“People from London feel like it’s more possible,” Aitch says sincerely. “They might get to a certain point in their career and have more drive because, ‘look how many people around me are doing it,’ whereas in Manchester you might only have two or three people to look up to and think ‘oh yeah, this is possible.’” Regionality’s influence – the North/South divide, the result of generations of London-first thinking – is ever-present in music, a disparity of opportunities that Aitch highlights in saying “There’s actually a foundation in London. I'm not going to say it's easier for anyone or anything, because the way social media is now you can blow up from anywhere.”

Despite its quintessential role in the UK’s musical history, playing home to some of the nation’s most successful, esteemed bands in history, Manchester endured an arduous battle for recognition within the rap game. Determined to change the narrative and consistent with his regional pride, Aitch has been at the forefront of Manchester’s acceleration, earning the city the respect it so deserves; so much so, that an argument could be made that he’s held the city on his back for the better part of half a decade.

It’s difficult to digest that six years have flown by since Aitch claimed his place in the UK’s rap conversation with 2008’s viral hit “Straight Rhymez 1,” which has amassed well over 29 million views on YouTube. Since that moment, which for many was their first exposure to Aitch’s talents, success has come thick and fast; an insatiable pace that, to most, feels alien; but seemingly comes naturally to the Mancunian frontman.

“I think I always just naturally loved [music] without realising I had a love for music. I don’t know if that makes sense, but I always wanted to play music, but I never thought nothing of it. I thought that was just life.” Perhaps, then, Aitch’s string of successes, from his breakout moment to performing in front of a sea of thousands at Glastonbury’s iconic Pyramid stage, were written in the stars.

It’s this run of success, and the humble nature Aitch has maintained throughout, that’s seen him find comfort amongst the alumni that make up the UK’s richly diverse sonic palette, and bring the nation, and its ever-evolving portfolio of rap, into focus on the world stage.

A seat at the table of the rap game wasn’t always achievable for UK talent. An American export, guarded with great pride, for over two decades, crossover success was limited to a select few, but with resilience, pride, and relentless talent, the tides have shifted. “I don’t even think there's many differences anymore. It's just an age thing, really, it’s not a place thing” Aitch begins, “there are a lot more real rap fans left in America than there are here. Everybody knows what it is.”

He continues, “There are a lot more people in America that are down to listen to a 6-minute freestyle of someone going on, whereas here we’re not really trying to hear that.” Social media, Tik-Tok in particular, have had an undeniable influence on attention spans, which, as a result, has affected how music is digested. Despite this, through the likes of Aitch, the UK scene has continued to evolve and stake its claim, narrowing the gap between the UK and the US.

Where a lot of UK rap artists once wove their soundscapes with America in mind, shifting their regional accents in favour of an Americanised sound, Aitch is amongst a fresh crop of talent that’s been unabashed about where they’re from and how they are. From his passionate regard for the talents of Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, “one of the greatest English football players of all time,” single-worded declaration of his favourite place: “Manchester,” and putting the city’s most electric streetwear imprint, Drama Call, ahead of Nike and Louis Vuitton in his rankings, were it possible to bleed Manchester, Aitch just might.

Despite the monumental life changes that fame brings, Aitch has remained unmoved in his adoration of the city that made him. It’s this deep-rooting that’s kept his head above the water while manoeuvring the music industry; a strength to which he has played, and is so deeply ingrained in his personality and outward presentation of himself. While regional pride can easily run away from you – we’ve seen countless examples of where this devolves into tribalism – Aitch has taken it as grounding, as a way to both respect and earn in it, nationally and internationally, striking an equilibrium with the sounds and sound smiths that have made his ascension possible. It all comes back to that feeling that music has been with the artist from a young age, guiding his movements towards rolling peaks.

While there’s certainly an argument to be made for artists simply being born a musical bone; an inclination for sonic craft that assures success, but talent isn’t enough; it takes immersion, a passionate pursuit to understand the culture of sound, to rise above the noise. Aitch’s appreciation of music leaves little doubt that he’s a student of the game, and looks to impart the same understanding of genre-defining moments of rap to his fans. His rap recommendations speak volumes: “I’m not putting you on no new shit, I’m putting you on some old shit,” an authoritativeness in his voice, indicative of the respect he feels for the genre’s greats, he continues “go and listen to Kanye West’s album Graduation and College Dropout, go and listen to 50 Cent: Get Rich or Die Trying, and go listen to Jay Z: The Blueprint. It’ll change your life, and you won’t be listening to any of this new shit.”

A respectful diction grows within Aitch’s voice when shifting his attention towards rap’s heavyweights, towards those that have proven their excellence in offering the world classic albums. That characteristic of his tone feels even weightier, more elated when he’s shifting the spotlight to UK artists. Whether it’s a heightened shout of appreciation for those he’s worked with, from Ed Sheeran – who earns a slot in his dream Champion’s League halftime show alongside titans Giggs and Skepta – to Aj Tracey, and Headie One. A love of music culture, for those that came before, and his peers, coupled with the demonstrated scale of his talents, indicates Aitch has tapped into a winning formula, well deserving of the accolades he’s received thus far.

Utilising the momentum of “Straight Rhymz 1” to set his career in motion saw to the arrival of a MOBO Award for Best Newcomer within two short years, accompanied by a prestigious Brit Award for Best Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act three years later; a promising forward trajectory for a rap artist carving out their lane in an ever-saturated space, undoubtedly an indicator of further greatness beyond the horizon; and yet, music isn’t the be all and end all of Aitch’s ambition — in fact, it’s barely scratching the surface.

Beyond the bounds of music; fan expectations to deliver songs and albums at break-neck pace to satisfy the itch while maintaining a consistent performance schedule between gigs and festivals, is a mind tapped into alternative mediums of creativity. Earlier this year, in a demonstration of his business acumen and bid to settle his thirst for fizzy drinks with something healthier, Aitch’s creativity sparked the birth of SYPS. A creation in which he takes great pride, “the flavours are unmatched. 10/10 flavours,” SYPS is the artist’s break into a new world; an expansion of his universe, that he’s keen to see evolve further. What, then, does the future look like?

His mind drifting slightly – not distracted, but in the way we do when a dream floats to the front of our minds – Aitch walks his ambitions centre stage: “I’d love to be an actor. I definitely am going to try and venture into the world at some point,” quickly snapping himself back into the now, he continues “I think I just need to do it at the right now. There’s just a time and a place for everything.”

This thinking, grounded, sensible, and calculated, has defined his career up until now. It’s the determination, the patience to be strategic, acting with intent instead of on impulse, and trusting the process that’s driven tracks up the charts, demanded attention, and begotten awards. It’s an innate faith, reflected in the clarity of his words, that’s allowed Aitch to continue forward, his vision unimpeded, towards each new milestone.

The road ahead of Aitch seems clear, the wins ready for the taking, and while it’s easy to define an artist and their purpose on their successes, ambitions, and the longevity of their craft, his understanding leads back home; back to Manchester, to family.

Heartfelt, with intent in his words and clarity behind his eyes, he puts things into perspective, “The meaning of life, in my opinion, is to make sure you wake up every day happy and satisfied with yourself, no matter what’s going on in the world, and your family are proud of you — that’s the bottom line.”