• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Rapper Central Cee has converted to Islam and changed his name

Home> Entertainment> Celebrity

Published 12:00 7 Feb 2026 GMT

Rapper Central Cee has converted to Islam and changed his name

Members of the Muslim community welcomed the rapper's decision to convert to Islam

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

Central Cee has opened up about his religious views after telling fans of his name change.

The 'Sprinter' hitmaker, born as Oakley Neil Caesar-Su, made the admission during a livestream with PlaqueBoyMax.

"I just changed my name init. I took my Shahada init," the 27-year-old said, adding that he has changed his first name from Oakley to Akhil.

Shahada is essentially known as the Islamic declaration of faith with an estimated 25 percent of the world being Muslim, and six percent of the UK.

Advert

It's the fastest-growing global religion, with over two billion adherents, closing the gap on Christianity.

Notably, the rapper from Shepherd's Bush, London, hasn't gone on record about his previous religious views.

Central Cee transitioned from a fresh 16-year-old on Fire In The Streets in 2014 to a major figure in UK rap by 2021.

Central Cee's reported net worth is between six and $10 million (Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Central Cee's reported net worth is between six and $10 million (Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

He became the first UK rapper to achieve one billion streams with hits like 'Sprinter', 'Doja', 'BAND4BAND', and collaborations with the world's biggest artists, from Drake and J. Cole to 21 Savage and Ice Spice.

"It’s only really starting to sink in now, I’ll be honest," he told Complex last year.

"I’ve been moving so fast for so long that I haven’t had time to take it all in.

"I did start to feel a bit this summer, but I like working. I’ve only just come off tour, only had one week off.

"I dunno if I’m accustomed to just non-stop working now… even if I wanted to chill and be normal, I can’t. I don’t have the time to."

Central Cee has collabed with the world's biggest artists (Joseph Okpako/WireImage for ABA)
Central Cee has collabed with the world's biggest artists (Joseph Okpako/WireImage for ABA)

On the pitfalls of always being in the public eye, however, he admitted that he has 'anxiety' for his family's safety.

"Two ways: musically and personally. I didn’t know if the shows would look good, sound good, turn out good, if they’d get sold out," he added.

"I didn’t know. But they did, so that’s what I'm grateful for. And then I was anxious, personally, because it’s a lot.

"If I’ve got certain things going on in my personal life… my family, I’ve got anxiety around my family being safe. My friends as well.

"There’s a lot of anxiety around being on the road and not being able to help them, or being on the road and not helping myself. It could deteriorate your mental state a little bit. But we did it."

Cench went on to say that he isn't 'worried' about not being 'as lit' one day and says that it's 'inevitable'.

"I think about it strategically, though, like: How are we gonna maneuver and what’s the exit plan? I just want to make it as graceful as possible when that time comes," he said.

Featured Image Credit: Joseph Okpako/WireImage

Topics: Celebrity, Celebrity News, Music, Religion, UK News

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

X

@Anish_Vij

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
15 hours ago
20 hours ago
21 hours ago
  • Dave Hogan/Getty Images
    3 hours ago

    Peter Andre and Katie Price issue joint statement following years long feud

    The stars say they have reached an agreement 'legally and personally'

    Entertainment
  • Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
    15 hours ago

    Who are the native tribe that own land Billie Eilish's $3 million mansion is on

    The Tongva nation are currently campaigning for federal recognition and their own reservation

    Entertainment
  • Getty/Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
    20 hours ago

    Kristen Stewart says she is being 'haunted' by Princess Diana

    The actress explained the ominous feeling is particularly prominent when she visits either the UK or Paris

    Entertainment
  • TikTok/DoorDash
    21 hours ago

    'King of trolls' 50 Cent hides sly digs at Diddy in viral Super Bowl commercial

    50 Cent never misses an opportunity to make a dig at Diddy

    Entertainment
  • British rapper and actor Ghetts charged after fatal hit-and-run
  • Millie Bobby Brown has officially changed her name
  • Kanye West takes out newspaper advert to apologise for his antisemitism
  • Chappell Roan doesn't want to be called by her real name after losing it 10 years ago