Little Simz

Simbiatu 'Simbi' Abisola Abiola Ajikawo[1] (born 23 February 1994), better known by her stage name Little Simz, is a British rapper, singer and actress. Following the release of four mixtapes and five EPs, she released her debut album A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons on 18 September 2015 through her independent label, AGE: 101 Music. The album entered the UK R&B Albums Chart at number 20[2] and the UK Independent Albums Chart at number 43.[3] She released her second studio album Stillness in Wonderland in 2016. Her third studio album Grey Area (2019) was nominated for the Mercury Prize.[4]

Little Simz
Little Simz in 2016
Background information
Birth nameSimbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo
Also known asSimbi
Born (1994-02-23) 23 February 1994
Islington, London, England
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)
Years active2010–present
LabelsAGE: 101 Music
Associated actsGorillaz
Yuna
James Bks
Cleo Sol
Little Dragon
BADBADNOTGOOD
Q-Tip
Michael Kiwanuka
Idris Elba
Mahalia
Anna Wise
The S.L.P.
Alt-J
OTG
Khalid
Jack Garratt
Faze Miyake
Syd
Chronixx
Ghetts
Tilla
Bibi Bourelly
Josh Arce

Early life

Ajikawo was born in Islington, London to Nigerian parents.[5] She is ethnically Yoruba.[6] She studied at Highbury Fields School in London. She went on to attend St Mary's Youth Club in Upper Street, Islington, which pop stars Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke also attended.[7] Ajikawo later studied at Westminster Kingsway College and pursued her music career from there.[8]

Career

Acting

Simz appeared as Vicky in the BBC children's series Spirit Warriors, originally broadcast in 2010,[9] and as Meleka in the E4 television series, Youngers.[10]

Simz was also the narrator for the television series, Afrofuturism.[11]

She appeared in Netflix's revival and third series of "Top Boy" premiering on Autumn 2019.[12]

Music

She describes her music as rap and experimental.[13]

Simz has performed alongside Estelle, Tinie Tempah, Ms. Dynamite and Kano.[7][14]

Simz has performed at Rising Tide, ILUVLIVE, Industry Takeover (Urban Development) Hackney Empire,[15] Somerset House and the House of Lords.[16] She also performed at the BBC 1Xtra Prom 2015 at the Royal Albert Hall, alongside a full orchestra led by Jules Buckley.[17]

Simz can be heard on the Leave to Remain film soundtrack, performing the song "Leave It As That".[10] In early 2013, she appeared on BBC Radio 1 Xtra to discuss her performance at the Hackney Weekend.[18]

Simz then went on to do a Maida Vale session for Huw Stephens, and has since gone on to receive critical acclaim from the likes of Zane Lowe, Dizzee Rascal and Revolt TV. She also has received praise from Kendrick Lamar.[19]

On 16 December 2016 she released her second studio album Stillness in Wonderland.[20] It was inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and supported by a comic book, art exhibition and festival.[21]

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 1 March 2019 she released her third studio album Grey Area to widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for the Mercury Prize.[4]

Her album Grey Area has been nominated for IMPALA's European Independent Album of the Year Award (2019).[22]

Little Simz at Primavera Sound 2019

Discography

Albums
  • A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons (2015)
  • Stillness in Wonderland (2016)
  • Grey Area (2019)

Mixtapes
  • STRATOSPHERE (2010)
  • STRATOSPHERE 2 (2011)
  • XY.ZED (2013)
  • BLANK CANVAS (2013)

Extended plays
  • E.D.G.E (2014)
  • AGE 101: DROP 1 (2014)
  • AGE 101: DROP 2 (2014)
  • AGE 101: DROP 3|000 (2014)
  • AGE 101: DROP 4 (2015)
  • THE THEORY OF... (2015) (with her crew "SpaceAge3000")
  • AGE 101: DROP X (2015)
  • Drop 6 (2020)

Singles
Title Year Album
"Offence"[23] 2018 Grey Area
"Boss"[24]
"101 FM"[25]
"Selfish"[26]
(featuring Cleo Sol)		 2019
Title Year Album
"Cuckoo"[27]
(Raleigh Ritchie featuring Little Simz)		 2014 Non-album single
"Bad Dreams"[28]
(Joywave featuring Little Simz)		 2015 How Do You Feel Now?
"The Nest"[29]
(Faze Miyake featuring Little Simz)		 Faze Miyake
"So Human"[30]
(Rosie Lowe featuring Little Simz)		 2016 Control
"Back to My Love"[31]
(Becky Hill featuring Little Simz)		 Eko EP
"Far Cry"[32]
(Jack Garratt featuring Little Simz)		 Phase
"The Book"[33]
(OTG featuring Little Simz)		 2017 Garden of Osiris – EP
"Garage Palace"[34]
(Gorillaz featuring Little Simz)		 Humanz
"Proud of Me"[35]
(Mahalia featuring Little Simz)		 2018 Non-album single
"Favourites"[36]
(The S.L.P. featuring Little Simz)		 2019 The S.L.P.

Guest appearances
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Get This in Check"[37] 2013 None Youngers, Part 1
"The Drop"[38] 2014 Nick Brewer Four Miles Further – EP
"Table"[39] 2016 Kehlani Non-album single
"Location"[40] (London Remix) 2017 Khalid Non-album remix
"Indie Girls"[41] Jesse Boykins III, Kilo Kish Bartholomew
"DBT Remix"[42] 2018 Lioness, Lady Leshurr, Queenie, Shystie & Stush Non-album remix
"Rewind Time"[43] VanJess Silk Canvas
"King"[44] Ghetts Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament
"3WW"[45] (OTG Version) alt-J Reduxer
"Pink Youth"[46] 2019 Yuna Rouge
"Venom"[47] None Top Boy – A Selection of Music Inspired by the Series

Tours
  • AGE101 DROP THE WORLD (2015)
  • Welcome To Wonderland (2017–2018)
  • Grey Area Tour (2019)

Filmography
Film & Television
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Spirit Warriors Vicky TV series
2012 Ill Manors Youth Suspect at the Railway Station (Lil Simz)
2013 Youngers Meleka E4 series
2019 Top Boy Shelley Netflix series

References
  1. "BMI – Repertoire Search". repertoire.bmi.com.
  2. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40 – Official Charts Company".
  3. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50 – Official Charts Company".
  4. Blais-Billie, Braudie (16 January 2019). "Little Simz Announces New Album GREY Area, Shares New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  5. Ekanayake, Manu. "Who is… Little Simz?". Red Bull. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  6. Little Simz (12 June 2019). "Little Simz – 101 FM (Official Video)" – via YouTube.
  7. "Islington rapper Lil Simz destined for big things – Music". Islington Gazette. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  8. "Double MOBO nominations – Westminster Kingsway College". Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  9. "Bo and the Spirit World casting news". ScreenTerrier. 3 June 2009. Archived from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  10. "Production Blog 2: Lil Simz". Leave2remain.org. 4 December 2012. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  11. Afrofuturism, retrieved 6 May 2019
  12. "Top Boy series three trailer: Dave and Little Simz join cast". BBC News. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  13. "BBC Introducing and AIF presents...Lil Simz". WikiFestivals. n.d. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  14. "Kano on Twitter".
  15. "Radio 1's Hackney Weekend 2012 – Acts – Lil Simz". BBC. n.d. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  16. "Single of The Week: Lil Simz – Eastern Jam (Freestyle) | MOBO Awards". Mobo.com. n.d. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  17. "BBC Radio 3 – BBC Proms, 2015 Season, 1Xtra Prom – Credits". BBC.
  18. "BBC Radio 1Xtra – Adele Roberts, Little Simz comes by for a Brew 4 Two". BBC.
  19. BBC Radio 1Xtra (9 June 2015). "MistaJam Speaks To Kendrick Lamar" – via YouTube.
  20. "Little Simz Is Releasing New Album Stillness in Wonderland On Friday".
  21. "Through The Rabbit Hole: Clash Meets Little Simz". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  22. "22 nominees shortlisted for IMPALA's European Independent Album of the Year Award | Impala". www.impalamusic.org. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  23. "Offence – Single by Little Simz". Apple Music. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  24. "Boss – Single by Little Simz". Apple Music. 23 September 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  25. "101 FM – Single by Little Simz". Apple Music. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  26. "Little Simz announces GREY Area album, shares "Selfish"". The Fader. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  27. "Cuckoo – Single by Raleigh Ritchie". Apple Music. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  28. "Bad Dreams (feat. Mick Jenkins & Little Simz) – Single by Joywave". Apple Music. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  29. "The Nest (feat. Little Simz) – Single by Faze Miyake". Apple Music. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  30. "So Human (feat. Little Simz) – Single by Rosie Lowe". Apple Music. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  31. "Back to My Love (feat. Little Simz) – Single by Becky Hill". Apple Music. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  32. "Far Cry (feat. Little Simz) – Single by Jack Garratt". Apple Music. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  33. "The Book (feat. Little Simz) – Single by OTG". Apple Music. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  34. "Garage Palace (feat. Little Simz) – Single by Gorillaz". Apple Music. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  35. "Proud of Me (feat. Little Simz) – Single by Mahalia". Apple Music. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  36. "Favourites (feat. Little Simz) – Single by THE S.L.P." iTunes Store. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  37. "Youngers, Part 1 – EP by Various Artists". Apple Music. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  38. "Four Miles Further – EP by Nick Brewer". Apple Music. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  39. "Kehlani- Table ft. Little Simz (Official Video)". 14 December 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2019 – via YouTube.
  40. "Location (London Remix) – Single by Khalid". Apple Music. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  41. "Bartholomew by Jesse Boykins III". Apple Music. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  42. "DBT Remix (feat. Lady Leshurr, Queenie, Shystie, Stush & Little Simz) – Single by Lioness". Apple Music. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  43. "Silk Canvas by VanJess". Apple Music. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  44. "Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament". Apple Music. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  45. "Reduxer by alt-j". Apple Music. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  46. Milica P. (30 June 2019). "Little Simz Joins Yuna On 'Pink Youth'". Hotnewhiphop. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  47. Jones, Damian (11 September 2019). "The tracklisting for Drake's 'Top Boy' soundtrack has been revealed". NME. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
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