UK rapper, Aitch releases his highly anticipated debut album, Close To Home. An honest, reflective and personal tribute that speaks to his meteoric rise from Manchester, and becoming a Platinum-selling artist.
Aitch is one of Britain’s greatest lyrical talents. On the heels of seven UK Top ’10s, he is very clearly on a trajectory to global superstardom. Close To Home is a brilliant offering of great depth and excellent musical sensibilities that reflect his charismatic persona to a T.
There is a lot to love about this album. Close To Home holds all the classic hallmarks of R&B and hip hop heaven, proficiently pairing rich local flavour with global ambition.
Aitch is set to drop a video for his new single, My G, featuring the vocal talents of Ed Sheeran. It premieres tonight at 9pm AEST.
My G is an incredibly heartwarming tribute from the Manchester rapper to his 12-year-old little sister, whom he affectionately calls ‘G’, who has Down’s Syndrome. Filmed by long-time Aitch collaborator, Kelvin Jones, at The Langdon Down Centre, the video has captured a deeply moving performance from the rapper, as he reminisces over old childhood and family photos.
BelgraveRoad_1 is as near as perfect as you can get when it comes to setting the tone and paving the way for the rapper’s remarkable journey to hip hop’s top tier.
The young rapper has made some firm friends along the way. Following his ARIA Platinum single Rain, Aitch reunites with AJ Tracey on R Kid, and the sublimely chill Sunshine features New Machine with some damn fine guitar riffs. In Disguise features Bakar, the Shaun Ryder-assisted and the Stone Roses-sampling, 1989, and platinum-selling #2 hit, Baby featuring the one and only Ashanti.
Fuego, Cheque, and Louis Vuitton remind you that Aitch’s trademark lyricism and cheeky swagger are always assuredly and delightfully close to the surface.
Sharing on his youth, and his draw toward lyricism, the album’s title track, Close To Home sees Aitch put his private thoughts on paper for the first time.
Aitch says it best when speaking about the album’s title: “As much as I say that I’m trying to get out of the ends, and I want to go elsewhere, I always end up back in the same place. Even across the other side of the world, I feel like I bring a sense of Manchester; whether I’m in London or Australia, I’m still Close To Home.”
The album follows Aitch’s sold-out headline shows in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, and NZ. Aitch will kick off his 16-date sold-out UK headline tour in October, before returning to Australia for New Year appearances at Wildlands (Brisbane, Perth) and Field Day (Sydney) 2022/23.
Close To Home is out now via Virgin Music Australia. Stream the album here.
Catch Aitch’s Live At The Wireless encore on triple j this Sunday, August 21 from 1pm AEST – LISTEN HERE.
