AJ Tracey says hes ready to open up on his new album

AJ Tracey is back with his first album in four years, and this time its personal.

"Ive avoided speaking about quite personal things," he says, reflecting on his earlier music.

The rapper, real name Ché Wolton Grant, tells 1Xtras DJ Target hes always preferred to keep his real self separate.

"I like to keep AJ Tracey as a persona and a person that I dont have to always be connected to," he says.

"When I speak about personal things Ive gone through as AJ Tracey, then I cant really get away from it."

But on his latest album, Dont Die Before Youre Dead, he says thats about to change.

As his careers progressed, Ché and AJ Tracey can be "quite hard to separate", he says.

Its made even harder as an independent artist, AJ says, because "you dont want to ever miss an opportunity".

"I feel like when I should be turning off, Im still awake."

Now though, the 31-year-old says he feels "secure and stable enough" to open up more in his music.

"If Chés gone through something and I can speak about it as AJ Tracey Im willing to receive whatever conversation arises as AJ or as Ché," he says.

"Im happy to divulge, especially if its going to help someone."

Dont Die Before Youre Dead delves into British identity, resilience and stories of the west London rappers journey from Ladbroke Grove to the heights of the UK scene.

Single 3rd Time Lucky, which was released in advance of the album, explores AJs relationship with his mum and her recovery from cancer.

Shes meant "everything" to his journey, he says.

"My mum gave the mandem somewhere to just chill thats away from danger and let us really foster our talent and be creative without being outside on the roads.

"Instead of having mandem outside on the streets, its better that were in the house and she knows she can keep an eye on us. Even just that gave us the platform to jump off and go do what were doing."

AJ Tracey is speaking to DJ Target at an intimate gig at Maida Vale Studios, performing tracks from the new album in front of friends and family.

TV chef and rapper Big Zuu, whos also AJs cousin, is there and says they used the familys front room as a "harbour".

"We would go there and write bars," he says.

"It gave us a safety net to just be ourselves, have fun, connect."

AJ has been a passionate supporter of dedicated services for young people, lending his voice to calls for more youth clubs and even partnering with Children in Need and McDonalds to pair restaurants with youth workers.

"Its essential," he says. "We need safe spaces."

With more personal tracks, AJ says its important his music stays relatable.

"Thats how you build your fanbase and keep them locked in, by giving them things and showing them youre human," he says.

"Like some of Drakes lyrics, Im not rich enough to relate to any of that stuff.

"Its nice to sometimes show people its not easy but were kicking on."

AJ acknowledges four years has been a long time to keep his followers waiting for new music, and in a promotional video announcing the album earlier this year fans at his beloved Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ask "where is he?"

But he thinks it will be worth the wait.

"I dont like rushing music," he says.

"Music lasts forever - when Im not here no more the music will still be here and if you put out music that you rush, its just going to leave a legacy youre not really proud of.

"I want to be proud of all my music."

1Xtras Album Launch Party with AJ Tracey is available on BBC Sounds and will air on DJ Targets 1Xtra show at 20:00 on Monday 16 June. Its also available to watch on YouTube and BBC iPlayer.

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