EPs like this one need to be cherished. Dave & Central Cee gifted us with Split Decision, which is truly a great moment for UK music. A cursory look at all the statistics lets us know just how many records they’re breaking at the moment. The EP is of course strategically kept to four tracks in length, as this will only further increase our hunger for more.
Dave and Central Cee have both proven to be supremely careful with what they release, and it has always worked in their favour. Surprise releases only work for the very top tier artists in the country, and Dave and Central Cee have proved that they’re undeniably part of category. In honour of such a momentous release, we’ve rounded up the best lyrical flourishes from Dave and Central Cee. If you missed our previous coverage on the Hardest Bars from All Alone In This Together and 23 be sure to check them out.
“Trojan Horse“
Dave – “Give her the Trojan, give her the Trojan Horse, I feel like Troy, had a revolver, decomposin’ hid in the woods, I feel like Roy”
Central Cee – “She deserve a standin’ ovation the way that she got on her knees and ate me, two hands Lord Jesus save me. We all know the industry’s fake, the streets fake as well, stand up for my rights like Santan Dave, them man stand up like Dave Chappelle”
The project kicks off with some cold production from Dave himself, as he taps into his cinematic bag. The opening sequence of the instrumental sounds like it could easily be lifted from a television show or a movie. With the scene set, Central Cee and Dave both deliver bars packed with imagery.
“Sprinter”
Central Cee – “I never went to uni, I been on campus selling cocaine to students, if bro let the drumstick beat, then something gon’ leak, we ain’t playing exclusives”
Dave – “Heard that girl is a gold digger, it can’t be true if she dated you, AP baby blue, paper’s pink, I’d probably hate me too, you ever spent six figures and stared at bae like “look at what you made me do”
When this dropped last week, we knew the internet would be set ablaze. Little did we know that we were going to be treated to a full project featuring two of the UK’s biggest stars. Shot across Monaco, the visuals reflect the trappings that Dave and Central Cee rap about throughout the project, and really display candidly the success that the pair have had. A beautiful thing to see, when we think about the UK scene’s humble beginnings.
“Our 25th Birthday”
Dave – “For times I couldn’t cover the train fare, it’s Oysters, the Oyster Perpetual, the women incredible the work’s seminal, had to change my number on a low, I’m too accessible”
Central Cee – “We elevated we don’t have to trap harder, now my garden the same size as Battersea Park, I ain’t putting no suit and tie on, I turned down the Met Gala”
Featuring some cold vocals from fellow Neighbourhood Records label mate Kamal, this track follows the theme that Dave has set throughout his discography. Central Cee and Dave’s actual birthdays are just one day apart, so it was only right that Central Cee joined Dave on this track.
“UK Rap”
Dave And Central Cee – “She don’t listen to UK Rap, if it ain’t Dave or Cench”
Central Cee – “Been livin’ a movie since Blockbusters, way before Netflix, I just made a play for an M, its 11AM, I ain’t even had breakfast”
Dave – “Nokia 9010, this phone come like the splits on Distro. Me and bro like Skep’ and Frisco, disco, three man hop out the rental, no need for the drum and bass, call bae if you wanna see rude or mental”
Long time friend and Dave collaborator Kyle Evans is on production duties on this one. The omnious drilly basslines sets up Central Cee and Dave with the perfect backdrop for their braggadocious onslaught. This one is packed with quotables, so much so even the chorus probably has one of the best lines in it.