2 Giants, 1 Tape : Dave & Central Cee’s ‘Split Decision’ Review
8.7/10
Drake and Future…Yé and Jay…Dave and Cench. the release of their Split Decision EP, Santan Dave and Central Cee join the ranks of rap’s most iconic duos. From opening track Trojan Horse to declarative finale UK Rap, the English wordsmiths trade witty one-liners & peacocking lyrics over beats curated with the summer in mind. The leading single Sprinter weaves a story of rags to riches with lines like “We ain’t got generational wealth, it’s only a year that I’ve had these millions” & “This ain’t stainless steel it’s platinum”. A fun, catchy tune with braggadocious lyrics over a charismatic Spanish guitar, the single sets the tone for the rest of the tape, and the message is clear: Dave & Cench are not your mates.
[via SantanDave1 on Twitter ]
In Trojan Horse (the title a nod to wartime Greece), the mood is decidedly darker. The song is more traditionally drill than its preceding single, with an ominous beat and violent lyrics letting us know the pair haven’t forgotten where they come from. “I’m feeling villainous”, Dave begins, with Central Cee confirming the “trap don’t stop”, armed and ready even in the mosque during prayer. The track also serves as an ode to streetwear, with both rappers shouting out Clint419, creative director of luxury UK streetwear brand Cortez.rtw.
Photo courtesy of The 3ngine on Instagram
The pair showcases their versatility in Our 25th Birthday, aptly named for both artists’ 25ths occurring hours apart from each other. Slower than the other songs on the tape, the tune depicts the pair lamenting over the darker side of riches and status. From the haunting hook of “Love is conditional…love could go missin’ on you” to describing thousands spent on women they don’t necessarily like, it’s clear that in their world, everything is transactional.
To end the tape, the pair gives us another drill song in UK Rap. With Dave being the highest selling UK rapper & Central Cee’s record-breaking global fanbase, it’s a no-brainer. From “I feel like I’m Tony Soprano”, to “She don’t listen to UK rap…if it ain’t Dave or Cench”, the duo flex their muscle and crown themselves co-kings of UK rap and the culture as a whole.
Photo courtesy of The 3ngine on Instagram
With catchy, trick-endorsing lyrics, intoxicating beats, and well-deserved cockiness, the tape is all hits and no misses, filling the void that waiting on Top Boy’s return left in my heart. While my personal favorite was Sprinter, each song on the project did what it had to do. By the end of the 4-song mixtape I was walking around with a gunman bounce speaking in South London slang exactly as they intended. The pair lived up to the hype - successfully producing a multipurpose project with songs for reminiscing, fun summer nights, and motivation to get on your grind and stunt on the paigons.