British music sensation Craig David has opened up about his remarkable journey from humble beginnings on a council estate to achieving monumental success in the music industry, insisting he has absolutely no regrets about his career path.
From Humble Beginnings to Chart-Topping Success
Prior to finding fame in his early twenties, Craig lived with his mother Tina on the Holyrood Estate near Southampton city centre. The chart-topping singer, now 42, has come a long way from those modest beginnings, having accumulated an estimated net worth of £14.5 million through his incredibly successful music career.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Craig shared his reflections on his extraordinary journey: 'No one could have told me when I was a young kid growing up in my council flat with my mum, that 25 years later I'd have the career that spans this amount of time and that the songs would mean so much to people.'
Connecting Generations Through Music
The singer recently completed an arena tour that highlighted his enduring appeal across different generations. Craig mused about the experience: 'There were kids like 15/16 years old then there was people who grew up with my music - I was thinking this is mad, this is two generations having a moment.'
When asked about potential regrets throughout his career, the artist was unequivocal in his response. 'Because everything leads you to where you are now,' he explained, adding: 'Every choice, every wrong, right, left, right, up, down led me to stand here and you learn from it.'
He elaborated further on how challenging times have shaped him: 'The tough times give you resolve and they give you courage and they give you strength. Otherwise you just coast and you never really know about the ebb and flow.'
Celebrating New Collaborations and Returning to Roots
Craig was speaking ahead of an intimate one-off performance at Johnnies, a beloved family-run café in Camberwell, South London. The special event celebrated his new collaboration with food delivery giant Just Eat, which saw the café transformed into a mini club for one night only.
During the performance, Craig treated fans to his signature TS5 set and delivered the first-ever live performance of the viral Just Eat anthem Every Neighbour Got Their Flava. The track serves as a playful nod to his own 2002 hit What's Your Flava?
On being approached to work with the brand - which has previously collaborated with major artists including Snoop Dogg, Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera - Craig expressed genuine honour: 'To get the call to do this among artists that have had a number of hits over the course of their career... I genuinely felt really honored and appreciated.'
The lyrics of his new track celebrate relatable everyday moments, from emergency chilli shortages to busy parents ordering essentials like 'nappies, coffee, rolls to go'. The accompanying music video showcases the rich diversity of flavours found in neighbourhoods across the UK and Ireland.
Craig's career trajectory remains impressive, with 16 top 10 singles in the UK alone. He originally shot to fame with his debut studio album Born To Do It in 2000, which spawned massive hits including Fill Me In, 7 Days and Rewind. The record went straight to number one in August that year, completely transforming his life overnight.
In a poignant full-circle moment, Craig recently returned to his childhood council estate home for a campaign with housing charity Shelter. It was in the bedroom of that very home where he wrote his groundbreaking debut album, proving that no matter how far he's come, he hasn't forgotten his roots.
