Both Aitch and Central Cee have started 2025 with a bang, dropping iconic UK Rap tracks that have captured the attention of fans. The tension began with Central Cee’s diss of the Mancunian rapper in his track ‘5 Star’, to which Aitch swiftly responded with his own diss track, ‘A Guy Called?’, released the same day.
‘5 Star’ is the second song from Cench’s debut album ‘Can’t Rush Greatness’ (released on January 24), showcasing the London rapper’s reflections on his career. With his signature rapid-fire delivery over drill-inspired beats, Cee describes his rise in the music industry, from his struggles and success to his evolving perspective on fame.
The introspective track begins by referencing Cench’s iconic ‘Mad About Bars’ freestyle in 2020, where he boldly stated “Should’ve known you can’t rush greatness”, inspiring the album’s title. He also touches on his public relationship with influencer Madeline Argy and his early struggles, rapping “Previously it was crime that paid, but now, I get by in a righteous way”. These elements form the core of his album’s narrative.
In the track’s most talked-about verse, Cee recalls the 2023 BRIT Awards, where Aitch won Best HipHop/Grime/Rap Act: “I felt like a p**** when I went to the BRITs and they gave the award to a guy called Aitch.”
This marks the second time Cee’s named the 25-year-old rapper in his music, building on his 2020 track ‘Molly’, where he compared their early careers with “Man said 21 with a mill/ I need the same deal as Aitch’s.”
Aitch’s win at the BRITs was met with mixed reactions, as some felt other nominees – like Stormzy, Loyle Carner, Dave, and Central Cee – had a more impactful year than him. This was even more surprising as the latter two’s single ‘Sprinter’ was one of the biggest songs of the year globally and became the first UK Rap track in history to spend 10 weeks at No. 1.
Hours after ‘Can’t Rush Greatness’ dropped, Aitch posted a story of a cartoon contemplating pressing a button on his Instagram, hinting at new music only a week after his latest release. By 4 p.m., he released ‘A Guy Called?’ – a sharp diss track targeting Central Cee’s credibility, musical talent, and personal life.
The fiery and assertive song opens with an audio clip of Arsenal footballer Declan Rice announcing Aitch’s 2023 BRIT win. He sets the tone of the single with the line, “Influencers, they ain’t contenders, jump in the booth for something to do,” mocking Cee’s reliance on TikTok to boost his popularity.
Aitch’s verses are packed with clever wordplay, directly responding to Central Cee’s claims and creating a lyrical dialogue between their releases. For example, in response to Cee’s boast, “I’ve got more money than all of my elders even though they’re twice my age” Aitch counters with witty retort “You got more money than all your elders, lucky for me, I’m younger than you.” He also takes aim at Cee’s broader discography, including the single ‘BAND4BAND’, with “We can go bar for bar, BRIT for BRIT, punch for punch.”
Regarding his wider discography, throughout the track Aitch accuses the London-based rapper of using ghostwriters, naming his collaborator Clint419, founder of CORTEIZ clothing, and referencing Clint’s alleged racist tweets.
Not holding back, Aitch mocks Cee’s social media presence and claiming he “ain’t scared of man with his hair in a bun.” He dismisses Cee’s diss entirely with, “You just mad ‘cause you can’t beat me”, before advising him to move on, rapping, “Bringing the BRITs up two years later, f*** my life, you should go live yours.”
The track ends with a direct rebuttal to Cee’s “a guy called Aitch” line, declaring “P*****, you know what my name is,” followed by a sample of Cee’s song ‘Molly’, emphasising the rivalry’s history. Aitch’s final line speaks directly to Cench, “Listen, just remember this, yeah? I made millions of my rapping ability/ You made millions of capping and imagery,” underscoring his calm confidence.
If the only response from Cench towards Aitch is an Instagram comment, then that’s acceptance of defeat. pic.twitter.com/9YzKR4uqEB — aRaYMeDiA (@aRaYMeDiA) January 24, 2025
For fans expecting a drawn-out lyrical battle akin to Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s infamous exchanges last year, Central Cee’s only response was a lighthearted comment on Aitch’s Instagram post, suggesting the rivalry may be more playful than personal.
