AJ Tracey hoping Ladbroke Grove will inspire him to Brit award
London rapper AJ Tracey is up for Song of the Year at the Brits for 'Ladbroke Grove'.
AJ Tracey, real name Ché Wolton Grant, was born and raised in west London and wrote the rap to celebrate the area he is from.
"Obviously, I grew up here, it's my beloved area and I feel like west is a little slept on [forgotten]," AJ Tracey told ITV News.
The official video for the song has been viewed 26m times on YouTube, a sign of its popularity.
The rapper was influenced from a young age by his mother who is a DJ, meaning as a child he was listening to a eclectic mix of music.
"The influence from my mum was more all the different records she collected over the years and all the different types of music she introduced me to."
AJ Tracey's rise has been an impressive one and would be crowned if he were to win the Brit award on Tuesday night.
"Almost every other day I say 'this is mad' because it is mad, because once upon a time I was in debt to student loan; I didn't have qualifications; I didn't know how to pay rent; I didn't know if I was going to get my own house; I didn't have enough money to buy sneakers, so obviously now it's crazy, it's very crazy.
"I am obviously grateful and humbled by it, so I just try and take it one step at a time."
Celebrities will be travelling from all over the world in order to attend the even but Ronnie Wood only needed a quick trip on the Jubilee Line to reach Greenwich.