drop it (Drop it)
West Ends prophet, I'm the hot topic (Uh)
Yo, I got niggas that's ready
They'll put your face on the telly (Telly)
All my bloodas are shelly (Shelly)
Hurt your face like you're Nelly (Nelly)
I been chasin' that belly (Belly)
My stack is thicker than Kelly (Kelly)
My diamonds dancing like Pelly, uh
She got a body that curve like Kim K
Yatties throwing pussy, I curve and fling way (Fling way)
We sip nouveau or drink that straight Wray
The Kensington kids, we turned the sick way, uh
She sittin' on it (Sittin'), she got me hittin' on it (Hittin')
And her lips got me twist when I'm kissin' on it (Kissin')
You can never get my baby so you're wishin' on it (Wishin')
All this water on my wrist, she go fishin' on it (Fishin')
She sittin' on it (Sittin'), she got me hittin' on it (Hittin')
And her lips got me twist when I'm kissin' on it (Kissin')
You can never get my baby so you're wishin' on it (Wishin')
All this water on my wrist, she go fishin' on it (Fishin')
In "Rina" by AJ Tracey, he describes his attraction to a woman who seems to be in control of the situation. She is "sittin' on it" and has him "hittin' on it," while her lips make him "twist" when he's "kissin' on it." He comments that others may "wish" to have her, but they can never have her because she's already his. She also knows how to appreciate the finer things in life with AJ mentioning how she goes "fishin'" on his expensive watch.
AJ Tracey continues to praise this woman's confidence and sensuality as he references how she is able to make him feel good. He mentions that he's "high off that sensei," or high on life, when he is with her. Despite his appreciation for her, he is also ready to defend himself against anyone who tries to disrespect or challenge him. Through these lyrics, Tracey shows his appreciation for powerful and confident women, while also establishing his own dominance and determining the value of his relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
It sounds like Nyge
The beat of this song resembles those made by Nyge.
Yo, she sittin' on it (Sittin'), she got me hittin' on it (Hittin')
And her lips got me twist when I'm kissin' on it (Kissin')
You can never get my baby so you're wishin' on it (Wishin')
All this water on my wrist, she go fishin' on it (Fishin')
She sittin' on it (Sittin'), she got me hittin' on it (Hittin')
And her lips got me twist when I'm kissin' on it (Kissin')
You can never get my baby so you're wishin' on it (Wishin')
All this water on my wrist, she go fishin' on it (Fishin')
She's sitting on something that he's hitting, and when he kisses her, her lips make him feel intoxicated. Others might wish to have her but won't get her. He has water on his wrist and she goes fishing on it. These lines repeat throughout the song.
All this water on my body, my girl give me noddy
I love it when a ting so sloppy (Uh, uh)
These bruddas wanna copy (Yeah), my plug got me rocky (Rocky)
I still got the number for the poppy (Brr)
We're in the crib right now (Now)
All this magnum got me moving like a jit right now (Like a jit)
My baby come through, tell her sit right down (Uh)
She ain't on the cocaina but she lit right now (Lit, uh)
Get me, see the flows, we got plenty (Loads)
I was down lurkin' in the sewers like Penny
Hennyting is possible, I'm stupid off the Henny (Henny)
But I'm sober when it's beef, you niggas funny like you're Lenny (Brr)
Henry, man best commend me
Bad man attempt me (Uh), my gyal she tempt me
High off that sensei (Yeah)
Even when me wrong, said no man can correct me
You best respect me, you get me (Get it)
He has a lot of water on his body, and his girl gives him naughty pleasure. He enjoys it when she's sloppy. Some guys are copying his style, his drug dealer is hard to get in touch with, and they're currently at home. He's really feeling the effect of the magnum, and his girl has just arrived. While he's high off Henny, he knows that he needs to stay sober when there's danger. People need to respect him, and even when he's wrong, no one can correct him.
Exotic (Uh), waist is hypnotic (Hypnotic)
I drop D's, she's whipped, she can't knock it (She can't)
Her ex-man's moist, on God, he can't walk it (On God)
H2O, my chains are Team Rocket (Bling blaow)
If I ain't got it (Got it), gang, they all stock it (Stock it)
Tell that girl stop it (Stop it), fertile, I'm boppin' (Uh)
Back, she pop it (Pop it), fling it and drop it (Drop it)
West Ends prophet, I'm the hot topic (Uh)
Yo, I got niggas that's ready
They'll put your face on the telly (Telly)
All my bloodas are shelly (Shelly)
Hurt your face like you're Nelly (Nelly)
I been chasin' that belly (Belly)
My stack is thicker than Kelly (Kelly)
My diamonds dancing like Pelly, uh
She got a body that curve like Kim K
Yatties throwing pussy, I curve and fling way (Fling way)
We sip nouveau or drink that straight Wray
The Kensington kids, we turned the sick way, uh
Her exotic body and hypnotic waist have a strong effect on him. He's able to influence those around him and his chains are stunning. If he doesn't have something, his gang stocks up on it. He's dancing and enjoying himself with his girl. He's a hot topic, and his friends are capable of doing anything for him, even if it means putting faces on the news. His diamonds and his stack are sizeable. Her body is similar to that of Kim Kardashian, and he's able to dodge advances from promiscuous women. They drink nouveau or Wray straight, and they've decided to go in a new direction.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Che Grant, Nyandoro Kelly
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind