Credit: Spotify

Central Cee is already one of the UK’s most successful rappers despite only being in the spotlight for five years. The rapper from Shepherd’s Bush, London, recently topped the UK Singles Chart with his debut album Can’t Rush Greatness while making history as the first British MC to crack the Billboard 200 top 10 in the US.

A few years ago, Cench landed himself a hit single with ‘Doja’. The track went viral on TikTok for various reasons, including the mention of American rapper Doja Cat, who the song is named after. He raps in the verse, “Somebody tell Doja Cat that I’m tryna indulge in that/ In my grey tracksuit, see the bulge in that.”

The track also received attention for the controversial first line of the chorus, where Cee spits, “How can I be homophobic? My bitch is gay.” While the lyrics played a big part in the song’s success, the production was just an important.

Produced by LiTek and WhyJay, the song samples Eve’s hit 2001 single ‘Let Me Blow Ya Mind’ featuring Gwen Stefani. The original track, which appeared on her Scorpion album, was produced by Dr Dre and Scott Storch. It peaked at number two in the US and four in the UK, winning Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards in 2002.

Despite being 20 years old, Cee made the song a modern-day smash in 2022. Eve, who resides in London, had no issue approving the sample after already being familiar with his work—a high compliment from someone who doesn’t let just anyone use her material.

“He ate that record!” the Philly rapper said on BBC Radio 1. “So for that record in particular, we were very involved because I don’t say yes a lot. We get probably two to three offers a month. It’s usually ‘Blow Ya Mind’ or ‘Who’s That Girl’. Those are the two that we get.”

She added, “But him… First of all, knowing and living in London, his name’s already been ringing and I liked him. I was like, ‘Yo, he’s a dope artist.’ And then we got the song and I was like, ‘This song is everything!’”

Unlike other occasions, Eve wrote every lyric on ‘Let Me Blow Ya Mind’ after Dre forced her to complete the recording. Then, Storch, who Eve has known since she was 15, provided the keys before the No Doubt singer got on board.

“I got told that that was never going to work,” she told Glamour. “I got told that that song would not work, that people would be like, ‘Why are these two chicks together?’ I was like, ‘Look, let’s try it. If it sucks, no one ever has to hear it.’ But of course, it didn’t. I knew it wouldn’t. Thank God. And you know, I won a Grammy. That was my first Grammy.”

Following the success of ‘Doja,’ Eve must be feeling even more smug that the song she believed in is continuing to reap its rewards.