On March 27, British rapper Central Cee released his seven-track extended play (EP) ALL ROADS LEAD HOME, following the global success of his previous studio album Can’t Rush Greatness. This compact project pulls back the layers of his career, shifting the focus back to his hometown in West London. While still rooted in U.K. drill, ALL ROADS LEAD HOME loosens Central Cee’s usual controlled delivery and almost emotionless tone, allowing for intentional restraint, creating a theme that isn’t detached, but reflective.
Oakley Caesar-Su, or better known as Central Cee, stands out due to his melodic, upbeat approach to U.K drill. U.K. drill is an underground rap subgenre originating in London, characterized by dark, aggressive beats and gritty street narratives. Central Cee features this unique style on tracks like “Doja” and “Sprinter,” which initially helped him rise to fame. He’s not a new lyricist; Central Cee has been writing poems since he was eight years old and writing verses since his teenage years.
The opening track, “ICEMAN FREESTYLE,” establishes the album’s initial tone with an 80s feel, showing off his voice as the main attraction. The title itself acts as a metaphor suggesting emotional numbness, as he raps about his ability to use isolation as a strength: “Beef is bad for business, money is more important.” It also seems as if Cee pulled inspiration from Drake’s song “NOKIA,” using the popular lyrics that originally made the song blow up: “Where the f*ck the function?” The album on which “NOKIA” appears, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, also follows the same all-caps theme in every song title.
Track two, “SLAUGHTER FT J HUS,” features an Afro-influenced bounce, but replaces the typical high energy with his signature cold tone. The song is undoubtedly a highlight of the album: the percussion is livelier but contrasts with the intense vocal range. Central Cee expresses his sense of paranoia that success brings, saying, “Can’t trust no man, that’s what I taught her.”
The third track, “WAGWAN,” serves as another example of Afro-influence, although this time, in the title. The term wagwan is slang for “what’s going on?” originating from Jamaica, but popularized in London. This track relies heavily on repetition from the beat to the lyrics, looping with little variety and creating a steady pattern and laid-back feel. Central Cee hints at being stuck in a cycle of loyalty: “You only spent one day with us chillin’, now you don’t wan’ live same way you were livin’,” reflecting on his routine as he evolves.
“FEELINGS,” the fourth track, is the most vulnerable moment in the EP, but given that it’s a Central Cee song, it doesn’t have much emotional depth. The production is much softer than other tracks on the album, starting with a subdued melody and continuing the prominent theme of reflection on his career. The song feels as if he’s looking back on his journey and acknowledging the feeling of doubt others have for him: “You got a dream that nobody believes in”, “baby, I know that feeling.” Although he restates his past emotions, he doesn’t quite break the emotional barrier, allowing the audience to relive the feelings with him and defeating the purpose of straying from his usual closed-off lyrics.
The closing track, “Y FI DAT,” perfectly ends the EP, tying a smooth, upbeat melody to an eerie feel and looping in a way that never fully resolves. He reflects on past relationships and trust, which will likely fuel the dying fire of controversy that the internet sparked between him and his ex-girlfriend Madeline Argy back in 2024. He sings, “my ex on social media, saying how bad I treated her.” The song relies heavily on its lyrics because of sonic variety, which would otherwise have made it blend in with the rest of the EP.
Each aspect of ALL ROADS LEAD HOME works together, including the production, lyrics, and overall flow, creating a sense of controlled repetition. The recurring theme of reflection on loyalty, success, and isolation circles back to the idea that no matter how far he has come, Central Cee’s path will always lead back to where he started, hence the title. Although this consistency builds a strong atmosphere, it blurs tracks together, giving the EP a repetitive feel and earning ALL ROADS LEAD HOME 4.5 out of five feathers.
