Wretch’s Cadet
This song serves as my tribute to UK artist Cadet:
Though I never knew him personally, his work had a big impact on my life. As a result of his work, I’ve been afforded the freedom to tell the entirety of my truths in my music; to me, Cadet breaks norms with his music, for example, his song Closure is 7 minutes long, which a lot of people may frown upon as being too long, etc. but Cadet is authentic and utilised every second of that song to tell his fascinating story. Cadet was not afraid to be who he was and work with what he had, which is something I, myself can relate to and which I really explore in this single… a single which is self-produced and talks about me believing in myself even in the face of other’s not believing in me, as the ‘Underrated Legend’ Cadet has done as well.
R.I.P. Cadet, you were an Underrated Legend but as Wretch 32 (Wretch) says, you’ll forever be rated under the legend list. The authenticity, education, and genuity of your music are ideals that will forever stick with me.
The word Cadet means ‘a younger son or daughter’, and in my song Wretch’s Cadet I use that concept of next-generation to imply I am the next generation of that authentic style both Wretch and Cadet embody.
This song doesn’t stop short at crediting Wretch and Cadet despite them being the main focus of this single; it really is an acknowledgement of multiple sources of reference that fit this musical brand. This includes artists such as Avelino, Kano, Chance the Rapper (Chance) and extends even to athletes such as Jadon Sancho, Kobe Bryant and Tupac… hence the “Chance I took a sip of your Juice, it’s now mine too, Pac I got the Juice I’m in my bag it’s pretty cool” line (a reference to Chance’s song Juice), which is me declaring, I’m on that same authentic musical brand as Chance. In my words “Pac I got the Juice I’m in my bag it’s pretty cool” I’m referencing the 1992 film ‘Juice’ in which Tupac starred, stating that like with Chance, Tupac also has played a role in the creation of my authentic brand of music.
Check out the lyrics here
