AJ Tracey - Don't Die Before You're Dead (Album Review)
Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Written by Jack Butler-Terry
Photo: Shamarke Abdi
It’s been four years since Lambeth Grove’s finest released ‘Flu Game’, an album that allowed AJ Tracey to flex his versatility while cementing him as one of the UK’s finest rap talents. Now, on ‘Don’t Die Before You’re Dead’, he dials back the experimentation without sacrificing much in the way of quality.
Weirdly, though, it gets off to a poor start. Outta Sight is a nothing-burger of an opener and Second Nature turns out to be one of the weakest tracks of the 14 on offer. 3rd Time Lucky is a moving and well-made track but its placement at the top of the order is baffling, breaking away from the posturing start for a dedication to his mother that would probably land better towards the end of the record.
But it does ultimately show Tracey’s willingness to be vulnerable, while his storytelling prowess is at an all-time high. Chat Rooms is a similarly vivid tale that makes it easy for listeners to latch on to the subject matter and immediately take on a deeper appreciation for the art.
Tracey’s wordplay isn’t always elite, often opting for straight shots over ambiguity, but he makes up for it with his flows and rhyme schemes.
Prem Proven and Paid In Full are wordy and breathless, full of cascading bars and run-on sentences that sit in intelligent pockets. Tracey sounds fantastic throughout, and features from Jorja Smith, Big Zuu and Aitch are all full of individuality, giving ‘Don’t Die Before You’re Dead’ a tremendous level of character.
Overall, this is an album that rewards persistence and improves with repeated listens. Jeff Hardy, West Life and the Master Peace-featuring closer Red Wine make the back half some of his strongest work to date. ‘Don’t Die Before You’re Dead’ may be AJ Tracey at his most straightforward, but that also means that he’s leaning on his strengths, amassing a catalogue that sets him up for even bigger stages. Whatever he does next, it will be exciting.
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