The UK music world has been taken by storm over the weekend as two of the nation’s favourite rappers, Aitch and Central Cee are now feuding.
Pop culture wouldn’t be the same without its iconic feuds and what better way to resolve it than by the medium of… you guessed it, more music.
Aitch is one of Manchester’s most promising acts with hit songs like ‘Rain’ which features AJ Tracey, ‘My G’ a collaboration with Ed Sheeran and ‘Baby’ which samples Ashanti’s track of the same name.
Shepherd’s Bush born Central Cee has seen similar success, with songs like ‘Doja’, ‘Sprinter’ a joint stint with Dave and ‘Did It First’ where he shares a credit with Ice Spice.
Now, both artists are back in the spotlight as they’re firing shots at each other for all the world to see.
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If Drake and Kendrick set the tone for the American rap game, Aitch and Central Cee are definitely front and centre in the UK scene.
Aitch and Central Cee: A Timeline
26 July 2020 – ‘Molly’
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During his rise to fame, Central Cee understands the hard work and efforts that fellow rapper Aitch has put into his career, addressing it in one of his first releases titled ‘Molly’.
The rapper, also known as Cench, shouts out the Manchester star praising, “Man said 21 with a mill (Swear) / I need the same deal as Aitch’s”.
This is a direct reference to Aitch’s line in ‘Raw’, “Hands up if you made a mill before 21, gang (Gang, gang)”, which was only released two months prior in May 2020.
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21 February 2022 – The Face Launch Issue 010
The two can be seen smiling it up in West Hollywood as both were invited and attended an exclusive launch party for British magazine The Face.
Cee can be seen sporting Italian luxury clothing brand, Moncler, while Aitch is dressed in a fit from American apparel company, Von Dutch.
This launch party celebrated Cench’s cover story and even warranted a performance from the London musician.
We can’t get pictures in the article but a quick google of ‘Aitch Central Cee The Face Launch’ will show you a few candids of the two stars.
Aitch wins ‘Best Hip Hop/ Grime Act’ at the 43rd edition of the UK’s biggest music award show, The BRITs, a category where Central Cee was also nominated.
The Manchester rap star received his award from footballer Declan Rice and the intro to ‘A Guy Called?’ incorporates the very moment when the Arsenal midfielder announced his victory.
10 March 2024 – ‘5 Star’ Snippet
Central Cee took to Instagram to reveal ‘New music after Ramadan.’ posting a selection of pictures in various locations such as the studio and even outside a shop window holding a crate of prime with KSI.
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The seventh slide in this photo dump is a voice memo which contains a snippet of ‘5 Star’, although at the time fans were none the wiser.
Both the UK stars attended the launch of famous burger chain Archie’s latest venture in the Trafford Centre, although not much is known on their interaction at the event.
In a video posted to the official Instagram account relating to the roller rink site ‘Archie’s Atomic’, it’s safe to say Aitch’s answer to ‘Freestyle or sing’ makes a lot of sense, following his latest track.
Much like ‘A Guy Called?’, it’s clear that Aitch really does love a good freestyle.
Just one day before the release of Central Cee’s debut album he achieved three nominations including ‘British Artist of the Year’, ‘Song of the Year’ and that infamous ‘Best Hip Hop/ Grime Act’.
24 January 2025– ‘5 Star’ and ‘CAN’T RUSH GREATNESS’
2025 may have just began but the anticipation for this album has been high, especially since the first single for the record came all the way back in May courtesy of ‘Band4Band’, a link up with Lil Baby.
The latest single from ‘CAN’T RUSH GREATNESS, Central Cee’s debut album is ‘GBP’ but the track that’s really got everybody talking is ‘5 Star’.
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Central Cee for latest record ‘CAN’T RUSH GREATNESS’Credit: Sony Music
On the second track of the LP, Cench directly hits out at the Moston boy spitting “I felt like a prick when I went to the BRITs and they gave the award to a guy called Aitch”.
He doubles down on this in the following line explaining, “I had my acceptance speech prepared like, “Long live F’s”, I’m goin’ insane / And free all the guys inside of the cage”.
‘5 Star’ even calls back to the album’s title as in the chorus the London based rapper warns, “Should know that you can’t rush greatness / But you’re too impatient”.
24 January 2025 – ‘A Guy Called?’
Aitch didn’t waste any time as by 4pm the same day his reply was broadcast to the world and it addresses some cultural moments a lot of fans will remember, including previous relationships.
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One of the most prominent bars in the one-off single is “(Yo, uncs) We can go bar for bar, BRIT for BRIT, punch for punch (Bah)”.
Not only does this quote the BRIT award show, it also references and incorporates the same melody as Central Cee’s ‘Band4Band’.
Right after this, ‘A Guy Called?’ also fires shots at one of Cench’s closest companions, “All your songs get wrote by Clint”, an esteemed fashion designer and owner of streetwear brand Corteiz.
Aitch for previous single ‘Famous Girl’ released last year.
The artwork for the diss track shows some wall art which reads ‘The world via Manchester’ and in front of it, of course, is that all too important BRIT award figure.
To close the diss track he even samples Central Cee’s previously mentioned 2020 hit ‘Molly’ which kickstarted our great big UK rap beef timeline.
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Aitch’s Instagram post of this song which is captioned ‘Leave me alone.’ got a response from the man in question, Central Cee, who replied ‘Fair enough’ alongside a laughing emoji and a fire emoji.
There’s no cold shoulder here either as later on in the almost three minute long number Aitch reassures fellow feuder, “Little boy is just there to be spun, gettin’ mad at the BRITs, there’s bare to be won (On God)”.
25 January 2025 – Central Cee x Corteiz
One day after the release of his album and Aitch’s response ‘A Guy Called?’, Central Cee drops a limited edition tee which merges the title ‘CAN’T RUSH GREATNESS’ with the usual Corteiz branding.
This isn’t verified by either party however with Aitch calling out the owner of Corteiz, Clint, it would be a perfect way for Central Cee to clap back at Moston’s finest.
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It’s so limited edition, the link to it on the website shows the shirt has already sold out.
Good thing Cench posted the design to his social media account surrounded by a crew of buddies all kitted out in the same in-demand streetwear including masks.
Or given how much Aitch loves to make a guest appearance wherever he can, there’s a possibility they could resolve their differences on stage in front of 23,500 fans.
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What’s next?
Everyone may be wondering what comes next, don’t worry we have no idea either!
What we do know is that both artists involved in this ‘beef’ which is playing out over social media are known for their much loved and well-recited melodies.
At the end of the day, these are two very respectable rappers and it can be so easy to get caught up in the drama and forget the reason everyone enjoys each artist, for their music.
Featured Images:Jack Bridgland (Central Cee) and Publicity Picture (Aitch)
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Liam Fray says ‘yes’ to Courteeners supporting Oasis on tour amid rumoured 2027 dates
Danny Jones
Liam Fray has said that the Courteeners are ready to “answer the call” if/when it comes to supporting Oasis on their next big live tour, with rumours of dates for shows in 2027 ramping up.
The fellow Manc favourites were heavily suggested as potential support acts for the Live ’25 reunion gigs, but Cast and Richard Ashcroft were ultimately selected as the warm-ups for the world tour.
With that in mind, when asked if Courteeners would be ready to open up for Oasis on their still only hypothetical tour next year, Fray had a very quick answer:
Not to speak for the Middleton musician, but it’s a bit of a no-brainer, really.
As you can see, in a recent interview with Radio X host Johnny Vaughan promoting the indie rockers’ new single, ‘Plus One Forever’, the 41-year-old frontman made it clear that he and his bandmates would bite hands off if the other Liam and/or his brother Noel offered a slot to them.
The younger Gallagher brother definitely had plenty of fun teasing supports last time around, before making some fairly more obvious posts and then seemingly just announcing them on social media according to his own timeline.
LG does what he wants, after all.
As for the supposed ’12 nights at the Etihad Stadium’ reported recently, not to mention all the other sets across the country that would no doubt follow should they come to fruition, Fray could say little else other than simply “Yes” to the prospect.
Joking, “Well, it is from me – I don’t know if someone else has said no!”, there have been no other indications on this front, but it’s safe to say it’d be a huge booking for everyone involved and a HUGE crowd-pleaser; Liam looks to be working on one of his own, elsewhere, too…
The two lead singers have both graced the stage of the Emirates Old Trafford stadium at Lancashire County Cricket Club, as well as Heaton Park, respectively.
Liam noted that he was at Heaton Park himself for that unforgettable summer last year, and also praised Wigan’s very own Ashcroft for being “unbelievable” when he caught him at Wembley. Big shoes to fill. The question is, who would you like to see supporting Oasis on their possible tour dates in the future?
In the meantime, we’ll have to be satisfied with gearing up for the release of the highly-anticipated reunion documentary, with the title and a first trailer now revealed.
The Streets at Castlefield Bowl, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and all you need to know
Lydia Mastrolonardo
The Streets are coming to Manchester this weekend to play their landmark album, A Grand Don’t Come For Free, on tour and in full for the first time in full since its release in 2004.
It remains one of the most influential albums of the 21st century, having had a huge impact on culture and UK music, and we couldn’t be more excited to FINALLY hear it in its entirety live and direct.
Speaking on the seminal release, frontman Mike Skinner says he “wrote it as a story from beginning to end, even studying screenwriting to shape it and without the faintest idea how people would react.”
Ahead of this bringing it back to the stage in its entirety, he said: “We’ve been looking for something bold to do with the live show, and we landed here: some tracks have never been played live, others haven’t surfaced in years.” With that in mind, we can’t wait for their 2026 Sounds of the City set. Speaking of…
The Streets at Castlefield Bowl for Sounds of the City
Are there tickets left for The Streets’ Manchester dates?
Skinner and his band are set to fill Castlefield Bowl, and we’ve been blessed with not one, but two nights at this iconic outdoor stage in the heart of the city, on Friday 10 July AND Saturday 11 July – lucky us.
While tickets for the first gig are all sold-out across the board, you can still grab general admission for the second show this Saturday; secure yours HERE.
Known for their lively stage presence, tongue-in-cheek demeanour and unwavering crowd engagement, Skinner and co’s latest visit is not one to miss lightly.
Oh, and if you too were ‘Prangin Out’ about the footy clashing, ‘Dry Your Eyes’ and fear not: you no longer have to choose, thanks to a welcome update ahead of England’s crucial World Cup quarter-final against Norway.
Saturday, August 1, 2026 – Scarborough Open Air Theatre – Scarborough
Friday, August 7, 2026 – Audley End Estate – Essex
Friday, August 21, 2026 – Earlham Park – Norwich
Saturday, August 22, 2026 – O2 Academy Birmingham – Birmingham
Friday, August 28, 2026 – Rock N Roll Circus – Sheffield
Thursday, August 5, 2026 – Depot Mayfield – Manchester
Yes, in case you weren’t aware, the gang are also playing The Warehouse Project as part of the WHP26 programme; tickets for that are also live.
Get them before they go!
Support acts and stage times for The Streets at Castlefield Bowl
For ‘Those That Don’t Know’, there are set to be some amazing support acts joining The Streets on tour. We are lucky enough to get rising Mancunian artist Antony Szmierek, as well as rap and grime MC CASISDEAD for the two days at Castlefield Bowl.
They’ve also kindly given us a very clear rundown of the stage times for each artist’s set, too:
Thankfully, bringing back an album to play start to finish means that we pretty much know almost for certain what they’re going to be playing. Here’s the tracklist as it appears on the original album:
Set 1: A Grand Don’t Come For Free in full
It Was Supposed To Be So Easy
Could Well Be In
Not Addicted
Blinded by the Lights
Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way
Get Out of My House
Fit but You Know It
Such a Tw*t
What Is He Thinking?
Dry Your Eyes
Empty Cans
That being said, we’re almost certainly going to get a few more hits as part of the encore, be it ‘Turn the Page’, ‘Who’s Got the Bag’ and ‘Let’s Push Things Forward’, just to name a few.
What would you most like to hear from elsewhere in their discography for the Sounds of the City (SOTC) double bill? Let us know in the comments.
Transport and travel advice
Getting to Castlefield Bowl
Castlefield Bowl (M3 4JR) is on Rice Street just down Liverpool Road, which cuts off the main Deansgate strip in the city centre, and you can enter Manchester’s much-loved outdoor amphitheatre via Duke or Castle Street.
Tram
It’s just a six-minute walk from the Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop, or ever so slightly further is the St Peter’s Square tram stop, where you can find regular trams running all over Greater Manchester from both. You can check the first and last trams from the stops HERE.
Train
The nearest station to Castlefield Bowl is Deansgate train station, being a mere six-minute walk or Manchester Oxford Road, which is only 15 minutes away, with Piccadilly and Victoria being slightly further afield but still not miles away, clocking in at just a few minutes from the gig.
Whichever route you choose, none are unrealistic – just be sure to check last train timings to not get caught short.
Bus
A variety of buses stop close to Castlefield Bowl on their route, such as the 33 or 33b, which stop just a one-minute walk away from the venue.
A full list of buses and their routes can be found HERE
Getting to Castlefield Bowl by car and parking info for The Streets
If you’re driving there, Great Northern Warehouse’s (M3 4EE) car park, as well as two other NCPs near Bridgewater Hall and on Quay Street in Spinningfields.
You can also park your car for free and get the tram to the gig from one of Greater Manchester’s 24 Park and Ride sites.
Walk/cycle
If you’re that bit more climate conscious, then there are plenty of options for you too. Why not use the TfGM journey planner to find the best cycle route for you?
If you’re up for saving some pennies, the planet and want to take in your surroundings on a summer evening, then walking is a great option to beat the queues. Even walking a portion of your journey may be a wise idea!
Just make sure you save some energy for an all-night party (here’s hoping England can take it long into the early hours).
If you’re wondering what the vibes have been like at SOTC 2026 so far, here’s a taster from night two…
Safe to say @wetlegband continue to 'level up' when it comes to live shows. 🔥
Thomas Melia -
28th January 2025 
