UK star Central Cee has just released his new mixtape, 23, and it's an honest exploration of his beginnings, while also acknowledging his current successes. CC's hunger can be heard in every bar on the project, and his story is one that's still being written.

To celebrate the release of 23, we've taken a look at some lessons that we can learn from CC's success to date. This is the most confident we've heard him sound, and with good reason too - he's a name that's now known across the world.

Believe in yourself, even when no-one else will

While Central Cee's success might initially seem meteoric, he's actually been writing music for the majority of his life. He first started writing music at the age of eight, before he began recording music at the age of 14 - so his success has been a long time coming.

On 23's closing track End Of The Beginning, Central Cee tells the story of his come-up, featuring the voice of his mum, Rachel Caesar. A lot's changed since he was kicked out of home at 14, and across 23, he's not afraid to acknowledge his successes, while also reminding fans that he's nowhere near done yet. 

Don't forget your roots

The video for Cold Shoulder encapsulates just how far Central Cee's come, contrasting shots of him performing to huge crowds with footage of him in places all around London. When he was younger, he'd often question what he was seeing, and these questions are part of what's fueled his songwriting. His music paints a vivid picture of what it's like to be Central Cee - both the good and the bad. 

Speaking to Crack Magazine, he explained, “I’d ask a lot of questions about what I was seeing, certain things weren’t right but I couldn’t always articulate how. But for a lot of people from where I’m from, that’s normal life." Rather than shy away from things, Central Cee embraces all aspects of his story, so fans can see what it means to be him.

Change doesn't need to be feared

While many might have initially labelled Central Cee as a drill rapper, he's always aimed to be flexible with his music. Elements of jazz and reggae can be heard in his music, while he's not afraid to show off his softer side when it suits his music.

Speaking to Complex, Central Cee highlighted that he doesn't want to be tied to a particular sound. "I don’t want to be boxed in as a drill rapper… It sort of ties in to me doing my own thing," he noted. "It’s not intentional, but I definitely don’t like labels or expectations and my work reflects my own diverse influences." It's a reminder that while you might succeed with one sound (with songs like Loading taking influence from drill music), he's not afraid to draw influences from all types of music, and all aspects of life.

Being a star comes with responsibility

On 23, Central Cee is honest about his life - while there are a lot of benefits to being a star, it's not always all it's cracked up to be. Mixtape track Lil Bro (which actually features his younger brother) sees him passing on advice to his younger brother, who's seen his success and wants to emulate it.

He raps, "I thought the roads was cool as a young boy/It's not though, I got mislead," touching on the fact that he's had to do things the hard way. It hasn't been handed to him. Now he's in a position of success, he wants better for his family - and he knows he needs to be the one to guide his younger brother's journey.

Across 23, Central Cee contrasts his childhood with his current situation, showing people that greatness can come from humble beginnings. However, rather than trying to keep it all for himself, he's looking to bring those around him alone for the ride. 

READ MORE: Meet West London MC Central Cee, Who's One Of The Rising Stars Of UK Rap

Aim to make a positive impact

Central Cee's motto, "Live Yours", is a simple one, but it's a reminder from CC that it's important to be yourself. On Straight Back To It, CC raps, "Look, we all go through hard times/That's why it's "Live Yours" and it's not "Live Mine"", showcasing that everyone has their own battles - but it's important to embrace the challenges, rather than try to emulate someone else.

Speaking to Sidedoor Mag, CC outlined his hope for his legacy, and it's much more than just music. He explained, “I’d like to be known for making a positive impact. People will always judge my music but what I do outside of that is what I’ll be remembered for.” He's not afraid to be ambitious, but he also understands that ambition shouldn't mean that other aspects of life get ignored.