Ceebo wants the crown, but first he is checking what comes with it. On his 12 track mixtape Bloccstar, the Lambeth rapper turns ambition into a Shakespearean drama, exploring whether mainstream success and meaningful music can share the same postcode. Inspired by Macbeth, the project wrestles with temptation, integrity and the price of getting everything you wanted. Heavy thoughts, yes, but Ceebo still leaves room for a party.

Opening skit “Something Wicked This Way Comes” nods to Eminem’s Steve Berman conversations and Biggie’s Life After Death, setting the scene for the journey ahead. “Parable Of A Skinnyman” introduces the friction between principles and ambition, while “Owner” adds French language flair. “Jangolova”, featuring Two Tone and Odzmoney, heads straight for the dancefloor, capturing the carefree energy of the Black UK party scene.

Things get rowdier on “Coupé Decalé”, where 400 members N4T, Chefbkay, Syst7m and Jbiz join the action. “Shallow” then puts material gain firmly on the shopping list. Wretch 32 brings his lyrical presence to “Macbeth’s Soliloquy”, trading bars with Ceebo over looming boom bap production as the project’s moral questions take centre stage.

Fellow Lambeth wordsmith Blanco joins the jazzy “Gets Like Dat”, exploring creative control, while “These Days” asks listeners to consider the uneasy relationship between art and commerce. Built around RAY BLK’s “My Hood”, “H.I.T.H” brings the focus back home before “Bloccstar [BITW]” closes proceedings with emotional reflection.

Even the rollout played its part, with “Revolut” inspiring personalised Bloccstar debit cards for fans and industry figures. Add performances at The Great Escape, Fête de la Musique and Reading and Leeds Festival, and Ceebo’s ambitions are hardly whispered.

Bloccstar gives those ambitions a compelling narrative. Between crew chemistry, hometown loyalty and uncomfortable questions, Ceebo keeps the stakes high and the personality intact. Shakespeare would have plenty to discuss backstage afterwards.