GREY Area
Little Simz
2019
Album Summary
Grey Area (stylised as GREY Area) is the third studio album by English rapper Little Simz, released on 1 March 2019 through Age 101 Music and AWAL.
WikipediaDamn, nice surprise here. I've never heard of her but Little Simz (and her team?) is talented. Really good lyrics/wordplay on a bunch of tracks (Offence, Venom...despite copious use of the p word, Pressure, Sherbet Sunset) and she can rap (Missy Elliott fast). Great bass lines and beats on the first two tracks (I could listen to Boss over and over) and some of the later ones (101 FM, Therapy). Tight album. Gonna have to listen to more of her music.
lol this was the musical equivalent of those memes trashy people share on Facebook when they don't want to admit they're bottom feeders, and think everyone around them is the problem, holding them down. Just a whole heap of mindless "street philosophy" about removing toxic people from your life and being true to yourself. SPARE ME. 1/5.
I am really impressed at Little Simz' skill here. She has a lyrical deftness, a flow and capability I do not regularly hear. The brevity of the album is also a big factor here. A lot of rap albums have so much filler, skits and interludes that just... ugh. It makes it difficult for me to want to come back to the album and do a complete re-listen. Hearing the "n-word" so often I did start to tune it out. It is tough to hear in people's albums nowadays. Definitely a nice change of pace album for me. I really enjoyed this and the showcase of her skill as well as how the MC really compliments her.
I like her. Has a Guy Ritchie vibe. She could easily score any Ritchie or Soderburgh movie. Selfish is a beauty of a track. Wounds sounds like an Eminem track. VENOM! So much being said there. I need to revisit that one. This was a true project. Tons of work, talent, hooks, beats, all of it. If you're going to make a hip hop record today, this is required listening.
The sole interesting thing about this album is the amount of actual live instrumention it employs instead of just sampling. Otherwise it can fuck off.
Very cool British hip-hop album. I enjoy her vocals and flow quite a bit. No complaints.
First time that I heard it, it didn't impress me that much. However repeated listens showed me how brilliant this record is. Her rhyme schemes work masterfully with the laidback yet creative production.
Anyone who is friends with Michael Kiwanuka is a friend of mine. This is the rap I’m here for
This Little Simz album from 2019 was added as part of the newest update to 1001 albums (circa 2021). While not the newest album on the list, it is still fresh enough that it's quite bold to put it down in the list of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Regardless, Little Simz is a rapper I'm already familiar with, having released the fantastic Sometimes I Might Be Introvert in 2021 (which could very well be album of the year for me). Truly, I have few qualms about this being added to the list. Simz hits hard with her rhymes, switching up her flow and vocal styling to keep you engaged. Simz is accompanied by production from Inflo, who brings beats and structure to the songs that are unlike anything else right now. Genuinely incredible. Compared to her follow-up, I think I still prefer SIMBI for the satisfying framing and continued pushing of boundaries, but this is still a great album through and through.
I was expecting to skip this. It was better then i was expecting. I'm not into British hip hop, modern hip hop, people with little in their names. This wasn't bad. I'm not sure I'd listen again but i didn't hate it.
I feel a bit of presh that I've never been that into Lil Simz and everyone creamz about her. I enjoyed some songs more than others, but general just ambivalence. Soz
… it’s eh 101 FM was a cool song, I liked the production for the album but i’ll die before I call a mf brit a “good rapper” I have a deep hatred for those wankers that think they can rap so honestly i’m kind of on chaotic ends in this album, great beats, terrible vocals/rap I’ll give it a 4/10
Didn’t hate it but it’s not my thing. Liked her voice and the song with Michael Kiwanuka
Solid album but understandably unheard of. Inspired by Fugees and maybe Mereba.. 3/5
I was wondering when I would get my first rap album. Expected Tupac, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Eminem, Jay-Z, NWA, Biggie, or any other of the pioneers of rap. Instead I got a no name, marginally talented, British rapper that no one has heard of. Trying not to let that effect my rating, listening to this with an open mind, it still was below average at best.
This album came up on the list as I was discovering Little Simz through her newest album, "Sometimes I Might Be Introvert." I already knew from repeated listens of that album that I liked her as an artist. GREY Area grooves just as well. It's perhaps a little more aggressive than its follow-up. It does stay strong from start to finish though. Boss has an amazing beat and I love the keyboards at the end of the track. She has amazing wordplay on all of the tracks and both the words and the beats stay with you long after the album is over. Apart from Boss I'd say my favorites are Wounds, Venom, Therapy and Sherbet Sunset.
Wow! This is great! Low key beats and awesome flow. Love the accent on the raps.
Little Simz is the next big thing in hio hop. This record and 2021's "Sometimes I Might Be Introvert" are definite proof
Tops. Voice, lyrics, beats. Vibes. You’re not ready for pussy in power. Venom.”
Modern, yet timeless rap album that non rap loving listener can still love
Muy disfrutable. Una grata sorpresa en esta reentrada a la dinámica de los 100001 discos. Me seguí con sus otros discos. Mood: baked
Surprisingly laidback and Contemplative for something in the modern grime Era, and I am certain Little Simz has a career for many years to come with this unique take on the sound.
Bops on bops on bops. I've been craving some more modern female MCs that I vibed with, and this delivered that and more.
Some decent smooth and jazzy production and a reasonably interesting flow. She’s got a fair amount to say with some interesting introspection. Just not a massive fan of her tone and the whole thing was a bit down tempo for me.
2019 will go down as the best year of the decade without a doubt, wish I was across this in real time but listening to it in 2022 will have to do. There are some absolutely massive tracks on this.
Outstanding, significant, meaningful, entrancing. I should have listened to her before.
Vraiment une decourte qui en vaut la peine. Fait longtemps jai pas entendu du bon rap comme ca 5
Smashing. The beats are immense and whilst I'm not hugely into rap the lyrical dexterity of Little Simz is something to be admired. Cutting content, a great British talent
Liked thisva lot. Intricate and varied backing tracks took me on a journey...accompanied by passionate, agile lyrics. Will be listening more
Brilliant. Just packed with invention and cool ideas, some amazing lyrics and flow. Not what I was expecting, but absolutely lives up to the hype.
Wow! I'd heard her more recent album, SIMBI and had been blown away. But this album was way better than I'd expected, why was it not huge. The combo of incredibly versatile emotive bars, the blaxploitation soundtrack adjacent sleaze funk of the beats and the wide subject matter... This is a modern hip hop classic. I may buy it tomorrow! If you do one track, check the Busta style fire at the start of Venom.
This fucking slaps. Little Simz says the n-word with a hard R sometimes (not bad or anything, but definitely shocking a bit considering how American rappers do it). Again, this fucking slaps, and it might be the first non-Slick Rick British rap that I enjoyed?
Ummmm…wow I’ve heard songs of this before, but this experience as an album is crazy. She is angry, bitter, and has the hunger and skill to back up everything she says. You can’t look for much more in a record - I’m in love. Thanks Simbi - My first 5 😘
Someone’s having a rage year- full of anger and frustration. Listened through this short album twice, and really liked it.
Pretty sick rap album. Great, gritty beats and intense stylistic rapping. I dig it.
Great album. Been meaning to listen to this for a while. Didn't disappoint.
2019 is shockinglu recent. A part of me feels albums should take more time to digest before making this, but i'm trying to shake that off. This feels really different and is clearly worth putting on the list. Strong 4.5 for me - really impressed with how concise the album is while still being a powerhouse.
Track one opens with a bold jazz sound that I dig a lot more than I imagine I will the vocals. Not a fan of English rap in general, but so far this is alright. Enjoying through track 2, Simz cleverly avoids the drill style that she could easily fall into and instead opts for a more classical hiphop sound. It's a little Minajy but with the pop elements stripped away to leave something rawer and less produced. Good - Boss, 101FM, Venom Bad - None really. Art - It's stark, the face and sit coupled with the trainers in the background make a nice impact.
Little Simz is a talented rapper and this is a really intense and heartfelt album. However, rap isn't really my thing.
Some great sound I this hard hitting UK hip hop that works but she sounds like a scared girl.
This album was great! Solid hitting lyrics and wordplay, and greats beats without sounding like an overproduced monstrosity. Had me bopping in my chair all morning!
This is great stuff! I was drawn in from the beginning and stayed there. Strength and impact, and superb dynamics, syncopation, and performance on the vocals. Underlying rhythms and beats and harmonies work well with what she's creating. I need to hear more of her work.
I liked it, I thought the lyrics were really good and I'm pleased to have discovered her. Not sure I gave it my full attention though and would like to go back and listen again sometime.
I've really enjoyed listening to this today!! Is it horns or pan pipes on the opening track? I particularly like the song Offence and the message but also the sounds and excellent rap skills exhibited. Great artist, love this album I'd like to listen again to the entire thing. I hear some references to other rappers I love and this makes sense that their inspirations are people I also enjoy. Would like to get more into Little Simz and listen to more of their albums!
For some reason British hip-hop delivery does something for me. Instrumentally it's pretty great. Love the distorted drums and the synth lines. Some of the tracks are hit and miss but overall pretty strong.
Stylish album. Little Simz is a cool rapper with her own voice and the beats complement her well, making for a satisfying and enjoyable result
Has all the makings of a modern classic - smart lyrics, engaging sounds, charismatic rapper, Simz is a proper artist making music to make you think and bob your head. Too new for five stars but that’s the direction of travel we are talking here - she’s that good.
Ugh I love this. Little Simz is so talented. And I love the production too, Inflo is so talented (loved his production on Adele’s 30 too).
Groovy laid back beats. Little Simz flow was on point all the way through. Really good album, almost edges on a perfect 5. Favorites: "Venom", "101 FM", "Flowers"
I really liked this one a lot! I thought the rhythms were interesting and varied, and I liked what I could catch of the lyrics. It felt more like a cohesive album than some of the other recent ones. I might explore some more of her music
Really interesting, and good, with funny songs, important songs, and catchy songs. Not all uk hip hop is this good. Favourite part was the (possibly coincidental) nod to Akala when she spoke about escaping the "fuckery" - in a line with a very 'Akala' flow to it
I'd never heard of Little Simz before listening to this..... and had low expectations, but I really enjoyed this. Loved the creativity and depths to the arrangements.
3.5/5. This was good, not amazing. Selfish is my favorite off this album. This album is better than average, however, some songs were not my favorite.
She has such great flow and the lyrics are excellent too. Fun beats and a really tight length
Top new discovery! Heard the singles but the album really holds up to them. Will defo revisit this!
It gets off to a great start with the funky bass-line and flutes in “Offence”, but the second track “Boss” was raw and irritating. Overall, I like her cool, laid-back delivery. I prefer the tracks co-performed with other artists, as I find singing gives the rapping something to contrast to. It's interesting she co-wrote all tracks with Dean Josiah Cover, the guy behind of one of my favourite under-the-radar projects, “Sault”, and he produced it as well. I think this definitely adds to the melodic feel of the album.
Have listened to a couple of Little Simz songs and never really got the hype, I am not really into British Hip Hop so wasn’t really expecting much from this. But to my surprise I really enjoyed this. Great backing beats and her vocals really flow. Also a pleasant surprise for Michael Kiwanuka to feature at the end of the album.
Really enjoy Little Simz tunes and her voice, she's a bit too spikey to be a 5, but that's also part of her overall charm
05/03/2022 Hadn't heard of Little Simz before this, but wow, she kills it. Mega talent.
Breath of fresh air, this. Sounds like hot sunny London summer days. Really enjoyed it.
Sweet production that sounds like it could come from a Tarantino kung fu movie and tough sounding vocal and lyrics. UK Hip Hop is sounding pretty healthy with this. Best Tracks: Offence; Boss; Venom
very good. the lyrical content clearly isn't aimed at me but when has that ever stopped me liking something that sounds good.
Amai die was eigenlijk echt goed maaar nog steeds geen classic hoor en hoort dit al in deze lijst?
Belle découverte ici. Beats rafraîchissants, bon flow. Je vais assurément revenir à cet album.
Intrigued as I saw some of Little Simz at Glastonbury - not my usual go to of music but enjoyed selfish and venom - good to see
Deze meid kan wel een stukje rappen! Ik kon het verrassend genoeg wel smaken
Fantastic example of the lyrical complexity of modern rap. Great tracks to support the tone, and altogether a great listen. Not something I'm quick to put on, but when I do, it's always the right vibe
Ona mi je jedna od najdražih nadolazećih reperica, umjetnica u tom području. Definitivno se probila sa zadnjim albumom, i pokazala koliko je kvalitetna. Ovo joj je prvi, ali bome ima tu par pjesama koje sam mal-mal si znao pustiti. - Offence, Boss, Venom, 101 FM, Pressure....Vrijedi poslušati!
Jako jako dobar. Cak mi i maaalo bolji od sometimes i might be an introvert
La production est superbe. J’aime beaucoup ce type de hip-hop et les collaborations sur cet album amènent une belle diversité. J’ai découvert cet album il y a quelques semaines et j’y reviens souvent. C’est une artiste que je vais suivre.
Easily one of the best rap albums of the last few years. The production especially shines through it’s use of actual instruments. Each song feels unique in it’s own way. My one knock is that Simz uses the same British monotone cadence on every single song. I think it holds the music back a bit. 4.25 stars
Quand le rap britannique évite de parler de couteaux et de braquage, c'est tout de suite beaucoup plus agréable.
Un album parfaitement conclu par notre ami Michael Kiwanuka qui nous a évidemment rappelé l'épisode de l'intrusion de Norbert Episode au sein de mon domicile allemand. Sans parler de la prise d'otage…
I had never heard of Little Simz before. This was a really great introduction. The music is velvety smooth. The lyrics are great. I was almost on the edge of my seat listening to Wounds. Little Simz exposes so much of herself and is so vulnerable through all these songs. You get the sense that it is that surrender that gives her the strength to sing about the challenges and even the tragedies of her life. Really nice record.
I loved this! Fantastic beats and arrangement, creative and unique. Plus bonus star because I've got a soft spot for British rap.
4/5. It’s a pretty well-rounded rap album that doesn’t really have a bad song on it. There are just some songs I’d skip after a few listens.
Little Simz is one of the only good things going for British Hip-Hop. The other is Slowthai. This album propelled Little Simz into the mainstream for good reason. Many of the songs use unique samples and instrumentals reminiscent of TPAB or TA13OO. The lyrics are simultaneously catchy and deep. Great album. Best Songs: Offence, Selfish, Wounds, 101 FM, Sherbet Sunset Worst: Pressure
This album was a huge surprise. I knew nothing about Little Simz before this, and despite not being a perfect album, it definitely turned me into a fan.
Total surprise. Great flow, amazing beats. If this is the warm up for her masterpiece, as Sometimes I Might Be An Introvert is supposed to be, then bring that record on.
Really liked it...which is unsurprising given how much I tend to like English Rap. The production was pretty top notch. 4/5
It's...okay. She has talent, but it's not quite what I'm feeling when it comes to rap.
3. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of backing music and beats, made it an enjoyable listen. The first track had almost an industrial synth backing which grabbed my attention.
Most of the beats are really nice, and the production is really clean too. That's about all that salvages a 3 for me. I just finished it and already can't really remember or differentiate any of the songs. Just "edgy" lyrics in an unconventional delivery with an accent. I'm sure there's probably some good content in there but I didn't catch it the first time through and won't bother to try again.
wouldn't listen to again due to the explicit lyrics, but musically interesting
Liked this more than I thought I would. I liked the fusion of rap and hip hop with some Rasta sounds and motifs. Very interesting album.
Not my main style, but it was good. I particularly liked the last three tracks on the album- Therapy, Sherbert Sunset, and Flowers- as well as Wounds.
Bueno. No creo que tenga suficiente peso aún para estar dentro de este listado. Le falta legado.
Average+ rap. I liked the tone of her voice and the cockneyesque accent. I didn’t like excessive use of questionable language. The song “Selfish” was a highlight. 3.5 and rounding down.
This album is proof that the difference between good hip hop and great hip hop is more than just the ability to spit rhymes, because that aspect is plenty good on this one. But the songs themselves are lackluster and monotonous.
Must confess: I had my finger hover over the skip button for this one - I did not need it. Great album. Nice production.
She's skilled, no doubt. Good production but not a lot of depth in lyrics or style. She's got to learn to dig deeper and take more chances, for this to be a good LP as opposed to a place to find one or two standout tracks.
Little Simz has been on fire with her newest album and this one is also solid. Very impressed with the lyricism and the beats. She’s probably one of the better female rappers without being only vulgar as well. 7.4/10
3.5 stars. I might bump that after another listen. Really sweet grooves and beats.
Don't really care about the words, but in terms of music, this album raps with dignity and respect to art.
Good album, enjoyed the production and the bass on first couple of tracks especially. Little Simz is clearly a good rapper, but that London accent starts to grate on me after a while (such Northern bias from me).
Starts really strong on the first couple of tracks but I feel it loses momentum whenever singing is brought into the choruses. I like it when she leans more towards the experimental. Beats are very moody and atmospheric and it's a real 3.5 for me but ultimately it feels more like an assemblage of fairly distinct singles than a cohesive album so I'm gonna round down.
This was a new artist and album for me, and I was pleasantly surprised. Little Simz's rapping style had a very pleasing flow, and her vocals were interesting. This album felt very fresh, even compared to other recent hip hop albums. Sometimes on hip hop albums, I feel like all of the beats blend together and aren't distinguished enough, but that was not a problem here; each song stood well on its own and offered something to distinguish it from other songs on the album. I also found the album straight to the point as there were no interludes to be found on this album; in this case, I think that made the album stronger.
oh, can little simz go fast or what! i think she's excellent, considering how fast she goes and how clear her rapping is! it was so cute to hear her british accent come through, too. those lyrics definitely pack a punch--she doesn't hold back! this album was definitely worth the second listen i gave before assigning a vote. "venom" demanded my attention during the first listen.
This was an interesting listen for me. The first time I wasn't sure if I quite liked it, but after a second time I dug it more! How talented is she?!?!
-In "Offence" there is a bar that says "Got my team on deck taking out all pawns/And my knight got your queen in check, mate" which is a cool chess bar that *almost* makes sense -"Offence" also has a cool bass slide that's cool, and some solid fast flows -Oh, it's the "Venom" TikTok song. Also some great speedy bars in that song. Actually, the main part that is the TikTok sound is actually the least interesting part. The verses have great flow and rhymes, and the rap has a topic (not just rhyming random words and phrases) -"101 FM" is a bit too bri*ish for me" -Most tracks are like medium good, with "Offence" and "Venom" being solid. Not quite consistent enough for a 4, but one of the strongest hip hop albums I've heard in my opinion
GREY Area's brevity appears to be considered a strength in most reviewers. I'm ambivalent on the length: My copy of Stillness In Wonderland came as a double LP and I maintain it's an excellent record, with Simz's voice the standout factor. The followup is trimmer, slicker, and more varied in production: A wonderful vibes record, and meaty at that. But I still don't understand the superlatives. Granted, I listened to it for the first time in pretty bad conditions and found it boring. And it certainly isn't that.
Loved the loops and beats but parts felt sophomoric at times. Little Simz had a strong presences but the choruses didn’t feel raw in an artistic sense; they felt under produced, just not on the same level. Lyrically, the content dives into some heavy places. I was torn at how much I fully like the album and, ultimately, decided on another round.
I know self confidence is something to be encouraged, but Little Simz really does think she's the bee's knees. This is a decent hip hop album with cool instrumentation and some contemporary themes, but I'm not sure the stratospheric levels of self-adulation are fully justified. 3/5
Isn't exactly my style but it was a really good listen. Good beats and interesting instrumentation.
No denying her talent but this isn't really my kind of music. 3.5 stars
⭐⭐⭐ Hip hop não é muito a minha praia, mas o som dela não me incomoda. Tem algumas músicas bem interessantes até.
Náði kannski ekki alveg að hlusta almennilega, en þetta var samt ferskt.
Highlights: Selfish Wounds Venom Sherbet Sunset Artwork: 4 / 10 Rating: 5,5 / 10
Not bad actually. Didn’t think I’d like it, but it was pretty decent and probably a grower.
Hip hop suave con buena voz y buenas melodías. Típico disco del género
Way out of my comfort zone. A couple of great tracks but mostly fluff.