logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
42m 24s

AJ Tracey on London’s streets and how mu...

ANNIE MACMANUS
About this episode

AJ Tracey is one of the most influential artists in the UK music scene today but his life could have taken a very different direction had he not made some serious changes. AJ is known for his groundbreaking contributions to grime, drill and UK garage. Last year he celebrated 1 billion streams in the UK and was honoured with the Brits Billion Award. His triple platinum-selling hit Ladbroke Grove is an homage to his West London neighbourhood where he was raised by his single mum. For AJ, the reality of growing up as a black, working class boy in London meant being surrounded by gangs, violence, and a culture of fear. These early experiences led him to carry weapons and sell drugs, but through all this, music became AJ’s lifeline, offering him a way out and ultimately led to his rise as an independent artist. 


In this frank and eye opening episode AJ and Annie dive deep into his journey from early days on council estates to headlining stages as a multi-platinum artist. They talk about the pressures of becoming the man of the house at a young age, protecting his family, and navigating the harsh realities of The London postcode clash. They also discuss the issues facing young people today, how his rise to fame and making money have changed him and how he manages to stay grounded while breaking boundaries in the music industry. 


Warning: This episode discusses knife crime and violence


GET IN TOUCH

Contact us at changespod@gmail.com with your emails and voice notes.


Changes is a deaf friendly podcast, transcripts can be accessed here: https://www.anniemacmanus.com/changes

Please Note: The transcript is automatically generated in case you come across any typos or misquotes during your reading. Enjoy the episode.




Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Oct 2024
Annie announces a change for Changes
This week, Annie has some news. Changes is changing! Annie talks through how she has come to the decision to pause this podcast and shift the Changes conversation onto Substack.You can now find Changes with Annie Macmanus here:https://anniemacmanus.substack.com/p/welcome-to-chang ... Show More
11m 28s
Oct 2024
DJ Fat Tony on why music is better than any drug and the moment of empathy that changed his life
DJ Fat Tony is one of the most iconic figures of London’s nightlife scene. Tony’s extraordinary four-decade career at the heart of music and clubbing has seen him spinning tracks for everyone from Madonna to Prince, but his rise to stardom was paired with a drug addiction that al ... Show More
40m 47s
Oct 2024
Irvine Welsh on toxic masculinity, addiction and softening with age
There are few writers more renowned for pushing the boundaries of modern fiction than Scottish literary icon and author of the 90s cult classic Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh.Irvine grew up as a working class boy in Edinburgh surrounded by drugs, crime, poverty and unemployment. It ... Show More
39m 43s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 18
AJ Tracey - ‘Buying my mum a house will always be my proudest achievement’
Rapping phenomenon and Tottenham Hotspur superfan AJ Tracey joins us this week to talk about supporting his mum through her cancer journey, the pressures of staying an independent artist and what football has taught him about failure. AJ Tracey has been rapping since the age of f ... Show More
52m 48s
Aug 2023
Success is seasonal with Hak Baker, Benjamin Zephaniah, Celeste and Baxter Dury
Hak Baker, Benjamin Zephaniah, Celeste and Baxter Dury talk about writing whilst living in London, their view of success in their careers so far, and the impact of family and cultural history on their writing.Hak Baker was born in Luton and raised on the Isle of Dogs, in London. ... Show More
32m 3s
Dec 2023
Jane’s Addiction: Taking Risks, Enduring Pain, and a Killer on the Loose
Jane’s Addiction’s Dave Navarro was only 15 years old when his mother was brutally murdered in her apartment by her ex-boyfriend. The killer escaped, and for eight long years eluded capture. During those years, Dave Navarro couldn’t shake the pain of his mother’s death or the fea ... Show More
42m 29s
Oct 2024
BIG FACTS feat. SKILLA BABY (Live From Revolt World)
Skilla Baby pulls up to the Big Facts Podcast, live from Revolt World. The rapper dives deep into his rapid rise to fame, touching on his massive female fanbase that's got social media in a frenzy. Skilla recounts his recent wins, including his spot in XXL's coveted 2024 Freshman ... Show More
53m 40s
Jul 2024
James Graham: The playwright with the Midas touch
James Graham is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter for TV and film. His plays include Ink, This House and Dear England, about the struggles and successes of England’s former football manager Gareth Southgate. His acclaimed TV dramas include Quiz and Sherwood, set in the ... Show More
1h 8m
Oct 2024
Are the Police Losing Public Confidence? - Chris Donaldson
Chris Donaldson is a retired police officer who spent more than 30 years policing the streets of London. He has substantial experience as a firearms and public order commander, having been selected for the MET’s Territorial Support Group and SO19 firearms unit. Chris has also ser ... Show More
55m 5s
Nov 2024
Véronica Chacon, un couteau suisse artistique à voir sur scène à Londres
. Dans cet épisode captivant de "10 minutes, le podcast des Français dans le Monde", Gauthier Seys nous plonge dans l'univers fascinant de Véronica Chacon, une mezzo-soprano d'origine colombienne qui a su s'imposer sur la scène londonienne. À travers son parcours unique, Véronica ... Show More
10m 21s
Sep 2023
Mark Ronson on His Instant Connection with Amy Winehouse, Producing the Music for "Barbie", and Staying Relevant
Mark Ronson’s work has found its way into tons of the biggest pop hits in the world over the past two decades. And in that time he became a new kind of artist: a producer whose style is so distinct that his name became the marquee name. In this episode, Guy talks with Mark about ... Show More
1h 7m
Jul 2016
Levi Roots
Kirsty Young's castaway is the entrepreneur, Levi Roots.His business success began following an appearance on BBC Two's Dragon's Den in 2007. With guitar in hand, he sang about his 'Reggae reggae sauce' which he had been selling for years at London's Notting Hill Carnival. Both P ... Show More
34m 42s