AJ Tracey and Jorja Smith have reunited for a new collab on the nostalgic new single ‘Crush’. Check it out below.
- READ MORE: AJ Tracey on the cover: “I’ve gone through so much. It’s been so hard, and I’m still here”
Described as a “sonic love letter to youthful romance, nostalgia, and the distinctly British sounds” that define both of the musician’s artistry, ‘Crush’ is built around a sample of Brandy’s 2000 deep cut ‘Love Wouldn’t Count Me Out’ and sees both Tracey and Smith sing about fighting for a relationship.
“Like, baby girl, be easy / I’ll hold your hand, but still be greasy / 2K23 LON Weezy / Fuck FaceTime, come see me in 3D,” raps Tracey while Smith hit back with her own verse: ” I don’t wanna cause any problems / You’re only tryna please yourself / Now I got what you’re after / But you want something else / You just wanna love me for / I don’t wanna take it all / Like I spent time tryna build / And you just wanna make me fall, what?”
Directed by LateMilk, the song’s accompanying music video shows Smith and Tracey meeting at a cafe for coffee and conversation.
‘Crush’ marks the first official collaboration between Tracey and Smith. The rapper has previously sampled Smith’s 2018 track ‘Wandering Romance’ on his 2019 triple-platinum hit, ‘Ladbroke Grove’. The two also went viral that same year for their remixed cover of Sweet Female Attitude’s ‘Flowers’ for BBC Radio 1.
Speaking about the significance of the song in a press release, Tracey shared: “This track ‘Crush’ is really important to me, it’s a re-uniting of me and my good friend who also happens to be my favourite singer, on a British sonic that perfectly represents both of us. This song sounds like the feeling I used to get in secondary school when I fancied a girl, rushing home to call them on my old Nokia, sharing MP3s we think each other would like, and talking all night on MSN. It’s a UK ting!”
Smith added: “This tune just takes me back, it feels young but also brand new. Makes me feel how I did when I first started dropping music, makes me think of getting on the bus to school, makes me think of summer in the 2000’s – all types of feelings!”
Speaking about the track’s intimate themes, Tracey said: “I’m always around the mandem and it can be so toxic. When I’m with a love interest, I want it to be soft and passionate. I need a space in my life that’s warm.”
In other news, Jorja Smith was nominated for Best R&B Act at this year’s BRIT Awards. She is also set to kick off her 2025 UK and Ireland ‘Falling Or Flying’ tour later this summer.