AJ Tracey, born Ché Wolton Grant on March 4, 1994, is a British rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer from Ladbroke Grove, West London. He gained prominence in 2016 and was recognized by The Guardian as one of the "best new acts to catch at festivals" that year. His career extends across various genres, including grime, drill, hip-hop, and UK garage. Tracey's father is of Afro-Trinidadian descent and was also a rapper, while his mother is Welsh and a former jungle DJ.
AJ Tracey's early success includes his EP Secure the Bag! (2017), which marked his first entry into the UK Albums Chart. His commercial breakthrough came with the single "Butterflies" (featuring Not3s) in 2018. His self-titled debut album in 2019 was critically acclaimed, featuring the hit "Ladbroke Grove". In February 2025, he released the single "Crush" with Jorja Smith, which was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2026 MOBO Awards. He released his third studio album, Don't Die Before You're Dead, in June 2025, after a self-imposed hiatus, which explores themes of grief, therapy, and faith. He was also featured on Nelly Furtado's song "Showstopper" in December 2024. In addition to his musical achievements, AJ Tracey was awarded the Brits Billion Award in 2023 for achieving over 1 billion streams in the UK.
