FROM THE STREETS OF MANCHESTER TO THE TOP OF THE UK CHARTS, AITCH HAS CARVED OUT A PLACE AS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING VOICES IN BRITISH RAP. KNOWN FOR HIS SHARP BARS, INFECTIOUS CHARISMA, AND DOWN-TO-EARTH ATTITUDE, HE’S BUILT A CAREER THAT BALANCES MAINSTREAM SUCCESS WITH AN AUTHENTIC SENSE OF SELF. BUT BEYOND THE PLATINUM RECORDS AND SOLD-OUT SHOWS LIES A MORE PERSONAL SIDE: HIS DEEP CONNECTION TO HIS HOMETOWN, THE BOND WITH HIS FAMILY – ESPECIALLY HIS SISTER GRACIE – AND THE DRIVE TO USE HIS PLATFORM FOR MORE THAN JUST MUSIC. IN THIS CONVERSATION, AITCH OPENS UP ABOUT THE ROOTS THAT SHAPED HIM, THE LESSONS LEARNED ALONG THE WAY, AND WHERE HE’S HEADING NEXT.
“I THINK JUST RAPPING IN GENERAL AND NOT BEING AFRAID TO PUT MYSELF OUT THERE AND GIVE PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO HAVE AN OPINION. ONCE YOU DO THAT A COUPLE TIMES, YOU BECOME FEARLESS BECAUSE YOU REALIZE PEOPLE’S OPINIONS SHOULDN’T AFFECT YOU.”
AITCH: IT WAS AN AMAZING FEELING. I NEVER REALLY WANTED TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN MAKE MUSIC, SO THAT FIRST STEP TO MAKING IT MY CAREER WAS A MASSIVE
MOVE FOR ME! ONE OF THE BEST TIMES OF LIFE.
AITCH: THE VIBE! MANCHESTER IS A REALLY “IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW” PLACE. WE’RE CUT FROM A DIFFERENT CLOTH OVER HERE.
AITCH: IT’S MADE ME THE PERSON I AM TODAY, I WOULDN’T RAP ANYTHING LIKE THE WAY I DO NOW IF I WASN’T FROM MANCHESTER. IT’S WHAT’S MADE ME! I HAVE A CERTAIN SWAGGER THAT NO ONE ELSE DOES COS I’M FROM HERE.
AITCH: I DO MAINLY LISTEN TO RAP, BUT IT GETS A BIT HEAVY ON THE EARS SOMETIMES, SO I’LL SPRINKLE A LITTLE OASIS AND STONE ROSES IN THE MIX, MAKES ME THINK OF HOME.
AITCH: I DON’T THINK THAT SPECIFICALLY MADE IT HARDER, I SUPPOSE IT WAS JUST THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE RAP WORLD FROM MANCHESTER TO COMPARE TO OR GET SOME ADVICE FROM, YOU JUST GOTTA FIGURE THE GAME OUT.
AITCH: I DON’T KNOW… TO BE HONEST, I DIDN’T REALLY HAVE ONE, I KINDA JUST MADE A PATH AND KEPT IT STEPPING.
AITCH: PRESSURE? WHAT’S THAT?
AITCH: I THINK JUST RAPPING IN GENERAL AND NOT BEING AFRAID TO PUT MYSELF OUT THERE AND GIVE PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO HAVE AN OPINION. ONCE YOU DO THAT A COUPLE TIMES, YOU BECOME FEARLESS BECAUSE YOU REALIZE PEOPLE’S OPINIONS SHOULDN’T AFFECT YOU.
AITCH: I LOVE THAT! AS LONG AS PEOPLE SAY I WAS AN AMAZING PERSON, OR THEY WANT THEIR SON TO BE LIKE ME WHEN THEY’RE OLDER, I’M HAPPY. EVERYTHING ELSE IS A BONUS.
AITCH: IT JUST COMES NATURALLY, REALLY. BEING A FAN OF THESE PEOPLE HELPS BECAUSE WHEN I HEAR A SONG OR A BEAT, I CAN JUST AUTOMATICALLY IMAGINE CERTAIN PEOPLE ON CERTAIN SONGS. EVERYONE BRINGS THEIR OWN FLAVOR TO THE DISH.
AITCH: LUCIANO IS MY BROTHER AND I LOVE GERMANY! I THINK I’VE BEEN THERE OVER 20 TIMES ALREADY AND I’LL DEFINITELY BE BACK. I LOVE IT OVER THERE.
AITCH: 50 CENT, NO EXPLANATION NEEDED.
AITCH: IT’S JUST HOW I’M FEELING AT THE TIME, REALLY. I WANTED TO MAKES SONGS I CAN REALLY SHUT DOWN A SHOW WITH, AND ALSO JUST WANTED TO BRING SOME MORE FUN TO THE GAME.
AITCH: I’LL LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE HOW MY STYLES EVOLVED. I JUST KEEP DOING ME, THAT’S ALL I CAN DO.
AITCH: SHE’S THE REASON I AM WHO I AM TODAY – SHE LITERALLY MAKES ME A BETTER PERSON. SHE’S THE GOAT! LIFE LOOKS BETTER WITH HER.
AITCH: THERE’S NOT NECESSARILY A BIG CHANGE I WANNA SEE. I JUST THINK EVERYONE SHOULD BE NICE.
AITCH: I THINK IT MAKES IT BETTER! BECAUSE PEOPLE DON’T ALWAYS EXPECT THAT FROM ME. IT KINDA HITS DIFFERENT WHEN I GIVE THEM SOMETHING PERSONAL.
AITCH: I DON’T HAVE A CLUE. THIS IS SOMETHING I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT BUT NEVER HAVE AN ANSWER TO. I GUESS WE’LL NEVER KNOW.
AITCH: IN 10 YEARS, I’LL BE 35 YEARS OLD, HOPEFULLY ON A YACHT WITH A FEW KIDS RUNNING AROUND, BUT AGAIN, I GUESS WE’LL NEVER KNOW.
IF YOU COULD MAKE A SONG WITH ANY ARTIST, LIVING OR DEAD, WHO WOULD YOU PICK AND WHY? – “50 CENT, NO EXPLANATION NEEDED.”
“IN 10 YEARS, I’LL BE 35 YEARS OLD, HOPEFULLY ON A YACHT WITH A FEW KIDS RUNNING AROUND.”
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