Lady Sovereign, Speech Debelle, Kate Tempest. Female rappers from the island are regularly (and often rightfully) hyped, so that we even hear about them across the channel. The latest case is Little Simz – and again, the early praise was more than justified. On her much anticipated debut, the 21-year-old Emcee from North London is coming forward most talentedly and fiercely. What’s being expressed on »A Curious Tale Of Trials + Persons«, with anger, self-confidence, and especially with all sorts of skills and an extremely versatile flow, is the empowerment of women: »Women can be kings«, as the intro track »Persons« already proclaims. However, between hurtful introspectives, it’s not only the patriarchy that’s being addressed with declarations of war, but all kinds of incrusted power structures. They are attacked through jazz, grand piano style (and the gesture of which) and often enough provided with intricate bass structures. Both, the choice of topic as well as the beats far off the charts make Little Simz stand miles away from the kind of poetic storytelling as done by Kate Tempest, but also away from Lady Sovereign’s Hip-Pop (including the U.S.-rivalry like Nicki Minaj and Co.). It’s not surprising that she’s mostly showered with praise by male rappers with a political mission, such as Mos Def of Kendrick Lamar. Let’s hope that Little Simz’ qualities also push through to the Hip-Hop kids. She’d certainly deserve it.
Little Simz
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Age 101