She calls herself an introvert. Her album about that feeling won Britain’s top music prize and made her one of the most respected rappers in the world.
Little Simz, born Simbiatu Ajikawo, won the Mercury Prize in 2022 for her album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.
Islington
Simz grew up in Islington, north London, in a Nigerian family. She began performing as a child, rapping and acting, and developed her skills in youth clubs and online.
Independent
Simz built her career largely independently, releasing mixtapes and albums through her own label, Age 101. Critics praised her lyrics, flow and ambition.
Her 2019 album Grey Area brought wider recognition and was nominated for the Mercury Prize.
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Released in 2021, the album combined orchestral arrangements, soul and rap. Songs dealt with her family, her relationship with her father, her identity as a Black woman and the pressures of fame. The album’s title forms an acronym of her name, SIMBI.
Producer Inflo, who has worked with the group Sault, played a major role in its sound.
The Mercury Prize
In 2022, the album won the Mercury Prize. Simz also won the Brit Award for Best New Artist in the same year, despite having been active for more than a decade.
Her sound
Simz raps with precision and control, often over live instruments and orchestral arrangements rather than standard beats. Her songs move between bold statements and quiet, personal confessions.
Recognition
Musicians including Kendrick Lamar have praised her work, and she has toured widely in Europe and North America. Her success has come without the major-label machinery behind many stars.
Acting
Simz plays Shelley in the Netflix series Top Boy, a role that brought her to a wider audience. She has spoken about enjoying acting alongside her music career.
No Thank You
In late 2022, she surprised fans by releasing another album, No Thank You, with little promotion. It showed her continuing independence and her habit of doing things on her own timetable.
Nigerian heritage
Simz has spoken about her Nigerian roots and performed in Lagos. Her music often reflects on family, culture and belonging.
Quiet power
Many rappers compete to be the loudest voice in the room. Little Simz became one of the most celebrated by writing honestly about wanting to be left alone.
