Skip to main content
  • News
    • MTV News
    • Trending News
    • Videos & Interviews
    • Taylor Swift
    • Kim Kardashian
  • Music
    • Music Highlights
    • Music Videos
    • Charts
    • Playlists
    • EMAs
    • MTV PUSH
    • Artists
  • Shows
    • Latest Shows
    • The Charlotte Show
    • Geordie Shore
    • Ex on the Beach
    • Just Tattoo Of Us
    • Teen Mom UK
    • The Royal World
  • Movies
    • Movies Highlights
    • New Movies Coming Soon
    • Videos & Interviews
    • Trailers
    • Moana
  • Travel
    • Videos
  • Style
  • Life
    • Life
    • MTV Breaks
    • Sex
    • WTF
    • SRS
    • Travel
    • Fitness
    • Generation Change
  • Pictures
  • Win
  • MTV Play
  • TV Guide
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Search
  • Pictures
  • Win
  • MTV Play
  • TV Guide
Home
  • News
    • MTV News
    • Trending News
    • Videos & Interviews
    • Taylor Swift
    • Kim Kardashian
  • Music
    • Music Highlights
    • Music Videos
    • Charts
    • Playlists
    • EMAs
    • MTV PUSH
    • Artists
  • Shows
    • Latest Shows
    • The Charlotte Show
    • Geordie Shore
    • Ex on the Beach
    • Just Tattoo Of Us
    • Teen Mom UK
    • The Royal World
  • Movies
    • Movies Highlights
    • New Movies Coming Soon
    • Videos & Interviews
    • Trailers
    • Moana
  • Travel
    • Videos
  • Style
  • Life
    • Life
    • MTV Breaks
    • Sex
    • WTF
    • SRS
    • Travel
    • Fitness
    • Generation Change
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Search

Brand New For 2017

  • Main
  • Videos
  • Pictures
  • News
  • Nominees
MTV Brand New 2016 - Presented By Emporio Armani Diamonds

Bet You Didn't Think AJ Tracey Was A Linkin Park Fan...

We talk American rockers, shutting down Japan and more with the West London MC...

Mike Pell
  • Share to Facebook
  • Tweet to Twitter
  • Share to Google plus
Monday, January 30, 2017 - 09:20

"22 years young" AJ Tracey, has been making serious noise lately. Taking grime transatlantic, the West London MC is on a roll and getting the recognition for it. As a Brand New For 2017 nominee, AJ said it's a 'blessing'.

In our exclusive interview AJ said: "When I was a little kid I used to sit at home watching MTV, used to run home, slap it on, get told off by my mum for turning it up too loud. To be on [the list], it’s a blessing."

Music has been in his blood from a young age. "I’ve been making music since I was about six," he revealed. "Literally everyone in my family is something to do with music. My little brother produces, my mum used to be a DJ on pirate radio, my pops, he had his own rap group, which I will not name, but they were alright. Not gonna lie, their music was actually good, I actually liked their music. You know you’re meant to be embarrassed of your dad, but nah his music was actually good still, my mum thinks it’s rubbish though!"

As for his influences there's the idol you might expect from a rapper: "When I was growing up some people I looked up to were Nas, that’s my favourite rapper ever, I think he’s the greatest ever." But he also revealed: "Linkin Park, I listen to a lot of Linkin Park, that’s a wild card innit? Bit random. I listen to a lot of rock on the sly but no-one really asks so I don’t tell them. Linkin Park, 30 Seconds To Mars I like, some group called Yellowcard, there’s a couple still."

WATCH OUR EXCLUSIVE SPOTLIGHT ON AJ TRACEY HERE:

AJ's recent video for 'Buster Cannon' is slick. He told us how he ended up shooting the video: "[It was] shot in Tokyo, mainly in Shibuya," he said. "I was there on tour, I was just taking it in. I was like ‘this place is amazing, a visual would be really good here.’

"I had the perfect tune, obviously it’s Japanese themed if you know about anime and that, so I thought, y'ou know what, let me call my video guy', called him up, he was like ‘I’m on it, cool’. Flew him out, shot the video, innit. When it came out everyone was like, ‘woah, video in Japan, what?!’. Yeah man, it’s proper colourful and that. Went in and shut it down."

WATCH AJ TRACEY'S 'BUSTER CANNON' [EXPLICIT] HERE:

View the lyrics
Backstage, couple drinks, I'm loose
All I see is bums and boobs
I'm turnt, step on the stage
Buster cannon, man gon' blow up the room
Buster cannon, blow up the room
Buster cannon, blow up the room
Lickin' down shows and I'm bringing in racks
Buster cannon blow up the room
Backstage, couple drinks, I'm loose
All I see is bums and boobs
I'm turnt, step on the stage
Buster cannon, man gon' blow up the room
Buster cannon, blow up the room
Buster cannon, blow up the room
Lickin' down shows and I'm bringing in racks
Buster cannon, blow up the room

Man's from Grove, you already know
Beg friend who? Kick him in a hole
Bare Nike ticks on the kicks, that shows
Asked who I am, she already knows
Gang only, gangdem, that's bros
Fam know me, famdem, let's go
"Can I get a verse?" Big fat no
Squad with smoke, click clack blow
Man chat nuff, go get a job
Girls want cuff, I just want gwop
You're a wasteman, you're a big fat slob
Don't have a fit, don't cry, don't sob
Turn up to shows, I'm already drunk
Shelling down grime, I don't do funk
Guys got the shotgun, big like Inch
And the barrel come long like a elephant's trunk (Wah?)
Stepping on checks, stepping onstage
I don't want a beat from them man, that's dead
If it ain't Nyge or Faze then it's Tre
Cuh the beat sound like an impact to the head
Backstage entrance, no front door
Got a plus 10 and they've got a plus 4
Man do graveyard when I'm on tour
Don't chase girls, lose one, there's more
Writer(s): Tres Von Carimbocas, Che Wolton Grant Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com
Hide the lyrics

On reflection of the last 12 months, AJ said: "2016’s been amazing for me, I mean it’s been way better than I could have ever imagined. I’ve toured, shot a video in Japan, got my first million views, got my first two million views, just done so much, so many things."

As for what 2017 will bring, AJ's promising: "2017, bigger live shows, more elements to it more of an entertaining show rather than just music. Couple more transatlantic collars, yeah man, just more music to be honest, a couple of singles and that, and visuals, I’m gonna keep the visuals to the quality I’ve been releasing."

To vote for AJ Tracey to win Brand New For 2017, like/heart the Instagram image below:

https://instagram.com/p/BPdBtO8AJWF/

11 Things You Need To Know About AJ Tracey

Latest News

Get To Know: FLO
Get To Know: FLO
Get To Know - Poppy Ajudha
Get To Know: Poppy Ajudha
Get To Know: Bru-C
Get To Know: Bru-C
Get To Know: Alissic
Get To Know: Alissic
Get To Know: French The Kid
Get To Know: French The Kid
Get To Know: Daisy Brain
Get To Know: Daisy Brain
Get To Know: Dylan
Get To Know: Dylan
Get To Know: Flowerovlove
Get To Know: Flowerovlove
Get To Know: Luude
Get To Know: Luude
Our Music Portfolio Is Changing
Get To Know: Belters Only
Get To Know: Belters Only
Get To Know: CMAT
Get To Know: CMAT
Get To Know: Rêve
Get To Know: Rêve
Get To Know: Lauran Hibberd
Get To Know: Lauran Hibberd
Bad Boy Chiller Crew
Bad Boy Chiller Crew Win MTV PUSH UK & IRE 2022!
MTV’s Catfish UK: Apply Now
The BRIT Awards 2022 Hosted By Mo Gilligan
Win Tickets To The BRIT Awards 2022!
Wet Leg
Wet Leg Found It "So Weird" When People Sang Their Songs
Thomas Headon
Thomas Headon: “If You Vote For Me, I Will Be A Step Closer To Meeting Harry Styles”
Shaybo
Shaybo: "Making Music For Me Is A Way To Express Myself"

More From Brand New For 2017

Brand New For 2017
Brand New For 2017 Showcase Highlights
Brand New For 2017
In My Mind (The Amazons Live - Brand New For 2017)
Brand New For 2017
Real Ting (Stefflon Don Live - Brand New For 2017) [Explicit]
Brand New For 2017
Only One (Sigala Live - MTV Brand New For 2017)
Brand New For 2017
Sneak Peek: Sigala, Stefflon Don, Tom Grennan & The Amazons At MTV Brand New For 2017
Music
We're In Love With Sigala's Beach Shack After His Brand New For 2017 Performance
Sigala, Stefflon Don, Tom Grennan & The Amazons Smash It At Our Brand New For 2017 Gig
AJ Tracey Wins MTV Brand New For 2017!
Brand New For 2017
AJ Tracey, RAYE, Stefflon Don & More Tell Us Their Firsts
We Meet JP Cooper, The 'Annoying Kid' Turned Top 10 Hit Maker
Bet You Didn't Think AJ Tracey Was A Linkin Park Fan...
Nadia Rose Isn't A Musician, She's A Magician

Trending Articles

10 Things Your Heartbroken Friend Needs To Hear
18 Most Naked Of Naked Moments To Have Ever Hit Geordie Shore
21 Types Of People You'll Find In Every Friendship Group
What 15 Of The Most Common Sex Dreams ACTUALLY Mean
Celebrity
10 Celebrities Who Have Some Seriously Kinky Sex Likes In The Bedroom
Life
Here's Why Celebs Are Holding Four Fingers Up In Their Selfies
  • Contact Us
  • Access Services
  • Website Terms
  • Mobile Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • MTV Jobs
  • MTV Press
  • Anti-Slavery
  • Global Tax Policy Statement
Hit us with some keywords!