Little Simz
British rapper (born 1994) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Simbiatu "Simbi" Abisola Abiola Ajikawo[1][2] (born 23 February 1994),[2] better known by her stage name Little Simz, is a British rapper and actress.[3] She rose to prominence with the independent release of her first three albums: A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons (2015), Stillness in Wonderland (2016) and Grey Area (2019), the last of which was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and won the awards for Best Album at both the Ivor Novello Awards and the NME Awards.
Little Simz | |
|---|---|
_(53838023499)_(cropped).jpg) Simz in 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo |
| Also known as | Simbi, Simz |
| Born | 23 February 1994 Islington, London, England |
| Genres | British hip hop |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | littlesimz |
Her fourth album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (2021),[4] received widespread critical acclaim, with several publications deeming it the best album of 2021.[5] It won the 2022 Mercury Prize,[6] and earned her the 2022 Brit Award for Best New Artist and the Libera Award for Best Hip-Hop/Rap Record.[7] Her fifth album, No Thank You (2022), was released to critical acclaim. She followed it with EP Drop 7 in February 2024. She announced her sixth studio album Lotus with a release date 6 June 2025.
Outside of music, Ajikawo has starred in the Netflix revival drama series Top Boy.
Early life
Ajikawo was born in Islington, London, to Nigerian parents.[3] She was raised on a council estate with two older sisters.[8][9][10] Her mother was also a foster carer during her childhood.[8] She is ethnically Yoruba.[11]
She studied at Highbury Fields School in London and went on to attend St Mary's Youth Club in Upper Street, Islington, with pop stars Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke.[12] Ajikawo has credited Mary's Youth Club for its influence on her career, describing it as "the place where it all began for me … a second home".[8]
Ajikawo later studied at Westminster Kingsway College and The University of West London[13] where she pursued her music career.[14]
Artistry
She describes her music as rap and experimental.[15] Whilst she is closely affiliated with the grime genre, she has also pulled inspiration from other genres including reggae, blues, synth-rock and jazzy R&B.[16]
Ajikawo grew up listening to rap artists Busta Rhymes, Nas and Biggie Smalls, which influenced her to pursue a rap career.[17] Lauryn Hill has often been cited as one of her biggest influences.[18][19] Ajikawo stated "I think The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was really my education. Lauryn Hill was one of the first artists that really made me feel the power of music."[20] She also drew inspiration from jazz musicians Nina Simone, John Coltrane and Billie Holiday for her album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert. Other inspirations include her idol Kendrick Lamar, who called her "the illest doing it right now" in 2015.[21]
Ajikawo met producer Inflo of the R&B band Sault at a youth center, and he would produce three of her albums including Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.[22]
Career
Summarize
Perspective
Music
2015–2017: Career beginnings and A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons and Stillness in Wonderland
Ajikawo has performed at Rising Tide, iluvlive, Industry Takeover (Urban Development) Hackney Empire,[23] Somerset House and the House of Lords.[24] She also performed at the BBC 1Xtra Prom 2015 at the Royal Albert Hall, alongside a full orchestra led by Jules Buckley.[25] Ajikawo can be heard on the Leave to Remain film soundtrack, performing the song "Leave It As That".[26] In early 2013, she appeared on BBC Radio 1Xtra to discuss her performance at the Hackney Weekend.[27] Ajikawo went on to do a Maida Vale session for Huw Stephens. She released her debut studio album, A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons, on 18 September 2015.
She was given the opportunity to tour with Nas, Lauryn Hill, and Kehlani in 2016.[28] On 12 December 2016 Little Simz released the lead single to her upcoming album, "Poison Ivy".[29] Just two days later, Simz released the album's second single, "Picture Perfect".[30] On 16 December 2016 Simz released her sophomore full-length studio album, Stillness in Wonderland, alongside its comic-book companion, Welcome to Wonderland.[31][32]
In 2017, she performed as the opening act for Gorillaz during their Humanz Tour, and was the vocalist for the song "Garage Palace", featured on the Super Deluxe edition of their album Humanz. On 11 May 2017, Simz released "Backseat".[33] On 11 October 2017 she released "Good For What",[34] before releasing the deluxe edition to her aforementioned album on 3 November 2017.[35]
2018–2021: Grey Area, Drop 6 and Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Ajikawo releases her music on her own Age 101 Music record label with an exclusive distribution licensing arrangement with AWAL Recordings.[8] On 6 September 2018, Ajikawo and her label AGE 101 signed a worldwide deal with AWAL Recordings,[36] after AWAL had distributed her debut album "A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons" in 2015. This deal was renewed on 18 June 2020.[37]
On 17 September 2018 Simz released "Offence" as the lead single to her upcoming studio album, Grey Area.[38] The album's second single, "Boss" was released on 23 September 2018.[39] The album's third single, "101 FM" was released on 4 December 2018. The album's final single, assisted by Cleo Sol was released on 16 January 2019, alongside the album's announcement.[40] Grey Area was released to critical success and was nominated for the Mercury Prize,[41] and IMPALA's European Independent Album of the Year Award (2019).[42] On 6 May 2020, while in quarantine, Simz released her tenth extended play, Drop 6.[43][44]
Simz announced the title, cover, release date, and pre-order for her fourth full-length studio album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert on 21 April 2021.[45] The album's lead single, "Introvert" was released alongside the announcement.[45] The album's second single, "Woman", assisted by Cleo Sol Was released on 6 May 2021.[46][47] The album's third single, "Rollin Stone" was released on 14 June 2021.[48] The album's fourth single, "I Love You, I Hate You" was released on 8 July 2021.[49][50] The album's fifth and final single, "Point and Kill" was released on 1 September 2021, just two days prior to the release of the album.[51] On 3 September 2021, she released her fourth studio album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert debuting at number 4 on the UK album charts and winning BBC 6's Album of the Year.[52][53] The album would also give Simz her first Mercury Prize win in October 2022.[54]
2022–present: No Thank You and Drop 7
On 6 December 2022 Ajikawo announced her upcoming fifth studio album, No Thank You.[55] Once again produced by Inflo, the album found her speaking out about the rap industry on songs such as "X" while exploring themes of mental health in Black communities on songs such as "Broken".[56] The album was released on 12 December 2022 and was well received.[57][58]
Ajikawo performed her song "Heart On Fire" with Joan Armatrading during the 76th British Academy Film Awards ceremony, held on 19 February 2023.[59]
In February 2024, Ajikawo announced Drop 7, her 11th extended play.[60] The project saw a shift to an electronic dance sound and was released on 9 February 2024.[61]
At the 2024's Glastonbury, on the night of Saturday 29 June 2024 she performed the penultimate act on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.[62] Her performance received rave reviews.[62][63][64] On the same day, she was invited by British rock band Coldplay to perform the song "We Pray". The single was released on 12 August 2024, featuring Burna Boy, Elyanna and Tini, and is part of Coldplay's upcoming studio album, Moon Music.
On 26 February 2025 Ajikawo announced her sixth studio album Lotus due for release 9 May 2025.[65] She later delayed the album to 6 June 2025 due to scheduling conflicts with a film.[66]
Personal life
Ajikawo lives in London.[67] She is a childhood friend of actor Fady Elsayed and actress Letitia Wright.[8] Ajikawo and Wright have remained good friends and Ajikawo photographed Wright for the artwork for her single "Selfish" in 2019.[8][68] Whilst Ajikawo believes in God, she does not currently follow any religion.[69]
In 2018 her friend, model Harry Uzoka, was murdered, inspiring her to write her song "Wounds".[70]
Acting
Ajikawo's acting career began with the role of Vicky in the BBC children's series Spirit Warriors, originally broadcast in 2010,[71] and as Meleka in the E4 television series Youngers.[26] She was narrator for the television series Afrofuturism,[72] and played Shelley in Netflix's revival of Top Boy, which premiered in autumn 2019.[73] She appeared as herself in the Sony's Spider-Man Universe film Venom: Let There Be Carnage, singing her song "Venom" in a nightclub rave, which Venom goes to after his split from Eddie Brock.[74]
Discography
| Little Simz discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 5 |
| EPs | 12 |
| Singles | 16 |
| Mixtapes | 4 |
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [75] |
UK R&B [76] |
UK Ind. [77] |
AUS [78] |
NZ [79] |
SCO [80] |
US Curr. [81] |
US Indie [82] | ||||||
| A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Stillness in Wonderland |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Grey Area |
|
87 | 1 | 11 | — | — | 82 | — | — | ||||
| Sometimes I Might Be Introvert |
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 40 | — | 3 | 22 | 45 | ||||
| No Thank You |
|
40 | 1 | 4 | — | 40 | 9 | 61 | — | ||||
| Lotus |
|
To be released | |||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
Mixtapes
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Stratosphere |
|
| Stratosphere 2 |
|
| XY.Zed |
|
| Blank Canvas |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| E.D.G.E. |
|
| Age 101: Drop 1 |
|
| Age 101: Drop 2 |
|
| Time Capsule |
|
| Age 101: Drop 3|000 |
|
| The Theory Of... (with Space Age) |
|
| Age 101: Drop 4 |
|
| Age 101: Drop X |
|
| Project Unfollow |
|
| Drop 6 |
|
| Drop 7 |
|
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEL (FL) Tip [85] | ||||||||||||||
| "Time Capsule" (with Jakwob featuring Caitlyn Scarlett) |
2014 | — | Time Capsule | |||||||||||
| "Dead Body, Pts. 2 & 3" (featuring Stormzy and Kano) |
2015 | — | Non-album single | |||||||||||
| "Backseat" | 2017 | — | Stillness in Wonderland (Deluxe Edition) | |||||||||||
| "Bombo Fabrika (Remix)" (with Gabriel Garzón-Montano) |
— | Non-album single | ||||||||||||
| "Offence"[86] | 2018 | — | Grey Area | |||||||||||
| "Boss"[87] | — | |||||||||||||
| "101 FM"[88] | — | |||||||||||||
| "Selfish"[89] (featuring Cleo Sol) |
2019 | — | ||||||||||||
| "Pink Youth" (with Yuna) |
— | Rouge | ||||||||||||
| "Flowers (Live at Metropolis Studios, London, 2019)" (featuring Michael Kiwanuka) |
— | Non-album single | ||||||||||||
| "Introvert" | 2021 | 11 | Sometimes I Might Be Introvert | |||||||||||
| "Woman" (featuring Cleo Sol) |
— | |||||||||||||
| "Rollin Stone" | — | |||||||||||||
| "I Love You, I Hate You" | — | |||||||||||||
| "Point and Kill" (featuring Obongjayar) |
— | |||||||||||||
| "Venom (Remix)"[90] (from Venom: Let There Be Carnage) |
— | Non-album single | ||||||||||||
| "Satellite Business 2.0" (with Sampha) |
2024 | — | Lahai (Deluxe) | |||||||||||
| "Hello, Hi"[91] | — | Non-album single | ||||||||||||
| "Flood" (featuring Obongjayar and Moonchild Sanelly) |
2025 | — | Lotus | |||||||||||
| "Free" | — | |||||||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [92] |
CAN [93] |
FRA [94] |
GER [95] |
ITA [96] |
NLD [97] |
NZ Hot [98] |
SWI [99] |
US [100] |
US Dance [101] | ||||
| "Cuckoo"[102] (Raleigh Ritchie featuring Little Simz) |
2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Bad Dreams"[103] (Joywave featuring Little Simz) |
2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | How Do You Feel Now? | |
| "The Nest"[104] (Faze Miyake featuring Little Simz) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Faze Miyake | ||
| "So Human"[105] (Rosie Lowe featuring Little Simz) |
2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Control | |
| "Back to My Love"[106] (Becky Hill featuring Little Simz) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Eko EP | ||
| "Far Cry"[107] (Jack Garratt featuring Little Simz) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Phase | ||
| "The Book"[108] (OTG featuring Little Simz) |
2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Garden of Osiris – EP | |
| "Garage Palace"[109] (Gorillaz featuring Little Simz) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | Humanz | ||
| "Proud of Me"[110] (Mahalia featuring Little Simz) |
2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Favourites"[111] (The S.L.P. featuring Little Simz) |
2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The S.L.P. | |
| "You From London"[112] (Sault featuring Little Simz) |
2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Nine | |
| "Free"[113] (Sault featuring Little Simz) |
2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Untitled (God) | |
| "Domodachi"[114] (RM featuring Little Simz) |
2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Right Place, Wrong Person | |
| "We Pray" (Coldplay featuring Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna, and Tini) |
20 | 92 | 126 | 40 | 71 | 30 | 7 | 22 | 87 | — | Moon Music | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
Other charted songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Hot Over. [117] | |||
| "Gorilla" | 2023 | 5 | No Thank You |
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Get This in Check"[118] | 2013 | None | Youngers, Part 1 |
| "The Drop"[119] | 2014 | Nick Brewer | Four Miles Further – EP |
| "Catapult" with Kat Winter | 2015 | Lena Meyer-Landrut | Crystal Sky' |
| "Table"[120] | 2016 | Kehlani | Non-album single |
| "Location (London Remix)"[121] | 2017 | Khalid | |
| "Indie Girls"[122] | Jesse Boykins III, Kilo Kish | Bartholomew | |
| "DBT Remix"[123] | 2018 | Lioness, Lady Leshurr, Queenie, Shystie & Stush | Non-album single |
| "Rewind Time"[124] | VanJess | Silk Canvas | |
| "King"[125] | Ghetts | Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament | |
| "3WW (OTG Version)"[126] | alt-J | Reduxer | |
| "Pink Youth"[127] | 2019 | Yuna | Rouge |
| "Venom"[128] | None | Top Boy – A Selection of Music Inspired by the Series | |
Notes
Tours
- AGE101 DROP THE WORLD (2015)
- Welcome To Wonderland (2017–2018)
- Grey Area Tour (2019)
- Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (2021)
- NO THANK YOU (2023)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Spirit Warriors | Vicky | BBC series |
| 2012 | Ill Manors | Youth Suspect at the Railway Station (Lil Simz) | |
| 2013 | Youngers | Meleka | E4 series |
| 2019–2023 | Top Boy | Shelley | Netflix series |
| 2021 | Venom: Let There Be Carnage | Herself[129] | Cameo |
| 2023 | The Power | Adunola | Recurring role |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | AIM Independent Music Awards | Independent Album of the Year | A Curious Tale Of Trials + Persons | Won | [130] |
| 2017 | Best Second Album | Stillness in Wonderland | Nominated | [131] | |
| Hardest Working Band or Artist | Herself | Nominated | |||
| MOBO Awards | Best Female Act | Nominated | [132] | ||
| Best Hip Hop Act | Nominated | ||||
| 2018 | UK Music Video Awards | Best Dance Video - UK | "Garage Palace" (with Gorillaz) | Nominated | [133] |
| 2019 | IMPALA Awards | Album of the Year | Grey Area | Nominated | [42] |
| Mercury Prize | Album of the Year | Nominated | [134] | ||
| AIM Awards | Best Independent Track | "Selfish" | Nominated | [135] | |
| Pioneer Award | Little Simz | Won | |||
| Best Independent Album | Grey Area | Nominated | |||
| 2020 | Ivor Novello Awards | Best Album | Won | [136] | |
| NME Awards | Best British Album | Won | [137] | ||
| Best Album in the World | Nominated | ||||
| MOBO Awards | Best Album (2017–2019) | Nominated | [138] | ||
| 2021 | BET Hip Hop Awards | Best International Flow | Herself | Won | [139] |
| UK Music Video Awards | Best Hip Hop / Grime / Rap Video - UK | "Introvert" | Nominated | [140] | |
| Best Editing in a Video | Won | ||||
| Best Choreography in a Video | Nominated | ||||
| Best Wardrobe Styling in a Video | "Woman" | Nominated | |||
| Best Hair & Make-up in a Video | Nominated | ||||
| Libera Awards | Best Hip-Hop/Rap Record | Drop 6 | Nominated | [141] | |
| MOBO Awards | Best Female Act | Herself | Won | [142][143] | |
| Video of the Year | "Woman" | Nominated | [142] | ||
| Best Hip Hop Act | Herself | Nominated | |||
| South African Hip Hop Awards | Best International Act | Herself | Nominated | [144] | |
| BBC Radio 1 | Hottest Record of the Year | "Introvert" | Nominated | [145] | |
| 2022 | Berlin Music Video Awards | Best Art Director | WOMAN | Nominated | |
| Brit Awards | British Artist of the Year | Herself | Nominated | [146] | |
| Best New Act | Won | ||||
| Best Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act | Nominated | ||||
| British Album of the Year | Sometimes I Might Be Introvert | Nominated | |||
| NME Awards | Best Album in the World | Nominated | [147] | ||
| Best Album by a UK Artist | Nominated | ||||
| Best Solo Act in the World | Herself | Nominated | |||
| Best Solo Act from the UK | Won | ||||
| Best Live Act | Nominated | ||||
| Libera Awards | Best Hip-Hop/Rap Record | Sometimes I Might Be Introvert | Won | [148] | |
| Ivor Novello Awards | Best Album | Nominated | [149][150] | ||
| Best Contemporary Song | "I Love You, I Hate You" | Won | |||
| BET Awards | Best International Act | Herself | Nominated | [151] | |
| Mercury Prize | Album of the Year | Sometimes I Might Be Introvert | Won | [152] | |
| UK Music Video Awards | Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Video - UK | "Point and Kill" (featuring Obongjayar) | Won | [153] | |
| Best Wardrobe Styling in a Video | Won | ||||
| Best Hair & Make-up in a Video | Nominated | ||||
| Best Cinematography in a Video | Nominated | ||||
| Best Color Grading in a Video | Won | ||||
| Best Special Video Project | "I Love You, I Hate You" | Nominated | |||
| MOBO Awards | Album of the Year | Sometimes I Might Be Introvert | Won | [154] [155] | |
| Best Female Act | Herself | Nominated | |||
| Best Hip-Hop Act | Nominated | ||||
| Video of the Year | "Point and Kill" (featuring Obongjayar) | Nominated | |||
| 2023 | Ivor Novello Awards | Best Album | No Thank You | Nominated | [156] |
| AIM Independent Music Awards | Best Independent Album | Nominated | [157] | ||
| MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Video | "Gorilla" | Nominated | [158] | |
| UK Music Video Awards | Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Video - UK | Nominated | [159] | ||
| Best Performance in a Video | Nominated | ||||
| Best Production Design in a Video | Nominated | ||||
| Best Cinematography in a Video | Nominated | ||||
| Best Special Video Project | No Thank You | Nominated | |||
| MOBO Awards | Album of the Year | Nominated | [160] | ||
| Best Female Act | Herself | Nominated | |||
| Best Hip Hop Act | Won | ||||
| Video of the Year | "Gorilla" | Nominated | |||
| 2024 | Brit Awards | British Album of the Year | No Thank You | Pending | [161] |
| British Artist of the Year | Herself | Pending | |||
| Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act | Pending | ||||
| Hollywood Independent Music Awards | Adult Contemporary Hip Hop | "Gorilla" | Nominated | [162] |
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.