Central Cee's 'Can't Rush Greatness' album review

Central Cee has been a prominent figure in the UK rap scene for quite some time now. He started to gain significant notoriety in the early-2020s after having multiple internationally known hits in “Doja” and “Sprinter,” the latter of which was a collaborative effort with fellow UK rapper Dave.

Central Cee’s status as a rising star has left many in the hip-hop community eagerly awaiting the release of his debut studio album. After having previously dropped two mixtapes and five EPs throughout his almost decade-long career, Central Cee’s first album Can’t Rush Greatness finally dropped in the first month of 2025.

The album starts off on a high note with arguably the best song on the tracklist, “No Introduction,” to kick things off. The track showcases Central Cee’s signature high-energy style, making for an enjoyable banger with solid rapping throughout.

Another highlight on the album is the track “GBP,” which features 21 Savage. And despite being overplayed as the album’s lead single, “BAND4BAND” with Lil Baby, is another notable track that once again sees Central Cee in his familiar lane.

From a rapping standpoint, Central Cee gives a strong performance overall—one that sees him continually put his commanding mic presence on display. With that being said, it quickly becomes clear when listening to the album that Central Cee struggles to deviate far from his usual style.

The album’s repetitiveness and lack of real standout tracks are what ultimately hold it back from being a quality project. In addition to Central Cee’s continued use of the same flow, much of the album’s production comes across as rather repetitious, relying heavily on similar sounding UK drill beats.

While the production fits very well with Central Cee’s rapping style, it manages to keep him well within his comfort zone. In other words, the album doesn’t really do anything to diversify Central Cee as an artist or to propel his music to new heights.

Overall, Can’t Rush Greatness is a lackluster debut album that will do little to earn Central Cee any new converts. Those who were previously fans of his music will enjoy getting more of the same, but anyone looking for something new will likely be disappointed. 

Overall Rating: 4/10