Little Simz is like a hood BBC anchor. Her songs come off like quiet however spicy broadcasts, as if she checked in for a soothing afternoon chat if that by some means includes a soul-scorching learn. Nice however snarky, Simz combines Queens Gambit cordiality with Prime Boy aggression to marry well-bred flows to blistering bars. Appropriately, the London-born MC (and expert actress) flaunts a thespian’s outstanding vary: she provides us humor, charisma, and a whole lot of feels.
Emotion is Simz’s secret weapon. She has a knack for sharing heartfelt tales with marked conviction that settles deep in your sternum. She’s a bona fide technician, little question. However the sheer technicality of her rhymes shouldn’t be at odds along with her pure potential to craft poignant songs that make you snort, cry, and silently rage. On No Thank You, the follow-up to her glorious 2021 breakthrough Typically I Would possibly Be Introvert, Simz provides us 10 alternative cuts (showcasing her brilliance and breadth) that convey the entire emoji board of riveting feelings.
These battle-ready bars distinguish “Gorilla,” the place Simz, over loping bass and crisp percussion, spits, “I’m minimize with a distinct scissor/From the identical fabric as my expensive ancestors.” And it’s charming to listen to her effortlessly unpack a couplet that flooring you as she skillfully pivots to the subsequent bruising punchline.
However “Damaged” is a boon of self-reflection, and it’s arguably Simz’s strongest tune so far. Buoyed by the strains of a choir, Simz describes how racism afflicts her, losing her time, power, and company. “It shouldn’t be a norm to reside your life as a tragedy/To reside your life in a state of confusion and agony,” she sighs. And also you’re reminded that being Black means being in a continuing state of rage.
On “No Merci,” Simz kicks caustic bars (“I’m a human landmine/I’m not a human being you may gaslight”), indicting lames that need her “caught up within the matrix.” In the meantime, “Coronary heart on Hearth,” with its blithe hook asserting that “my life is a blessing,” is her stirring manifesto. However the soulful “Sideways” is the plain standout. Right here, Simz embodies snappish warrior power, confirming her calm sovereignty: “Walkin’ in my mild, my shadow is protectin’ me/By no means movin’ sideways, I accomplished this shit my means.” We’re ceaselessly grateful for Simz’s daring originality.