Little Simz: The Biggest Phenomenon
Born in 1994 in London, Little Simz is a British actress, singer, and rapper of Nigerian heritage. She grew up in a Nigerian household with two older siblings and attended the Highbury Fields School in London. However, her musical career began right after attending Westminster Kingsway College.
While actively working on EPs and mixtapes for years before finally releasing her debut album called "A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons" in 2015 through AGE: 101 Music, her independent label.
Not only did she see her album entering the UK R&B Chart at number 20, but also the UK Independent Albums Chart at number 43. Only a year later in 2016, Little Simz also released her second album “Stillness in Wonderland.” While giving details about the album, she revealed how the songs in it were inspired by Alice’s adventures in the mysterious and equally fascinating wonderland.
Little Simz is one of the very few artists who has worked in almost every sphere of the entertainment industry. Long before she stepped into music, she worked as Vicky in a children’s series on BBC called “Spirit Warriors” and later as Meleka in another TV series called “Youngers.”
It's commendable how the 25-year-old is managing her acting as well as a singing career at the same time. Only two years ago, Little Simz also appeared in a Netflix series called “Top Boy.”
However, when it comes to music, she describes her style as experimental and mostly rap. She also takes pride in the fact that she got the opportunity to perform alongside renowned singers such as Kano, Ms. Dynamite, and Tinie Tempah.
Some of the most notable performances she gave were at Somerset House, the House of Lords, and Hackney Empire. Moreover, her exceptional performance at the BBC 1Xtra Prom (a full orchestra) in 2015 caught the eyes of many and was one of the reasons behind her growing popularity later on.
Another commendable fact about the 25-year-old singer is that her musical career, just like her acting career has always been consistent. Since 2015, Little Simz has made it a point to release something or the other every year and if not that, her active presence in the music industry is evident through her performances at various events every year.
When she did a Maida Vale session for Huw Stephens, her performance was subjected to a lot of critical acclaim from the likes of Revolt TV, Dizzie Rascal, and Zane Lowe. However, one of the most famous people to have praised her was none other than Kendrick Lamar.
In 2019, Little Simz won the Best Album award for her "Grey Area" at both the NME and Ivor Novello Awards. Moreover, the same album was also nominated for IMPALA’s European Album of the Year Award as well as the Mercury Prize.
In conclusion, the amount of attention the singer has received in a short span of time speaks volumes about her potential as a musician. However, she continues to grow as both an actress and a musician.
