Reviews (page 3 of 8)
I had never heard of this one. Great vibes throughout.
Better than I expected.
I'm pretty picky about hip-hop, and generally speaking I don't like much made after 1994ish. Seeing this was British and from 2019 I was ready to be disappointed. Well, I was very wrong. This ROCKS! Production is mostly bare-bones and lo-fi (VERY positive from my viewpoint). Simz vocal is allowed to be the focal point (as it should be) and her voice is powerful (literally and figuratively). I really need someone to point me toward more modern hip-hop with this sound and feel.
When she's on her flow it becomes very enjoyable to listen to like most English rap songs that have that rapid slam poetry style. The backing music is chill with R&B to grungy garage flare which grew on me a lot on repeat listens. I Like the themes of the songs from internal struggles as a female black artist or the struggles of having nothing growing up and then the criticisms of society and particular types of toxic people. Feels like the right music for the right mood with Selfish, Wounds, 101FM & Sherbet Sunset being the regulars.
Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Great - I could easily push this up to Near Perfect but it just loses some steam in the middle. What an album though. Simz is the greatest rapper Britain has ever produced in my opinion and this is her near her best. Truly a boss in a fucking dress, just brilliant.
This came storming out of the gates with the first two tracks. The rest of the album was still very good but I ended up being a little disappointed by the shift in tone.
good flow, bro
My rap blind spot is glaring. Women especially. Why do I always love British rap? I suppose because I love British humor. She’s so cool omg “I'm Jay-Z on a bad day, Shakespeare on my worst days”💀 Wounds. Wow. “The fuckery” in lyric is good. Wiki says this is about her friend who was murdered. Pressure. Fuck. She said fuckery again. Sherbert Sunset. She’s so real jfc “Allow me to be human and be in my feels Chill, I'm good, I got it, I never lost it Or am I just lying to myself to skip the topic? La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la, la-la” HA omg this 27 club song. Voodoo child shoutout! Two weeks in and have my first identified reference to another album on the list. Lauryn Hill influence cited.
Very good
Great voice and rap style, mostly mellow and petty organic beats and no autotune party anthems, but she really has something to say. This is modern rap I can get into!
I love a wholly new awesome discovery.
British hip-hop album. Little Simz’s rapping is very articulate and her rhyming is amazing. She has important stuff to say. Album 27, March 25, 2026
This was surprisingly good. Not my usual bag, but after a slightly dubious first couple of track i enjoyed the whole flow and and vibe of the album. Lyrics were strong and punchy
J'avais des doutes au niveau d'une rappeuse British. Vraiment une belle découverte, bon flow, beats qui s'écoutent bien. Album concis de 35 minutes sans intermèdes ou loop comme sur fear of a Black Planet.
Damn this was fun! Never heard of her but she's kind of amazing. And the production is great
Vraiment très cool!
Uf. Že dolg mi ni neki contemporary vrglo. Začetek je hud ("Offence"). Lep seamless prehod v drugi komad, "Boss". Vsi so mi hudi do zdaj. Zraven skos besedila gledam, ker velikrat je ženska tok hitra, da ne morm kr tko sledit. Še zmer mi je načeloma današnji rap & hip hop manj ljub (oziroma basically vse po the Golden Age). Ampak tole je blo prou fino.
"Introvert" might be a slighly better album but this is still great. No one really sounds like Simz, her style is so unique. 8/10
Really good! Selfish is definitely a highlight for me off of this one. I wanted to like Therapy more, but it just doesn't grab me.
Never heard of this artist or album before. Pretty good—great lyrics, voice, flow, beats, production, etc. Will definitely listen to again.
i’m not a huge uk rap fan but still a great album
Boss Selfish Wounds Offence Flowers
I had no idea what to expect, but this was good. I heard a lot of Tyler, the Creator influence in there. And I love Tyler.
I've heard that Little Simz stood out from the general hip-hop genre, but I'd never listened to her before because i really don't ever listen to this kind of music. But hey this is pretty great, especially when I was able to step back a bit and concentrate on the music. This has an interesting Caribbean feeling to it sometimes that's different from the usual folks I hear from this country. And yes she certainly can rap. Dunno if I'm going to download a copy, but I'll give it a 4 because I think it's pretty great.
I love when women rap cuz it’s so raw and honest about their lives and social commentary, not rapping about doing unspeakable things to women.
This was great. I’ve heard of Little Simz but never listened to them before this. I would def listen to this again, and may check out more of her music.
Amazing Rap album by the best female rapper of this time. Venom and Flowers are perfect songs. I think her two albums that followed this one are slightly better but this is a very high 4*. Might return for that fifth. 4/5
What a pleasant suprise. Will have her on my radar now. Beautiful melodies and nice flow.
I enjoyed this, low 4
Good flow, good instrumentals, good lyrics, good rap. Likes: Selfish, 101FM, Pressure, Sherbet Sunset, Flowers
I've heard a few of these many times (especially the first through adverts and such). She's so cool! Enjoyed this from start to finish.
Great album
Very fun. Will listen to this artist more.
Overall: 7/10 I really like her flow and the accent adds an unintentional atmosphere that makes this really interesting for me. I'm not sure if it's something I'll listen to a lot but my curiosity is piqued. Fav Song: 101 FM
4.1
Amazing record. The production is impressive. Little Simz's delivery is among the clearest I've heard. Favourite Track(s): Selfish, Wounds Least Favourite Track(s): Offence
I loved the vocal performance as well as the rap performance throughout the entire album. I especially loved 101 FM. The length of the album was a little on the short side but that worked out perfectly because I could listen to it on the way to school.
Nothing like the little Sims I know, real lack of songs about moving in with Bella and Mortimer Goth then killing them to take the big house
No. 118 Never really got round to listening to her properly before but this is great.
Spitting decent rhymes and actually playing instruments. Yes, please. I really like Little Simz even though I have been disappointed by most UK rappers I've heard (with the exception of MF DOOM. Ya, he was British)
This one really impressed me. The flow of Brit hop is different from American rap, but in a good way. Wounds stood out with those beats and that short string section that comes in and just hangs there in a haunting way. It gives the track some real emotional weight. Venom was another highlight for me. It had strong trip hop vibes and a darker, moodier atmosphere that worked really well. Favorite track: Venom
7/10 Underpinning this album, there is a generally solid soulful backbone with live instrumentation providing a more fluid, organic sound than more traditional sample based hip-hip often has. As someone who naturally focuses on musical content (including the rhythm of a rappers delivery) over lyrics, that tends to tickle my fancy quit well and, at its best, this album really delivers on that promise. The first couple of tracks were a little limited in range and depth of production, but once things got into full swing on Selfish, I really started to get into the flow of this. Simz has got a great ability to convey emotion subtly enough that her lyrics remain coherent, while still conveying the depth of the feeling behind them. When she gets into the flow of a track and her vocal rhythms push and pull with the groove of the backing track, things become incredibly satisfying and engaging. There were moments that I was less fond of, particularly when things became a little repetitive, and I feel like with a little more nuance to a few of these tracks, the flow of the album could have been slightly better, and the results that bit more consistent, but for large parts of the album, I was fully invested. The production was well managed and maintained a fluctuating vibe of tension across the album that suited the cadence of Simz’ rapping incredibly well. While there were moments that lost me, the final four tracks really encapsulated everything that was great on the album. Her rapping was excellent and varied, the collaborators she brought in added to her style beautifully (particularly Michael Kiwanuka on Flowers), the depth of the compositions were rewarding, and the production brought all of those elements together in a suitably atmospheric way. Despite feeling that this was a little inconsistent, I’m definitely interested to hear what Little Simz did next. Offence - A nice rolling beat with a bit of swing to it to kick us off. The sound palette here is a bit more broad than I expected, with a blend of soul and jazz notes sitting underneath Simz’ vocal. The vocal rhythms and delivery are perhaps a little one note, but she does pick up the pace here and there. It’s not a bad start, but it does feel like an intro track, so let’s see where we go. Boss - Tonally, we continue where we left off. I quite like it, but it’s a little repetitive, both musically and in the rhythmic pattern of her vocal. This is also quite musically thin, which is a shame. I like the attitude and intensity of the vocal delivery, but it’s just a little bit musically limited for me. Selfish - This is better, it’s a really nice soulful track, with the bass a particular highlight. There’s more variation to the rhythmic cadence of her delivery here too, so feels more fluid and interesting. It’s a really nice blend of a fairly laid back tone with an insistence and pace to the beat. The vocal hook for the chorus is solid too and the all round production is buttery smooth and warm. Wounds - The sound design here is great, it gives things a really interesting element of tension that works superbly with the climb and fall of the composition. As with the previous track, this feels much more well developed, and the variety between verses and choruses is excellent, without ever losing the flow of the groove. Another really solid effort. Venom - Now this is great. There’s so much brooding tension and menace in the music, which perfectly accompanies that undercurrent of fury in Simz’ vocal delivery. It’s a simmering fury in that she delivers it with a biting calmness that ensures coherent enunciation of the lyrics while really conveying the required emotion. And she really gets stuck into the flow here too. 101FM - I’m not entirely in love with the lead musical elements here. It’s nice to have something a bit tonally different, but I think it maybe just dominates a little bit too much, and it just persists through the whole track, which doesn’t help either. This goes back to the problems I had with the first couple of tracks in that it’s not bad, it’s just a little too repetitive, musically thin and underdeveloped, which is a shame, as I felt we’d broken away from that on the tracks that followed. Pressure - This is really nice, the juxtaposition of the calm beauty of the piano and vocal harmonies against her fiery vocal is great. And then when the beat and bass kick in, it pulls things towards the middle of those two feelings, which is an excellent trick. The beat is really nice, especially working with the modulated synth parts. The production here really elevates the track, and we’re back on course. Therapy - Again, there’s a solid atmospheric vibe here, conjuring up an element of threat and menace. There are some really interesting choices in the sound design of the production and it feels really deep and engaging as a result. The backing vocals that sometimes waver in and out of key really work well with the theme of the song too. Sherbet Sunset - The flanged beat is lush here, and when they throw in an unaffected beat over the top, it’s a really satisfying sound. There’s a good amount of range to this, although the electric piano line is a bit repetitive and too loud in the mix. The chorus is another solid effort and her rapping has a good amount of rhythmic range to go along with the heartfelt lyrical content. Flowers - Ah, Michael Kiwanuka, always good to hear his lovely voice. The layering of the different tonal parts create an incredibly satisfying tonal bed. The bass is beefy, the trumpet is sparingly used, but excellent and the drumming is really top notch. This is definitely the deepest and most satisfying musical moment on the album. Her vocal is perfectly delivered and conveys emotion beautifully, especially alongside Kiwanuka’s part. What a gorgeous little track.
Fun album! I liked her flow and the production. 3.75/5
some of the realest rap lyrics ive heard. and delivered with some intensity. 4/5
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would
Torn between 3 and 4. You might say it was in a grey area!
Not a huge rap fan, but I found a lot to like on this album. Instrumentation and music is excellent. Lyrically, it's fine. Short and well paced.
Amazing
I'd heard the name Little Simz before, but outside of this list, I would have never considered listening to her music. I was missing out though, because this was honestly great! She's got great flow and the backing tracks were funky and well done. Two of my major gripes with hip-hop are the overuse of the n-word and bloated, long track lists filled with skits and interludes. Little Simz does unfortunately overuse the n-word, which took me out of it a bit, but it was quite refreshing to have a concise, brief track list that really didn't overstay its welcome.
"Selfish" is so good "101 FM" has such a good beat and riff I think this is probably my new fave rap/hiphop album. The message is so powerful, the word play is excellent and they're catchy songs. I would recommend this album to any one
A few great tracks on first listen and I feel like most of the others will reward further listening. What’s unique and powerful is her voice and her lyrics. Even if the production/flow feel recycled at times, her rapping breathes life into every track.
A great reminder that in absence of any trends of American rap that grab me, I should listen to more UK rap. There's a surplus of sheer skill here that makes for a genuinely fun listen.
I've never heard of Little Simz, who hasn't toured the States much and doesn't have as high a profile here as she does in her native UK. While Grey Area is so very British, I bet it found an audience among old trip-hop heads and Dizzee Rascal fans. Count me among them, because I liked this. "Offence" and "Sherbet Sunset" are the standouts for me, and I'll dig into her other stuff too.
Really neat surprise. The first track starts off right away with a ton of interesting samples, goofy and not, that make for a wonderful opener. Lyricism and rapping style is pleasant to listen to as well. I feel it does get a bit less interesting by the latter half, but the album is short enough as to where that doesn't really matter.
I had heard of Little Simz and was aware of the praise she had received but never did dip into her work. This is a really strong hip hop showing, clever lyricism with really crisp production and smooth beats. I really enjoyed the smooth bassy beats used on Boss which is followed up by a really chill track Selfish. She displays a sharp delivery on Venom over top some cool frantic strings and haunting beats and that may be my standout track on the album. I really enjoyed how interesting they kept things with respect to the beats and production, it was really well done and I’ll definitely be checking out her other work. 4 stars
Said it before, I’m a big rap fan, I have and do however struggle with the British scene and I don’t count many female rappers as my favourites but this is actually quite good. I will say it is elevated by the production but I tend to care more about that than lyrics mostly. Enjoyed this, surprised.
Suchhhhh a good album. Little simz is that girl!
pretty chill, I liked it, mixing hiphop with lofi
Great album, really great to have something modern on here. No grey area for me, it's clear this is a great album.
Awesome album. Beats go hard, bars are wicked. Iconic modern British music and every happy to see it on the list
I'm so glad to see Little Simz on this list. A dark horse for this exercise, she performs with such passion and her rhymes and beats absolutely slap. It makes me smile to think that some of the classic rock heads in this community are discovering this unapologetic king - I just hope people give her a fair go. The first half is near perfect, with the b side loosening a little as Simz settles on the sentimental. She loses me by 1 star in the back half of the album, unfortunately, as I missed the hard hitting rapping and power of the first half. Regardless, a great start to my day. 7/10
Excellent! Love this. 8/10
Belle découverte
Fun and chill
Pretty good, simbe's way better though
That shit was honestly really great. Not sure if it's something I'd return to often, but there's some really good collections of sounds here
Now that's one hell of an album. Fantastic creative beats and melodies. Excellent sampling, very good lyrical flow, great voice. I've added 3 of their songs to my playlists. Good stuff. 8/10
sooo awesome
Et godt stykke arbeid. Selfish, Venom og Pressure er spesielt gode.
Delivering this body of consistency, that so little achieve in a lifetime in 35 minutes is crazy. Forget Catherine, Little Simz is the real people’s princess.
THIS DIVA... gente q arraso
LOVE! What a fun new discovery. I see her at Coachella
A ridiculous amount of elements and genres packed into yet another blinding UK hip hop album. A reminder that the UK leads the way 🇬🇧
I've heard of this artist. Truly didn't think I'd find her in this type of list. Not sure if I have heard much of what she brings. Good stuff so far. It's cool. I dig her style.
Not a big fan of rap… I liked this a tremendous amount.
This will likely set a record for me - two hip hop albums back-to-back that I gave 4 stars to. I don't even like the genre (or at least most of it!) but this was a nice listen.
i love her
Love this. Boss is a favorite. super cool production and great verses throughout
I had to let this one simmer for a bit. Right off the bat I thought the album was refreshing. I haven't gotten a modern album on here yet. I listened to this album all the way through 3 times. First listen was highly rated, but after the other two I'm left with a rating of a 4. I think Little Simz is an impressive artist with a unique style and flow. I thought the content of this album was a bit too depressing. While I can understand and respect the sentiments expressed, the repeated notes of emotional turmoil could've been summed up in a single track or two. For this listener, it felt as if more than half of the songs featured such unrest. For that and that alone am I left giving this album a 4 instead of a 5. Am I being too picky? Probably. I've given out a lot of 5's lately. I've been labeled as a "Generous" rater and I don't want to seem like a pushover to these artists that have no idea who I am or where I live. Wow, look at me. Now I'm the one with too much emotional turmoil. What a hypocrite I am.
This was really good. Not the kind of hip hop I usually enjoy but couldn't help but get along to this.
Loved it.
A breakout album that cemented Little Sims amongst the best of current UK artists. Loving her work. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ ★★★★☆ (7/10) Total reviewed : 179 Already owned : 40 Purchased : 6 Buy : 6 Nope : 127
Partly heard before Saved 6/10 Top track: Sherbet Sunset
Having a problem with my old reviews overwriting a thoughtful take on the new album I’m trying to review. An option to edit submitted reviews would be really helpful! I seem a little scatterbrained otherwise. On this album (I hope!) - really enjoyed Simz. Been meaning to give this album a listen. 35 mins of killer, no filler. New fan! Harkening back to the garage 2-step British rap I was a fan of in the early 00s
3.5 stars
Little Simz is just really, really good. Maybe this is a 5 stars eventually for me, but first listen is 4.
Great UK hip hop, which I'm not even such a fan of but Little Simz knows how infuse her jazz-rap with more punchy moments.
Clearly the leading voice in UK Hip Hop. Great stuff!
Without a doubt the best UK Hip-Hop out there. The beats and delivery were both outstanding!
nice flow and beats, yet a beat not enough of something for me still a great record tho
Really not my genre, but this album is surprisingly good. The artist is very sharp lyric wise, there is quite a lot of variety on the album as well. It just misses the slam dunk highlight on this album which would raise its appeal even higher. I could really recommend this album. 4/5
Wow. I keep saying I'm not a big fan of rap, and then I listen to an album and I'm blown away. Great beats, great flow. Would listen again.
Got time for simz
Incredibly re-listenable. Not outstanding, but just really really really good Best Song: Flowers Rating: 7/10 Stars: 4
Jamming out, love venom and most songs
Refreshing turn of pace...if there's a 2019 album on here, what else can we expect?! The only song I had known from Little Simz beforehand was Venom (curse you, tiktok) and I can't say that stuck with me. Otherwise, I was pleasantly surprised by this album. She has great flow, great production, good lyrics. Really enjoyed the lack of casual misogyny so present in other rap albums. My only real complaint is how much she uses the n-word...it loses impact after you hear it 10 times in a row at the end of each verse. In any case, I left wanting to explore more of her discography. Favourite tracks were Boss and Sherbert Sunset.
Completely forgot how good this album is. The production is stellar.
Je ne connaissais pas du tout. Bien aimé.
Superb. Could listen to this all day.
Unique sound that is heavy on the bass and mixes R&B sounds with progressive jazz.
My favourite Little Simz release. Starts off with an absolute banger.
Never really got round to listening to her properly before but this is class
SLAPPED
I have a lot of time for her. Probably 3.5
Little Simz is so good damn good. Great album
Really strong. I had a heard bits and bobs of this but when I saw her live, she won me over. Great flow over great original beats. I don't feel this as strong as her next album Sometimes... but still good.
Little Simz is so cool, such a great & easy listen
I like her i always liked her
I have a few tracks off this one on set lists, and while not really breaking new ground Little Simz has great flow and decent beats. Solid, quick little album I’m happy to see show up on this list.
10 tracks, 35 minutes, strong start and finish, a lot to like about this
Very surprising. I really enjoyed this. Great wordplay and rapping.
Simz is my favorite modern-day female rapper; every project that she puts out is heat.
Es un disco de 2019. El sonido es bueno, las letras no las entiendo pero me cae bien la cantante. Me parece de lo más interesante del panorama actual.
I already own this on vinyl. I love female hip hop & first saw Little Simz live in 2015. To revisit this is amazing, so much more than rap, so many genres on this LP, the production is brilliant. Strangest thing is I’ve never bought or listened to her LPs since. But her Glastonbury appearance in 2024 established her as out national treasure, she should have headlined. Her voice & lyrics are street but also have a warmth to them, you feel like you could have a good chat & laugh with her. It’s like a Massive Attack LP at times. Favourite tracks are ‘venom’ amazing vocal delivery. ‘101 FM’ Aphex ambient sounds & funny story lyrics.
You're Not Listening, You're Not Listening 1001 Albums Generator 151 (10/30/2025) Little Simz' 2021 album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, is perhaps my favorite female fronted rap album. The way that she uses orchestral sounds on that album is comparable only to (and is on the same level of quality as) Ye's Late Registration. Since the last version of this book is from 2019, I know Introvert can't be on here, but I am pleasantly surprised to see her previous effort, GREY Area, is on the list. This album starts off with such a bang; Offence and Boss are both much more aggressive than most anything on Introvert, but Simz sounds great here. Most of the rest of GREY Area lives in a more chill hip hop space and most of everything here is good. The Chinese beat of 101 FM is a little bit annoying and the vocal feature on Pressure really brings that song down. Besides that, not many negative notes! Selfish is beautiful piece of Neo-Soul, Wounds has an amazing guitar part, and Sherbet Sunset has super funky bass. Honestly, one thing I was surprised about on this album in general was the funky factor throughout much of it. The closing track, Flowers, is absolutely beautiful, paying homage to artists before her who died young, and I think that it predicts what Simz would go on to do more than any other song here. The jazzy and gospel elements mesh really well. Beyond a slight slump in the middle, GREY Area is a great hiphop album. 4/5. Favs: Offence Selfish Flowers Least Fav: 101 FM
i love Little Simz!!! so great that she got a shout from this project! and i hadn’t listened to this album yet so a nice little treat. her and Kiwanuka are an absolute powerhouse of a duo. i don’t think this is her best album but Flowers is definitely one of her best songs
What a marvellous album. 4 stars so far, 4 tracks in.
There is a dark, smoky atmosphere running around here. Beats are minimal but layered. An album that proves less can be much, much more. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions Offence Boss Selfish 101FM
Fantastic beats and nearly perfect flow. 8/10
++: Offence, Boss, Selfish, Wounds, Venom, Therapy, Sherbet Sunset, Flowers +: Pressure, Flowers +-: 101 FM 9,1/10
Finally, a British album that actually deserves this spot!
често, думал будет хуже, но остался доволен. хороший продюссер)
Great sounding Hip Hop. Led to a full day of old school rhymes.
What a nice surprise this album was! I was familiar with Little Simz but couldn't name you a single song. Turns out I actually knew a few of these There was something so different about her that makes this album stand out. The lyrics seemed more real, it was refreshing 4 ⭐️
It’s crazy how much she’s grown as an artist since this
First time hearing this one. Just real good. I'll listen again. Cover 5/5 I am a sucker for a good black and white photo.
jävlar vilket gött flow hon har när hon rappar.
Clearly talented and deserved recognition. Some repetitive flow otherwise a 5.
I’ve reviewed just over 50 albums so far, and while I’ve doubled up on artists like The Who, Bob Dylan, and The Beatles, this is only the second rap album I’ve come across—and it’s by someone I’d never even heard of before. That hardly feels like a fair sampling of the genre, but rant aside, I thought this was excellent. Rap is usually one of the harder genres to hold my attention for an entire album, but this one succeeds. The beats are strong, and the distinctly British flavor adds something fresh. It’s a reminder that, unlike rock or pop, rap doesn’t seem to cross borders as seamlessly between our countries.
Really enjoyed this. Great tunes and lyrics. Good storytelling
Very cool hip hop album, reminds me a bit of Janelle Monae, the beats, raps, and electronic instrumentation is all listenable and makes for a great album that I will listen to again in the future.
3.5
4.5
High 3.5
First of all, rapid fire flows like Little Simz realty make me take notice. But I think what really pull me in this album is the music behind it. The opening two tracks have such dirty fuzzy groove that I had to smile on the tracks themselves, but the comes my two favorite songs on the album "Selfish" and "Wounds" where the singing vocal lines intertwined really struck me along with the rapping. The rest of the album was a bit hot or miss for me but special note to both "Therapy" and "Sherbert Sunset" as ones that really cought my ear. (8.4) ★★★★
One of the most inventive performers of modern hiphop. The first two tracks are amazing, the rest is great. 4.5 stars
Another, never heard of album review. Little Simz, you little gem!
Thus far, British rappers haven't gone over well with me. Dizzee Rascal and Skepta have been the two that I've heard and both times I've read that the sub-genre of "grime" is attached to them. Yes, very appealing... What I mostly didn't like about those albums was the cockney accents. My god the way some of those guys pronounce words, almost like they're whining or straining to get some of the words out, it's hard to listen to. Combine that with the tough guy front these guys put up and the whole thing feels very...well not authentic. This felt different. This felt a little more genuine. The arrangements are definitely more engaging. Her voice and annunciation are waaaaay more listenable. Top all of that off with her excellent delivery, flow, and lyrics and you have a much more accessible album. it demands to be understood not just because Little Simz herself commands attention by grabbing our ears, but because the urgency of the tracks as a whole do as well. But seriously - the arrangements are killer. The loops and beats here are so creative and different than most I've heard of an album from this genre and era. I'd happily listen to this again just as an instrumental album, honestly. I was very pleasantly surprised by this, and I'm very happy to say I enjoyed it. Maybe all the rap to come out of the UK isn't so bad, after all. Four stars. Standout Tracks: Offence, Wounds, 101 FM, Flowers
This is a pretty good modern rap album. It has lots of nice melodic arrangements, and the rapping itself is pretty solid. However, nothing here stands out as great.
Stuff like this is why we need more women in rap. Little Simz is an amazing lyricist with an incredibly strong flow. I think the beats on the album were the best part to me, though. They were incredibly varied and all brought out a lot of different aspects in her rapping in a really cool way. Shoutout to the literal cartoon sound effects in the opener. Admittedly I liked Side A a lot more than Side B, but even Side B was pretty strong.
Okay, LOVED it. some of the lyrics were a bit cheesy. my fave songs were the first and last! of course, venom was good too hehe but whole album had a cohesive message and told a complete story.
Some of the better British rap I’ve heard. A well put together album and refreshingly different from the rest of the list.
♥️
Reminded me of the roots. I liked it mostly
I was worried. I was wrong.
Flow on beats u couldnt even fathom
Good this
This is a fantastic record. Little Simz has impressive flow and the instrumentation is funky and engaging. At 35 minutes long, it’s concise, hits hard right out of the gate and doesn’t over stay its welcome.
I loved the lyrics and the rhythm of this album
The album covers a lot of ground from drill-ish songs to jazzy arrangements that remind me of Jamila Woods. This might be a 3 in reality if I had enough listens but I was intrigued enough to spin it 3 times. I will probably listen more times to this.
3.5/5 - i needed to hear this because Little Simz is a fresh voice that I otherwise wouldn’t have heard. This album surprised me with its musicality. Selfish, Wounds, Flowers, and FM 101 were the better tracks for me. I didn’t love all of it, but definitely plenty here to listen to again.
oh shit i love little simz, haven't heard this album yet tho This site is allergic to black people i stg, this is great. If you dont like this please give her album sometime i might be introvert its absolutely stunning, i hope to god its on this list because absolutely deserves to be Now i gotta check out her newest album
Good new hip hop
There’s a moment in the song Therapy where she says “Still an introvert” and I just think it would be really great if she wrote a whole album about that and how sometimes she might be introvert. All jokes aside this is a fantastic album. Soulful instrumentals, great hooks, bars for days. Shoutout my boy Jorge! Favorite songs are Offense, Boss, Selfish, Therapy, and Flowers.
No es increíble pero hay algunas muy buenas
This album was a pretty good time. Went by fast. The tracks where a little hit or miss for me. But it was a good time listening to it.
I liked it. A bit like Check Your Heads era Beasties beats under angry rapping. And some more chill bits.
Not that I HAVE to make this about gender (i usually try not to), but Little Simz is hands down the best female rapper I've listened to, so kudos on that. Female rappers are a hard sell to me because they've mostly come onto the scene the last few years when I think creativity and thoughtfulness in rap has plunged into the red. To that point - rappers who carry on a rhyme scheme driven by the n word get bumped down a star off the bat because it's lazy af, so the ceiling on this album is a 4. And it met that ceiling because the album overall was really interesting and boppy. It has the thoughtfulness and creativity of JIDs work, with worse bars but better instrumentation.
Lyrical, angry, sick flow, makes me wanna dance fr
This was really interesting and I feel like she had so much flow.
yay little simz!! so happy to see her here. well deserved Not everything she does is a fit for me, but she gives 100%. And she's never afraid of different styles. So i give a listen to anything she drops.
4.5
Good
Such a nice surprise to be put onto a contemporary artist in a genre I don't tend to listen to, and really enjoy it. Venom was the standout for me, but there are plenty of highlights and Little Simz flow is great throughout. As a middle aged white man I haven't experienced many of the lyrical themes, but she delivers them clearly and eloquently, and doesn't over rely on some hip hop traits I don't care for. After listening to this a couple of times I also listened to her follow up album, Sometimes I Might be Introvert, which is even better.
4/5
Very good! Lots of great bars and great beats
There are a couple songs that I’m kinda meh on towards the beginning, so I’d want to give it a 3.5 bc of that, but the rest is good enough to round back up to a 4.
I'm familiar with Little Simz' next two albums after hearing Point and Kill somewhere and getting interesting. This album was in 2019, right before Sometimes I Might be an Introvert. It's pretty solid, with some great rapping, great tracks. She has compelling delivery and flow, a kind of 90s golden era ethos. The beats are pretty good as well. A great album to listen to, though I think some of her subsequent discs were a little better even. I sometimes struggle to appreciate British rap, with some exceptions--strange because I like a lot of old school French rap. I think it's usually just the beats I don't always love. But Simz is solid, and selects great tracks. So we have a sonically and lyrically good album here. 4/5.
I liked this. I didn't really pay any attention to the lyrics but the music and the voices were enjoyable.
Strong 9. Absolutely one of the best rap albums of the 2010s
I really like the style. Chill vibe/beats with fast rap. I like London rap in general, though I had never heard of Little Simz before. I’m between a 3 and 4, but feeling generous.
British rap is so different from American rap, and this was such a refreshing sound compared to other modern artists. This was something I never would have listened to if not for the list, and I’m glad it came up. Gonna have to listen to more of her discography in addition to relistening to this one.
!!!!!
This is not really my thing, I suppose, but the album is obviously well done. The first three songs are standouts. Simz’s collaborations with other vocalists work so well. And her sound/rapping is engaging. This is a solid 3.5+, so I rounded up.
My favorite piece of Wikipedia trivia for this one is that Little Simz appears as herself in Sony's "Venom: Let There Be Carnage," performing the song "Venom" off this album during a rave scene. I was pleasantly surprised here - I went into this album with low expectations and it way exceeded them. It's a tight 35-minute slice of energetic modern UK rap from a really good performer. "Offence" into "Boss" is a great kickoff. I think I'd listen to more from her.
Pretty good album, one of the highest praises I can give this album is that it is a British Rapper that doesn't sound cringe. Some of the songs here don't work all that well, but it has good beats throughout and it is a short listen. Mid 4.
Gran rapera, varias ideas copadas. Dudo que saque algún tema de acá, pero los bajos me los acuerdo después de días. Nota: 3.7
I enjoyed this. Fresh sounds, solid beats, interesting lyrics. I hadn't heard of this artist before but she is good. I am glad this popped up.
Some very Kanye-coded production (especially those bass-driven tracks), which is awesome because Little Simz isn't a Nazi. Tight album that's smart, thoughtful, swaggering and maybe just a little preachy.
It’s empowering, relevant to the times, boasts rich sonic arrangements and production, and features appearances from both Cleo Sol and Michael Kiwanuka. Little Simz comes off like the cool smart girl who couldn’t give a fuck about the tune of your exhaust or your hard-earned lifting gains. What’s not to like?
her rhymes are complex but sound effortless. London flow laid over beats that feel like a mash of punk urgency and Black Keys swagger.
"GREY Area" is the third studio album by English rapper Little Simz (Simbiatu "Simbi" Abisola Abiola Ajikawo). UK rap is the assigned genre by Wiki. Little Simz say her grey area was a place of confusion being in her mid 20's. The album received critical acclaim citing it as her coming of age album. Commercially, it reached #87 in the UK. Loud drums and a heavy electronic bass open the first single "Offence." An early 70's funk melody with the horn sounds. Simz rapping about being exhausted from touring. She doesn't care whom she offends. "Boss" keeps the heavy bass sound with pounding drums. A guy yelling at her from and megaphone. Don't mess with her, she's the boss. "Selfish" lightens it up a bit. A soulful synth melody. A nice R&B groove and melody. "Venom" starts with ominous strings. Quick rapping. The song goes on the downbeat and ventures into trip hop territory. The title let's you know how she can attack. The album closes with "Flowers" featuring Michael Kiwanuka on vocals and guitar. Horns. Female vocal chorus. Soulful and melancholic as Simz mentions the 27-year old musicians that have died and that she needs to take a hit before her eyes close. This is a solid album as the ten songs fly by in 35 minutes. The variety in songs styles is one of its strengths as she covers styles such as hardcore rap, soul, R&B, acoustic folk with guitars, baroque with strings, R&B chill and trip hop. Her lyrics cover some ground too in dealing relationships, pressures of her career, chaos of touring, self-doubt and deaths of young musicians. Nice production by Inflo and timely selective use of guest features. This is an album I'll go back to and probably dig deeper in to her catalogue.
That was a great surprise. Some really sick bass lines in there. The last few tracks were a bit weaker but weren't bad by any stretch. The whole album flew by for me, if the ending was a tad stronger it would've moved to 5 stars. Rating: 4.4
This is an example of an album I'm likely rating higher than my level of actual enjoyment. I think it's a very well performed and produced Brit hip hop record. It's just not something I'm all that interested in. 3.5/4 #88
Head nodding British female rap - cool stuff
Good vocals, fun British rap
Another great little Simz proj. She's very consistent and makes being brittish work. Kind of reminds me of Charli XCX sometimes. Had to knock off a star because Little Simz is a monarchist and #hashtag #NoKings!
I wasn't really digging the really lo fi sound of the first two tracks, but it improved massively from there. "Wounds" is excellent, as is "Venom". Her rapping at speed reminds me of Busta Rhymes without necessarily trying to make the speed a huge focus - it just comes out that way. Lyrically the content isn't anything that innovative but it's solid hip hop with the subjects it does tackle. The beats are great and wildly varied, which is nice from both a listening and talent showcase level. I especially liked that this is very much an album by the artist - the features are few and are all left as features rather than making every track a collaboration where everyone is equal partners. I get that there is a time for that but sometimes I listen to rap records and the features overshadow the artist. This is absolutely not the case here and I think the album is better for it. The Michael Kiwanuka one though...that has his mark on it and it's a great track. This was really good and it was nice to have another album from an artist I've never heard of, and contemporary at that.
I might still like Sometimes I might be more, but this was a really cool one as well. Darker, but still amazing flow and lyrics. SHe might be today's Lauryn Hill
So far this is my favourite recommended album that I hadn't already heard. Okay, not every single line is amazing but overall this is a fucking great modern hip hop record. Intelligent, conscious hip hop on a very high level. Great tracks, cool flow. Real shit!
4/5
First half I thought her flow was great but the beats were pretty weak. Then the second half it flipped, the beats were great but the flow wasn’t as good. Overall it’s a strong album but not top tier for me
Absolutely not my normal thing but this was pretty good
Really liked this album.
Actual discoveries are such fun. I thought this was a sweet listen. Great bars, great instrumentation -- tight and clean. Unexpected bangers: Venom, Boss, Offence, Sherbet Sunset
Not the target audience but really liked the production and with it only being 50 mins there’s no fatigue
Damn good album! I don't usually like rap but this is so well done, and the beats are mostly real instruments which I enjoy
Great sound, enjoyed this one.
Really cool hip hop album
Was deciding between a 3 and 4 then I listened to Flowers, which made the decision much easier.
Refreshingly not American - British rapstress, quite enjoyable
work hard, twerk hard
Leuke, gevarieerde plaat. De eerste twee nummers zijn wat cheesy, maar "Selfish" is wel raak. "Wounds" is een goede variatie op de "Forgot About Dre"-beat, zoals haar latere track "I See You" mooi voortborduurt op 50 Cents "21 Questions". Little Simz zou hierna alleen nog maar beter worden.
4/5 En odottanut yhtään mitään, mutta tää oli hyvä levy. Omasta mielestä tässä vähän vanhemman räpin vibaa tuoreella twistillä. Olematta kuitenkaan nykypäivän räppiä, joka ei oikein toimi itselle.
Is it too much to say she’s the modern-day Lauryn Hill?
When I first listened to this album, I was blown away and left with the feeling that I might be in front of a 5 stars album. After a course of a week listening to this album, I've come to the conclusion that it is not, but still very close. I think that the most remarkable aspect of this album are the beats, which are insanely good, but without stealing much attention from Little Simz flow and introspective lyrics. So the reason that it is not a 5 stars album is because, after the latest listenings, I didn't felt as excited as the first times. Nevertheless it is an amazing album, packed with lots of emotions.
I wasn’t familiar with her but I really enjoyed the album.
Solid
Fett album. Har masse kolleger som er fans, jeg har bare aldri hørt noe på henne. Mer UK grime enn jeg hadde forventet og jeg digger det. Føles som en female blanding av Skepta og Masego.
I had no idea what this was prior to this. What a super surprise! I loved this album and went through it a couple of additional times. Great bars and the beats are very well done. Some nuanced nods to NYC hip hop from a couple of different eras in there which is a big plus for me. Well composed and executed. I look forward to checking the rest of the catalogue.
Pleasantly surprised by this one. Thought it’d be one I’d write off but really enjoyed the beats with the spoken rap on top. Has soul, and passion behind the words. Unexpected 8/10.
Much better than anticipated
Pretty good hip hop. I liked how gritty it sounded and the sound effects in the early songs were sick!
One of my favourite ‘modern day’ hip hop records since Houmous & Chutney’s 2014 record ‘Modern Day Hip Hop’ 3.9
What a performance from Little Simz--dynamic, honest, and focused. And the production absolutely knocks.
First listen, really nice surprise, loved it
Nice flow, lyrically strong, this surprised me with how much I enjoyed. Not a big consumer of hiphop and so often the albums are bloated with filler and skits, this was concise and much better for it. 3.5/5
3.5
Very good hiphop album.
Had never heard this one before. It’s pretty good, but feels pretty weak in comparison to Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, which is a modern classic. Certainly a quality album and a great debut, but lacks the depth of her later work. She can write a hook though!
Real close to a 5, album was just real fun the whole way through. A lot of fun ear candy, fun vocals, fun lyrics. Just a bop. I could see this album growing on me over time to a 5.
8/10.
Fresh
I actually had pretty low expectations of this - but was pleasantly surprised at 1) the groovyness of the tracks; 2) her lyrical flow and 3) the brevity of the album. It's not really my bag and I'm not the target audience but it just creeps a 4 for me. Favorite tracks Offence and Venom. Not one to listen in the car with the kids.
This feels a lot more than a rap album, aided no doubt by the presence of Inflo who also produced Michael Kiwanuka. As a result you get some soul, reggae and a generally vintage and super melodic groove to many of the tracks. I enjoyed this a lot, and it continues to grow on me.
GREY Area was a pretty darn good album. I guess i should be expecting something good considering the immense critical praise it got according to Metacritic back when they still had albums on that site. I do find the lyrics a little weird in some place with how much Simz uses the n word but other than that, i don't really have that much negative things to say about this album. The instrumentals were all cool and provided something different in each one and the flows were also super well done making this a really smooth experience. I don't have much else to say, just a really good album. Best Song: 101 FM Worst Song: Boss
Really enjoyed this and could actually easily have got a 5. But my instinct seems to be going 4. Perhaps with few more listens I would wish I’d upgraded. Simpsons: No
Oh I loved this so much more than I expected!
Really fresh flow to listen to, I think the British made it sound better. But I’m really hooked on that 101 FM song.
It’s a brilliant album. So good to go back to. An amazing lyricist and the beats are so frickin British and fresh
Some really good songs, enjoyed it a lot
Old school vibes with modern production, and rhymes that vary from angry to instrospective. One of the most exciting artists I've heard in a while.
This is the kind of album that will have you saying, "Oh sh*t!" at the beginning of the first handful of tracks. The first couple of songs really start building off of each other, in greatness. This album also just feels really emotionally raw, like Little Simz is really truly pouring out herself and her feelings into the music. The music is also really interesting. Sampling is used much more sparingly, compared to contemporaries, and I think it works out really well. The samples that are used end up having a much bigger impact. I think this album peaks a little early (not that the end of the album is bad, but it's definitely not on the same level as the beginning). It also feels like this isn't the best that Little Simz can do. Like there's better things to come from Little Simz. Favorite Song(s): Selfish
Great listen. 101FM is a favourite but the whole album is good. (9 known/14 new)
Really good.
7.5/10. This album intrigued me quite a bit. Its first two tracks are epic. While the rest of the album didn't hold up with the first two tracks of the album, this album is still a nice listen. Little Simz has a great flow, and her lyrics are great!!! :)
Hell. Yes. Stellar production, amazing vocals with witty, personal, and tactful lyrics about society. A hit all around
What a lovely discovery. This is what I am doing the generator. Love the vibe and the beats behind the words are catchy. It would edge towards a 5 but the second half doesn’t quite hold up for me
Just so good. Love the groove, the vibes, etc
7/10 Usually I'm not that into HipHop, however this album does slap. Starts out strong with the track Offense. The backing tracks remind me of the Beastie Boys with their funky beats. Unfortunately for me, the energy of the album gets weaker in the second half of it. The album goes towards a more soulfull direction. To me this does not fit her more direct and aggressive flow and vocals. Favourite tracks: Boss Selfish Least favorite tracks: 101FM Flowers
Skilled rapping, aggressive but reflective lyrics. Good beats. Shorter run time (35 min) means no fluff. Standouts are the middle 3 track run of "Venmo", "101 FM" and "Pressure".
Pretty good, but not great. Simz has good vocals and the instrumentation is well done, but it never hits that spot that would make it a great album. Still, pretty...pretty...pretty...pretty good. 4/5
banger
Little Simz - Grey Area Actually good, considering that nowadays mostly female rappers do everything but to actually rap. Little Simz raps like a storyteller, someone who has experience and wise enough to talk about issues that she had to go through. It's a personal, but sweet album to listen. Some of these songs really do depict that dark but technical sound that the album cover looks. Overall, for a rap album, this is great! 1.- Offence = 10/10 2.- Boss = 7/10 3.- Selfish = 9/10 4.- Wounds = 8/10 5.- Venom = 10/10 6.- 101 FM = 8/10 7.- Pressure = 9/10 8.- Therapy = 10/10 9.- Sherbet Sunset = 10/10 10.- Flowers = 8/10 FINAL SCORE: 8.9/10
I'm a boss in a fucking dress yassssss
Well colour me converted. I've been on a run of pleasant surprises recently and this was no different. There's a lot of hype following Little Simz, but this record goes some way to justifying a lot of it. A lot of modern hip-hop suffers from an over-indulgence in style over substance - abstract samples or soundscapes that are as disposable as the cookie-cutter lyrical sentiments they compliment. But there are a number of strengths to this album that elevate it above the rabble. The first is its length: in a genre that is bogged down with ghastly run times that make finishing a game of Monopoly feel like listening to a track off Pink Flag, Little Simz streamlines the whole process, leaving barely any filler. I (a total layman of this genre) also got the impression that she has a real affinity for a number of periods of hip-hop: the lo-fi feel of the album's opening tracks give strong Run DMC or Eric B & Rakim vibes, while the later tracks channel her clear love of Lauryn Hill. It makes for a much more interesting listen than her contemporaries who just seem to regurgitate the same formulas of the day. All of this would be redundant if the album couldn't produce any actual tunes - but it does by the boat load. 'Boss' was my highlight, again showing Little Simz's retro sensibilities by producing actual singles to accompany an album as recent as 2019?!? Even if she occasionally lurches into the well-trodden paths of rap sophistry, she still does it in inventive ways. A real grassroots, working class star, I'll need to give her Mercury prize-winning 'Sometimes I might be introvert' another go.
Favorite Track: 101 FM
Great surprise
I'm pretty sure it's not really a 4 estrellas level, but man does it feel good to finally listen to something modern that isn't modern-retro. It's like people saying there are still good games being released, you ask them to name a 100, they do, and it's all remasters
Very enjoyable...cool hip hop sounds but with added instrumentalism. She has a clear point of view in her music. I was a little sad when the album was done as I wanted to hear more. This is the case of a perfectly timed album...35 minute run time. You want people to want more, not be so frustrated with your album that never ends. Extra points for that!
3.5 - Liked this a lot more than I thought but definitely started to grate after a while
British rappers tend to be hit or miss for me, and Little Simz definitely landed more on the hit side. I didn’t think this was good enough to be on the list, but I’m glad I was able to check this album out. Little Simz comes with a passion in her songs that I really appreciated.
I'm really into this. I love that low, slow beat and her poetry. It's got a nice range and is perfect for this rainy Saturday night. Captures the mood.
Some of the songs are really really amazing
It's a great album. I am genuinely curious how popular it is in England though. Because this just doesn't exist in America, and it's really annoying how much this is Angelo centric. I guess as an American I'm getting a taste of my own medicine, but I wish there was a little consideration on what this list means in all the English speaking world...
A great album, that could only have been made at the place and time it was created. I love Little Simz' voice and flow, and particularly enjoyed 101FM with it's lyrical and sound references to Dizzee. The style changes a bit too much for me in places, making it feel more like a set of songs than an album. but there are some real bangers on here.
musica do fifa, 4 estrelas
yeezus looking inward
Never heard this before. Really very good.
Call this a biased review, but seeing one of my favorite hip hop artists in recent memory show up on this list is a bit of an early Christmas present to me. And GREY Area is all in all her most impressive work to date. Simz' flows and writing would certainly improve on future albums, but paired with rock solid and unique instrumentation and sampling, everything comes together so well here.
Intelligent, introspective lyrics delivered through incisive flows over innovative beats create a powerful musical statement from an artist who defies conventional hip-hop boundaries.
Un très bon album de Little Simz. Avoir uniquement écouté "Sometimes I Might Be Introvert" par le passé, j'ai vraiment préféré celui-ci. Un album de hip-hop super bien fait. 9/10
This is great. It's a good flow, great lyricism, solid vibe, all around a great album. I don't have much else to say about it.
Extremely cool beats. I wish the vocals/lyrics were as interesting. Her general flow is good though.
Very good this, probably the best new rap album I’ve listened to since RTJ. The music behind it is ace, especially track 1 which I’m sure I’ve heard a lot of before but I’m not sure where. There is a little bit of filler occasionally, but overall a good 4.5
Don't think I've heard little Simz before, her rapping and flow were great. Picked up a few great lines on the first listen but I'm sure I missed loads. The tracks where the beats were also on point were the best, boss and 101 FM stood out. The ones where the beats were less memorable passed me by a bit more. Will listen again but it's a 4 for now.
I thought this was a really cool little album! A nice surprise for sure.
Very strong, 4
Loved that it was something different! I did laugh once i realized this was the album where the song Venom came from, but ill def be listening to this again
Nice flows with great jazzy instrumentation
A revelation. Best female rapper on this list and best British rapper as well. Neither of those compliments give her justice though. Great album that never lags
Cool
Parfois, dans ce projet un peu fou des "1001 albums", on a l'impression d'être un fonctionnaire de la musique. On pointe, on écoute, on coche la case, on passe au suivant. C'est la routine, le train-train, une sorte de masochisme audiophile qui nous pousse à ingurgiter des trucs dont on se serait bien passé. On découvre des pépites, certes, mais on se farcit aussi pas mal de croûtes. Et puis, de temps en temps, sans crier gare, un disque sorti de nulle part vient te mettre une mandale si violente que tu te demandes ce qui vient de t'arriver. Un album qui te sort de ta torpeur, qui te secoue les puces et te rappelle pourquoi, putain, tu aimes tant la musique. "GREY Area" de Little Simz, c'est exactement ça. Une putain de déflagration. Pour être totalement transparent, le rap et moi, surtout le rap moderne, c'est une histoire compliquée. Je suis un vieux con né en 1970. J'ai grandi avec le post-punk, le rock indé cradingue, les guitares qui saignent et les atmosphères de fin du monde. Mes héros s'appellent Robert Smith, Nick Cave ou Thurston Moore. Alors quand on me parle de hip-hop, je pense instinctivement aux Beastie Boys, à Cypress Hill, à la clique du Wu-Tang. Le rap actuel, avec ses autotunes à la con, ses prods lisses comme un cul de bébé et ses rappeurs qui marmonnent des histoires de bagnoles et de chaînes en or, ça a tendance à me faire poliment bailler, voire à me hérisser le poil. Je suis donc arrivé sur cet album de 2019 avec des pieds de plomb et une bonne dose de cynisme. Little Simz ? Jamais entendu parler. Une rappeuse anglaise... Mouais, on allait bien voir. Et bordel, j'ai vu et j'ai pris une leçon. Une correction, un uppercut en pleine poire qui m'a laissé KO, le sourire aux lèvres. Dès les premières secondes, tu comprends que tu n'es pas en terrain connu. La production d'Inflo est une merveille de précision et de saleté. C'est organique, ça respire, ça grince. C'est à la fois terriblement moderne et pourtant pétri d'influences old school. On sent l'amour du sample bien senti, du breakbeat qui claque, de la basse qui te retourne les entrailles. Mais là où l'album devient proprement génial, c'est dans sa capacité à exploser les cadres. On n'est pas dans le rap, on est bien au-delà. Ça pioche dans le R'n'B, dans la soul la plus classieuse, dans des ambiances lounge à la sensualité vénéneuse. Et puis, d'un coup, sans prévenir, ça te balance des riffs à la limite du punk, une énergie brute, une tension nerveuse qui te prend à la gorge. Il y a des moments où l'on se croirait dans la bande-son d'un film d'horreur, avec des nappes de synthés angoissantes et des arrangements cinématographiques. Ailleurs, on décèle des touches presque asiatiques dans les mélodies. C'est un chaudron bouillonnant d'idées, un maelström sonore d'une richesse et d'une audace folles. Et au milieu de ce chaos maîtrisé, il y a elle. Simbiatu Ajikawo, alias Little Simz. Quelle présence, quelle personnalité avec son débit élastique, son flow nerveux, et sa voix qui peut être aussi bien un direct du droit qu'une caresse. Elle ne rappe pas, elle vit ses textes. Elle ne pose pas sur l'instru, elle la dévore, la tord, joue avec elle. On sent une maîtrise technique insolente, mais jamais démonstrative. Tout est au service du propos. Et quel propos ! Loin des clichés, Little Simz fait son auto-thérapie. Elle déballe ses névroses, ses doutes, sa place de femme dans un milieu d'hommes, ses ambitions. Elle assume un égo surdimensionné, mais elle le fait avec une telle lucidité qu'on ne peut que s'incliner. Quand elle balance qu'elle mérite son succès parce qu'elle a bossé comme une acharnée, tu la crois sur parole. Elle ne se la pète pas, elle constate. Elle ferme des bouches, avec classe mais sans prendre de gants. C'est cru, c'est puissant, c'est intelligent, et ça fait un bien fou. Ce qui est remarquable avec "GREY Area", c'est que c'est un disque qui s'adresse à tout le monde. Au fan de rap qui y trouvera une proposition artistique exigeante et novatrice. Mais aussi au vieux rockeur comme moi, qui y reconnaîtra une intégrité, une rage et une liberté qui sont l'essence même de la musique qu'il a toujours chérie. C'est un disque qui refuse les étiquettes, qui te surprend à chaque virage et qui te laisse sur le cul, essoufflé mais heureux. Ce n'est pas juste un bon album de rap. C'est un immense album, tout court. Une de ces oeuvres qui te marquent durablement et qui te forcent à revoir tes certitudes. Pour une découverte, c'est une sacrée découverte. Je suis allé, curieux, écouter ses autres disques, et le voyage s'annonce passionnant. Comme quoi, même après des décennies à user ses tympans, on peut encore se faire surprendre. Et c'est sans doute ça, la plus belle des récompenses. Note finale : Un solide et indiscutable 4 sur 5. Un quasi sans-faute qui file direct dans le top des claques de ce projet.
This went better then expected! Nice vibe
very fresh and interesting background instrumentals
I was familiar with her music before and a bit surprised to see this as a recent addition. TBH it has faired better than the other recent additions to this. Also it solves one MAJOR complaint I've had about rap albums: being too long! This is a brisk 35 minutes and I find helps so much.
I didn’t think I would like this one…and yet, there was something likable about this album. It had a message and it was pretty darned good. I’d listen to Little Simz again.
I really enjoyed some of it and was annoyed with other parts of it. I enjoyed some of the music but some of the production was a bit over the top for me. I would listen to her again but maybe a different album.
Okay, I get the hype for this. One of the songs did go viral on tiktok so that tells you that this album really resonated with a specific age group or at least was catchy.
4.49/5
I have this album saved as one of my favorites from 2019, but I haven’t returned to it, so I’m excited to do so. Update: still liked it!
Кажется это первый альбом в списке, который я слушал в прямом эфире в моменте его выхода. Неожиданно немного видеть её здесь, но альбом действительно супер. Тем удивительнее, что это даже не лучшая ее работа, по-моему. Лучшая песня - Selfish.
Smooth asf delivery with powerful thought out lyrics not just latching onto shock and awe. This is the type of artist that forces you to sit down and take notice!
This was my first real introduction to British rap, and I really liked it!
I really like Simz but haven't been back to this one too often. This is still great stuff though.
An interesting album and not my usual style. I liked the song Venom.
Little Simz is certainly clever, I love the way she sets the scene with Offence and the album just flows nices. Other fave 101FM.
oh yeah this is the shit
Good bars, beats, n’ lyricism. A nice refresher.
i am always a little bit on the hesitant side when an album shows up on one of these lists that was made in the last 5-10 years because i feel like it's not fair to the new albums as they have not had as many years of esteem as the other ones. a lot of them seem like they are "hot takes." i didn't know what to expect from this one, but i was pleasantly surprised. a really fun modern rap album, but the star for me here was the production. feels modern but is definitely heavily influenced by old soul music. i think it's a great pairing between old school and new school. lil simz' verses are pretty great and there are some highlights here for sure - 'offence' and 'flowers' being my favorites of the bunch, but it's all really solid and sounds great.
I really like the music! This was a solid hip hop album. I was too busy to really focus on any of the lyrics, but the music was fantastic. Actually, I just let it keep playing into the previous album, Stillness in Wonderland, and that one was even better! I'm now following this artist and I listen forward to hearing the rest of her catalog.
Damn this one is hard!! a totally great find this late in the list. I really like it!
Is this essential? No. Is it my style of music? No. Did it entertain? Oh yes. Is it concise, skillful, expertedly done? No question. Is it a thing on its own? Def. Can I rate 5? No, but it is great for what it wants to be, if I am not mistaken.
my issue with conscious hip hop like this is that it can feel cheesy at points and i feel that consistently throughout this record. its good overall though. 101 fm in particular is very interesting. 7/10
she's so freaking cool!!
Cool new discovery! I dig it.
really just very good. the first half i enjoyed more on a musical level and in the second half i found myself paying more attention to the lyrics. i already knew i liked offence, selfish, and venom but i ended up enjoying all but two enough to add to my playlist so i would say this one was a success. it always makes me happy to find a hip hop album that i like (although she’s too genre bending to define as hip hop alone). so much better than most of what I’ve been listening to recently.
I have a feeling I’d have heard this if I were younger and hipper. Really enjoyed this.
There’s a lot I like about Little Simz’ sound. It’s gritty and grimy (without being grime or Grimes) and her accent and voice fit perfectly. I’ve got a thing though about rappers that repeatedly rhyme the n-word with itself over and over. Also, “Wounds” sounds so much like “Forgot About Dre,” but apparently it isn’t a sample or the same. So a barely adjacent knock-off? The rest is great though.
Super talented and I really like her flow, Venom is particularly powerful. Some of the tracks manage to sound fresh and throw-back at the same time (Selfish and Wounds in particular give echoes of late 90s).