Reviews (page 7 of 9)
Hard to relate, not favorite genre, was half way through when realized it was a woman.
So far I like more modern hip hip better than the 70s-80s stuff. This one is okay.
Great grime record with fun African sensibilities.
Good. I’m pretty sure I recently heard the songs Selfish and Venom in a show or movie or something, but I can’t recall what.
This was a nice surprise, something I’d never heard before. Kind of dark, abstract minimal hip-hop. Very good.
I guess this answers which version of this list the website is using. I’m very pleased that we are going to get stuff this recent (presumably. I can’t wait for all the 2020 electronica albums we’re going to get this week). This is exactly why I signed up for this project. I don’t listen to hip hip or rap, and I liked this a lot.
Great vocals and such a range of instrumentals
not what i usually listen to but i think she’s really good
Aight. Venom is a banger though.
3 = Liked it this time 4 = Listened to it again at least once because I wanted to (not just to decide if I liked it) 5 = Likely to listen frequently
An amazing find. Truly blown away by the English Hip Hop album.
She’s the fucking best.
There's some tension in this music that's lacking from most other hip hop I got so far. I like it. Favorite song: 101FM
Töff og oft nokkuð skemmtilegt. Gæti alveg rennt aftur, en nú er það bara áfram gakk.
A really fresh sounding album that stands out from the crowd, featuring a tasty blend of rap, jazz and rock. I particularly enjoyed the fuzz bass, distorted vocals, creepy keyboards and flute on the opening 'Offence'. What an amazing drum sound!
I heard of her from the mecury and she keeps popping up in top boy. But wow what an album great sounds great lyrics. Was fresh and orginal.
Enjoyed this, not sure why I had low expectations but I was glad to be wrong.
Good to have some modern sounds on here. Lyrically it was thematic, rather than narrative driven; the flow was strong and the backing music was beautiful.
I'd never heard of Little Simz, this was way better than I'd expected it to be! Digging the low key beats.
and they say there's no good music these days...
Something about Little Simz style works for me while a lot of this stuff doesn't. Inflo's production is great too.
I thought I might like this. It's ok. There's something here, but it's a little too smoothed over. One of those things a little too in between other stuff that I think about what else I could have on. Not fair, but haters gotta make hate while the sun shines, so music: hated. (⌐■_■)
Hey this was pretty cool.
It was fine. Insightful lyrics
This was very good. Love how focused and compact it was (35 mins!). Like some country, her voice felt a bit too affected throughout for this to really connect with me. It's just so Brit-ish for a hog American like me.
team rasmus sry claus ☹️ så little simz på atlas i 2016. hun er fed
definitely not for me
My favorite song is venom
Not for me
i somehow wasn't very consciously aware of little simz before listening to this, but that has been permanently corrected
Good flow and great instrumentals
Love me some Simz
- Heard this before but not listened to it for a while - Forgot how good this is - One of the best hip hop albums of the past decade, and somehow the album sje released after this one is even better - Not a bad song on this - Fav songs: 101 FM, Selfish, Venom
Not my type
I saw British rapper and thought nooooo. But wow, this album is so good!! Way too short, but the tracks are so good it’s not even annoying listening to it replay over and over. She gives me female Q-Tip vibes! Listen again: yes Purchase for my collection: not as vinyl since it’s so short, but I would pay for her media. Favourite Song: 101 FM
She just kicks ass.
pretty interesting album. I dont know much UK based hip hop so it was a nice change. good sound and flow throughout, I always have an ear for something a little alternative sounding in the genre. Flowers stood out the most to me.
Very unique voice in hip hop. Really enjoyed it. From the first song you’re locked in.
Just really didnt grab me at all. Passable and forgettable.
My second fav Little Simz album
I love this album
5 track in and I can honestly say musically I really like it. It's just a crying shame it's not an instrumental album. In one of the later track she says "It's hard talking about something you know nothing about". And that is all rapping is, talking. Usually there is a sort of rhythm and it ties in with the music, but with this she has a similar meter in every track and drowns out the music, completely ruining it.
Absolutely not for me. Before giving up on it, I spotted that Michael Kiwanuka appears on the last track, so I stuck with it. So much anger in the album, then we arrived at that final track and the gloriously soulful vocal of Kiwanuka. The world was so much better for just dialling down the hatred. A glimpse of what Ms Simz is capable of producing when she takes a more R&B path. Off with that rubbish…I’m off to indulge in Kiwanukas eponymously titled album.
I first came across little Simz at All Points East near enough opening the proceedings in 2019 and thought she had a bit of energy about her. Sounded better (or just more agreeable?) than most of this genres' offerings. Since then she's more famous apparently and well regarded. Poor girl has a chip on her shoulder about being a woman in a male dominated genre, ah fair enough, you gotta write about something and nout wrong with dissin ya mandem! Full of tunes and a nice mellow vibe, luckily I don't hang on lyrics, and appreciate homogeny of a work, so all good with this take on Rap/ Hip hop. 3
I liked the beats and the lyrics, but the kind of monotone rapping didn’t do it for me. (Also: British accent.) I think background and other vocals were trying to account for this and add more dimension, but it didn’t quite work for me.
Interesting Rap .... 3 stars!
Yesss, kort affære, pisse gode beats, elsker hendes flow. Havde ikke regnet med at se den plade her. Claus tager fejl.
Sagde mig intet
I am really surprised by how much I like this album. It's pretty fun.
"Selfish" has a nice groove. "Venom" and "101fm" stand out with style. My opinion is that the poor quality and childlike perspective of the lyrics would place this album far outside of the top 1001. This one makes me question the qualifications of the panel of music critics who selected these albums, especially since the selections were "intended to bring attention to gifted songwriters."
Блин, как же стилево все звучит + классные текста и читка Послушал с удовольствием 2 раза
Really good. Will probably join the regular rotation.
Great surprise. Was aware of a couple of tracks - but this album is so consistently good. Staying on playlist!
Not totally unenjoyable; I did like "Selfish" best of all the songs.
This kid got the juice. Still not sure if a guy or girl.
Actually really dig this album all things considered. Her accent complements her flow in a very cool way. Production is good and not very many songs were skippable. 3 stars but only really by comparison to 5 star albums.
Loved the orchestral background tracks. I thought this was going to be mumble rap but the lyrics/music was incredible.
Doesnt strike me as exceptional like the other albums here
Unique and well produced.
It was a brilliant album. It's aggressive, heartbreaking at times, empowering at others, and sounding just so delightfully British
this album is WAY more interesting than The Who's "Who's Next" Wounds sounds like a murder mystery soundtrack but with Little Simz rapping over it 101 FM is so boppy haha the beat is so fun and sounds like a traditional Japanese song turned into a video game soundtrack plus Little Simz nonchalant drill rapping aight I've listened to this album at least 3 times today and it's pretty darnnn good. it feels kinda jazzy and Little Simz makes rapping sound so easy. i doubted the 1001 albums yesterday but I'll be darn tootened if i wasn't excited for the next one. the quality of GREY Area seems a lot higher after The Who. the delivery is effortless and exceptional, the content of the raps is funny but I need to listen more to get a deeper meaning. interesting and exciting beats make this album a fun one to listen to, Little Simz always sounds like she's gaining power like a shonen character.
eh
Lots to like here, Little Simz is clearly extremely talented. Sounds great, lots to dig into, variety in the music, well crafted lyrics, shifts in mood and approach. That said, I found it completely unrelatable, which is me not her since he put her heart right out there. As good as I awknowledge this record is, it did nothing for me.
Loved the first couple of tracks on this. It began to lose me a bit towards the end
This was such a surprise. I knew the name but never checked out the music outside of what I eventually realized was Simz with Venom. I love this album. Great flow, crisp production, just a fantastic album. Added toy playlist!
Liked it
I liked this album much more than I expected. It starts off great with the first two songs, but as always happens with rap, it all starts to sound the same to me . Still, I think it is a well done album and worth a listen.
really fantastic from start to finish.
The album starts with a classic song but does give me that advert vibe because it's been used on so many comercials. The overall vibe of the album was good but did have some weak songs that really weren't my vibe. The album did seem to get better futher down the songs once I got into the groove of it. Stand out tracks are Venom, Offence, Selfish, and Wounds.
Nice surprise. Never heard of her but now I’m a fan.
Chill ass flow rnb
Album was surprising good. I did, however, like the songs her she had features on the most- “Selfish” and “Pressure” were my favorites.
Good representation of modern album on this list.
Nothing seocial
Excellent music (samples and loops), but I can't take British rappers seriously.
GOATED
Fuldstændig uinteressant moderne rap
Intro song was dope, Boss made me want to rip my ears off holy shit that was brutal. 6 songs in and I don't feel like I needed to listen to this before I died. Just finished, album finished strong. I love hip-hip, but this is my least fav album I’ve heard so far (only about a week in). Offence hands down best song 2/5
Felt very "rappy". Overall always appreciate listening to new types of music but this in particular wasn't really my vibe.
Grand
Not bad, hard to understand for me
Ik kom even al cherry pickend terug.. vind little simz heerlijk maar dit ook wel achtergrondmuziek vibezz, dit album 3,5
Goed album voor de lijst, maar niet echt mijn smaak. Vond de nieuwe beter
Not my thing, not the worst I've heard
Trash
Not a fan of rap.
Overall I though this was pretty good. Not my favorite kind of rap, but Simzs' lyrics are strong and wise beyond her years. 3/5 Would maybe listen again
Never heard of this artist before, but after listening to this album, I am already a huge fan. The beats are awesome and the raps are top notch. Very skilled rapper. Looking forward to checking out their other work!
The beats are good but the lyrics/raps SUCK. The chorus in the songs is generally better than the rapper. Would not listen to this album again. Every song sounds the same... Couldn't finish the album.
Wow! An absolute blinder of an album.
a modern rap masterpiece. utterly perfect
Some beats were good but UK hip hop is one of my least favourite genres to listen to, this was tolerable.
Didn’t like
Nice, groovy and catchy. This is little simz, the flow is intact. Kinda obscure but with spirit at the same time.
Very chill, great short album
Little Simz is probably my favourite female rapper out there
BIG fan of the orchestration, this is beautifully layered and sounds so easy even though it's intricate. Not a track goes by without a killer baseline, and her lyrics are smooth and thoughtful. Her accent is almost another instrument, I'm just nuts about this sound. Didn't take notes on specific tracks so didn't take note of any standouts, but this is fantastic. 5/5 stars.
This is fire, I love the beats and she has a crazy flow! I love how she starts and stops her vocals in Offence. Boss goes so hard: "At 23 sold dreams to my side / see God when you look me in my eyes" YO! Venom is insane! Hardest line on the album: "I'll just keep it real, truth won't be concealed / Please don't listen to this and ask me if I'm hurtin' or if I'm okay / 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?"
hate rap finally...
3,5. frekar gott wagwan-rapp
Already listened
Enjoyable
Really enjoyed this now which I’m shocked about
Good album. Not near the quality of her last two albums in my opinion but then again those two albums grew on me big time over listening to them more so maybe this could be the same
First three songs are amazing. Rest of album is good too. Selfish best song. Maybe my favorite Little Simz?
4.5/5. A Brit beating the Yanks at their own game.
Selfish tiene una bonita melodía, Flowers no está mal, el resto no se diferencia mucho la típica brasa hiphopera de otros lanzamientos de este estilo.
Some nice moments but nothing that grabbed me. Not bad just not essential
This is an incredible album. It is extremely open and emotional album where Simz talks in depth about her view of many serious topics. Her rapping is obviously great but what really stands out with this album is how honest she is with her lyrics and content. It feels like she is having a late night conversation with a close friend. Not a bad song on the album 9/10.
Super mélodique, bien ficelé. Réécouterai avec plaisir
SIMBI is better and no, its not because Im an introvert too. Little Simz my fav rapper rn fr
Big fan!! Loved discovering this album and found a few favorites here. Also enjoyed all the features.
Rating: 10/10
Right off the bat, I wasn't enjoying it, but once I got used to the accent, something popped. Favorite tack was "Wounds". Flow really picked up on that one. Listened a second time, enjoyed it more. Props for making a concise rap album.
Real solid album. Maybe a bit outside my normal listening but the writing was phenomenal, and the beats were almost always on point.
One of UK hip-hop’s greatest offerings Very conscious and personal lyrics go well together with vintage-sounding beats Favourite tracks: Offence, Boss, Selfish, Venom, 101 FM, Flowers
An absolute treat!
It is kind of weird. British rap and honestly his 'nigga' just don't sound right. I thought Brits were more polite and polished for that.... The music of the album is quite good and I definitely felt entertained. 3/5
Jälleen yllättävän heikko suoritus näinkin tuoreelta levyltä. Ei tarjonnut mitään mullistavaa kuuntelukokemusta ja vaihteli viihdyttävästä joutavaan.
Erikoista jälleen, et näin uus levy ”keskinkertaisuudessaan” päässyt listalle. Ei missään nimessä huono, jopa yks tuttu biisikin löyty. Kuitenkin se ”jokin” puuttui ja jäädään puhtaasti alle kolmeen tähteen
According to Home Office statistics, 28 people were murdered by shooting in England and Wales in the year ending March 2022. This was seven fewer such deaths than the previous year, and a decline of 30% from 10 years prior. For a population of 60 million, this is a vanishingly small number. Even if you stick a nought on the end to provide a very generous estimate for unrecorded gun homicides, it’d still be impressively meagre. So I think I’m no controversialist when I claim that the UK doesn’t have a major issue with gun violence. We simply don’t have the guns for it, and everyone here views the few who possess guns for recreational shooting as outright fucking weirdos you wouldn’t trust to be alone with your goldfish. So why does the song Wounds bang on about guns? Little Simz is not American. She’s a Londoner of Nigerian descent. Yes, she’s working in a genre founded by Americans (it’s hip-hop’s 50th anniversary this year, it seems), but hip-hop is a genre where the projection of authenticity holds significance. And since Little Simz has such a distinctive flow and distinctive persona, there’s no need for such appropriation, surely? Is she, in effect, rapping with a wobbly accent? Is she Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins, only with the nations inverted? I suppose that can segue into a discussion of the role authenticity has in hip-hop. Basically, it’s a swizz. To boast about authenticity is to distract from far more important considerations, in hip-hop or any other genre (any fiction, in fact). It’s a sleight-of-hand that directs the listener away from assessing the mellifluousness of the flow or the cleverness of the wordplay by saying it’s “real”. Does that sound like a tactic operated in good faith? Authenticity is in no way the same as verisimilitude, and the main factors as to whether a ne’er-do-well or a boy scout composes a worthwhile murder ballad do not include which one lived the life. Following this logic, it may seem that Little Simz wailing about the kids strapping on gats (is that how you say it?) is a perfectly fair application of artistic license, and it’s not as if the whole album is sopping with such imagery. And that would be all very well, but why does she employ such a commonplace trope at all? This is what holds me back from doling out the full five: Little Simz has the potency to innovate often, and with considerable élan. But every time she resorts to hip-hop cliché, be it braggadocio, acquisitiveness, or copious use of the N word, the listener dips into the despair caused by watching the talented skive off. I said earlier that this album just swerved away from achieving five stars in my eyes. Of course there’s greatness on this album, especially in terms of production, but one wishes that Little Simz aspired to make something beyond a hip-hop album, and instead an album more determinedly of her own conception. Similarly, the album’s brevity, although refreshingly different from those suffocating 20-track hip-hop albums of the CD era, makes the album feel just ever so slightly slight. British artists have a long, glorious history of taking American genres and using them to explore whole new realms of which our American friends could never conceive. Why should British hip-hop be so servile to the idioms of American hip-hop? We don’t need Dudley’s answer to Biggie. NoRadio, signing off.
Exceptional skill. 101FM is the highlight
Better then I expected. Great beats
It had its moments but its a one and done for me.
cant believe i gave this a 3 but its actually not too bad
Surprising number of textures in this hip hop rap pop rock record. I wish the cursing language wasn’t there but that’s more a sign of my old age than an indictment on this album. Carelessly offending people is a hallmark of being successful in rock & roll.
-have never heard of little simz before so im excited -i like everything in the background while shes rapping -theres so much going on in the background like with the sounds and i LOVE it -selfish is really nice and chill -VENOMMM i’ve heard this song before -101 fm was kinda slow for me -i do like how honest and real she is in thesw lyrics -overall this album was cool but i didn’t love it and i probably wouldn’t listen to it again so 2 stars
Ist DAS noch hip hop? Hat mir ausgesprochen gut gefallen. Geile Beats, gute Ideen, guter Sprechgesang, gute Arrangements. Es ist nicht alles schlecht, was rappt.
This was a nice surprise! Must be one of the new additions to the list. An all round solid hip hop album
A genuine surprise; much better than I expected it to be, "Offence" and "Venom" being particular highlights. Lyrically, Little Simz is angry and taking no shit from ANYBODY, especially the music business, misogyny and macho rappers. There's a couple of tracks that don't really do much for me, but as the whole thing comes in at a little of half an hour, I can put up with those.
Wow, I really enjoyed this. Great flow, insightful lyrics, real skill on display. I'm looking forward to listening to it again and getting more out of it.
Wow. Little Simz is an incredible rapper. She can spit lightning fast with style and attitude. She has a lot of different flows too. The production is fantastic too. I'm not familiar with Inflo but man he's crazy talented. Great beats packed with details and interesting changes that come midway through a song. The opening track "Offence" is a real knock-your-socks-off track. Little Simz sounds badass and the production matches her attitude and moves all over the place. Awesome stuff. I especially liked the first half of the album, which leans more toward shit-talking and confident swagger. But the whole album is solid.
"Boss" is incredible. I love the effects on the vocal parts and the overall vocal performances. I'm really surprised this track has such a low play count on Spotify (5th highest on the record, maybe that means there's more to come!). Moving from that into the super cool Lauryn Hill~ish "Selfish" is so sick. I love this track. It sounds like Thundercat on bass- there's this bass lick at 1:19 that I swear I heard him play on Mac Miller's Tiny Desk Concert. The kick drum is one of the best I've ever heard. It is so soft yet hard, thuddy yet piercing. Kicks and snares are elements that I am constantly trying to tweak and find perfect samples of and man this is a special one. The piano is incredible too. I'm really appreciating how eclectic the production. I keep hearing things that I wouldn't expect, like the electric guitar on "Wounds". It's great and I really enjoyed it.
not for me
Energetic, efficient, and interesting. Fresh, if not quite fabulous. Though distinctive, the vocal style feels a little forced, a little flat, and makes one less engaged with the content of the rhymes. "Selfish" is best cut by a shout, but "101 FM" and "Sherbet Sunset" and "Flowers" are also worthy, thanks to their likable beats and samples and, in the latter two, soulful backing vocals.
5/10, 50%
She has great rhythm. The rap can kind of drone on and get a bit tedious. Certainly it is well done, but not something I would listen to again.
Cool stuff.
Real cool
While it is very British, it is pretty good. GREY Area is a great British hip-hop album, even though it takes from some American influences. I'm gonna start with what I found to be the best and that is the instrumentals. It's really diverse in my opinion. There's a good mix of distorted beats and cleaner, live instrumentals. This includes some bits of jazz horns, guitars, strings; really a bit of everything. Sometimes these clean sound instruments are added upon a distorted beat and it creates something truly special. Like no joke, I think this has some of the greatest beats and instrumentals of the past couple of years. The vocals are also pretty good, albeit very British, meaning that the flow is okay. Sometimes it's a real crapshoot if the vocals for British hip hop are gonna be good and I think they are here. I think the anger felt by Little Simz is the only reason they work as her flow is sort of dependent on her anger in her lyrics. Speaking of which, I think the lyrics improve over time. They don't start off amazing but they really become fantastic by the end. All the anger and emotions hinted at near the beginning come up in the last three tracks and I believe that they are amazing. I will reiterate, the last three tracks truly are amazing. Everything that worked in the previous tracks is just done during this last third. It really is amazing. If not for these last 3 tracks I would've considered giving this album a decent score. But the instrumentals, vocals, and lyrics just go so hard in the last third and it really elevates the whole experience in my opinion. I am gonna give this album an 8/10.
Pretty good, I could definitely see my rating going up with more listens. 3.5 for now.
Actually quite good! Interesting production and lyrics. 3/5
This is a really good record: not overlong (like many/most rap albums); great lyrics, good music. Pleasant surprise given I'd never heard of Little Simz before now.
A nice surprise
The instrumentals are interesting and more eclectic than most rap albums. The songs don’t get repetitive, they build to impressive peaks. I love her accent and flow. Good work.
Great flow, rewards multiple listens. A bit inconsistent. I'm guessing that by the time she's done, this won't be among her best albums. Best track: Wounds
Pretty good albums, fast flowing lyrics with clever rhythms
Talented rapping, interesting music and various rhythms. She's good at what he she does. But personally I find this kind of music overwhelming after a few songs. It's tiring to read the lyrics/rapping and focus on the music, too, perhaps because I'm not a native speaker.
GREY Area by Little Simz is a remarkable album that solidifies her as a force to be reckoned with in the rap and hip-hop world. Released in 2019, it showcases her exceptional lyricism, insightful storytelling, and confident delivery. Tracks like "Selfish" and "Offence" demonstrate her fierce and unapologetic approach, while "101 FM" and "Sherbet Sunset" offer moments of introspection and vulnerability. The album's production is diverse and innovative, incorporating elements of jazz, R&B, and electronic influences. Little Simz's authenticity and raw talent shine through, creating a captivating and empowering listening experience. GREY Area is a testament to her artistry and cements her place among the most exciting voices in contemporary rap.
Modern hip hop coming out of London, Little Simz is fresh and completely ready for the international stage. She's not aggressive, but she is direct. Her lyrics will rip everyone apart without devolving into a mess of a tirade. She's smart and intelligent. She knows where she stands in this male dominated industry yet she uses her memories, experiences and thoughts to stand out on her own island. The production by Inflo is influenced by the urban sounds from Tokyo to LA which pushes this record to the next gear. Little Simz is already talented with six gears but Inflo adds that little bit of extra.
OKAY go off girl this was actually really good.
Not into modern hip-hop, but this lady is brilliant
Not usually a rap fan, but I like it. Musically interesting. Got pretty stressful to listen for more than a few songs though.
I've heard the name, but never listened to one of her albums. I'm digging the vibe that Offence puts out. Confidence filled bars over an atmospheric instrumental that has a slugging / groovy electro-bassline with some flute and drums to match. Boss continues in a similar braggadocious vibe. Once again, the instrumental is pretty dope. Also like the compressed vocal effect -- calls back to Check Your Head by Beastie Boys. Selfish opens up from the constricted, punchy basslines to a breezy lo-fi production with a smooth bass rhythm working in the background. Her flow is really good; pairs nicely with the understated beat and is supported by a clean chorus. Venom is the high point of the album so far. Broody instrumental with spooky strings and high-hat heavy drums. I don't know if I call it a "jam," but it is very moody. Second half is a bit softer than the first, but overall this is a really quality album. 4/5 for overall shot selection, production, and technical ability.
Oh baby another album coming in to usurp the title of latest album at 2019! Looks like Willow Smith on the album cover. Damn this girl has flow. This is a really good rap album. I really liked Flowers.
Never heard of this "Little Simz" and was cautious going into it, but that was pretty good! I don't know how much I'll go back to it but would give it a 3.5 if I could. No nostalgia so you get a 3. Sorry Simz.
4+/5
Standout: Flowers feat. Michael Kiwanuka (whose album was the 2nd album I listened to way back at the start of this list).
Very good.Nice to see more modern stuff on the list.The instruments are nice and the album is kinda stripped back in parts.I like simz’s delivery and lyrics,good.
Drullugott albúm. Byrjar sterkt og verður betra með hverju laginu sem líður!
I tried to find any pretext to rate this album with 4 stars, but I couldn't. I am fascinated. GREY area explores flawlessly diverse textures and engages the listener song after song.
interesting 3/5
No thanks.
I don’t know- I think the music aspect was good but her voice was what I just couldn’t get into that much. Length was perfect and nothing else to complain about but her voice just wasn’t it.
Different, to be sure. First off - the music is *awesome* - as in; full 5 star quality. Love the organic sampling, the soulful singing interludes and progressions - definitely right up my alley. Also the length hello perfect - keep it short and sweet! OK as for the main performer here Little Simz - how is the flow? .... Here's where I wavered from song to song: no question she has amazing talent here; her ability to get all the lyrics out with such clarity is impressive, I don't know how that's done. But there are times that her rhythm wavers - I'm big on the old-school method of being on the beat, it's an intrinsic part of the music for me and at times there's a bit of "overflow" with the words and phrasing. It's a style more than any "flaw" and I just don't like that style, so at times it's a bit distracting. Also - damn: her rapping is monotoned. Way too monotoned. If there was some or any expressiveness throughout the delivery there'd be no nitpicking. If that's something she develops/ed after this album I'd be psyched, because there's still a lot to like from her. Sum: music is a 5, rapping/flow is somewhere in the frustrating 3 range for me, but with let's say a higher potential. I'm curious enough that I'll seek out her later albums to see where she went from here and even with the limitations overall the music is really good and I'll listen again. 7/10 4 stars.
I was really surprised by this album. I was expecting something more copycat of 90s hip-hop or even some trap, and both could be nice when well conceived. However, I got something different, maybe in the middle of these two styles. I see some 90s reflections and early trap but with a lot of jazz and classic R&B that made me feel good listening to it. I enjoyed the lyrics, too, and I'll check other Little Simz albums.
Mammoth Listened to the new Mammoth on apple tunes. Pretty good. Not that heavy
Surprisingly good.
I could appreciate this and with more listens it would probably become a favourite. But let’s face it, that probably won’t happen and I’ll continue listening to the same few albums on rotation as always.
Banger of an opening track, I wish the rest of the album was up to the same standard. Still a good listen though.
De la nova fornada del hip hop de finals dels 10s, començaments dels 20s. Reverenciada un pél massa, però cert és que la seva proposta està un o dos esglaons per sobre de la majoria de figures de la seva generació. Aquí és on va començar a despuntar
I'm not a fan of modern rap. We'll get that out of the way now. Kendrick is perhaps the only current talent that does anything for me...until this album. I really enjoyed this listen. Simz has fantastic flow ("Venom" made my jaw drop), and writes honestly and without ego, which is often a downfall of rap for me -- I want to hear about who you are, not about what you have, fuck your "flexing". All this over very pleasant instrumentals; thick, funky basslines, sultry guitar lines, dreamy synths and inventive percussion keep things fresh and highly listenable throughout. Another trend I've noticed among the rap albums I've explored is their tendency to outstay their welcome, often clocking in at over an hour and sometimes up to two. At a tight 35 minutes, this album presents a concise message. The guest appearances here from artists such as Michael Kiwanuka and Little Dragon are also welcome additions. I hope to explore more from Little Simz in the future.
Well I don't think this is my string suit in gender pero a diferencia de otros discos de los que no me encanta el genero este no lo ame la verda, me aburrio.
Raw, vulnerable, defiant, slick. Astonishing how much is packed into just 35 minutes.
It was pretty good. The beats were good. The lyrics were alright. I was not familiar with her previously.
Really nice voice and rapping. Cool basslines. Highlights: Offence, Boss, Selfish
It's nice to hear something a bit fresh- not really my cup of tea but I can see what she's trying to do here. She's a very accomplished rapper but I really like the music behind her to be honest.....
Jim hates
L album. Doesn’t deserve to be on this list at all. Major L energy
Heard of her, but first time peeping. Not a fan of the vocals. Beats are ok.
Eheää alusta loppuun, mutta varsinaisesti hienona erottuu vain Venom. Vaatii keskittymistä, johon en pysty
Tämä menee musiikillisesti hieman yliyrittämiseksi, vaikka en sinänsä vihaakaan levyn kokeiluja. Melko hyvä yhden kuuntelukerran tulkinta modernista räpistä - point taken.
I'm usually not this dismissive of any music - But this Sucked. It reminded me of when I worked at a record store and someone put a Hole record on...One of my coworkers said, "If I wanna get yelled at, I can just go home."
Enjoyable, but not a lot that is going to stick with me. Really enjoyed the production, had a fairly consistent sound throughout. Her rhymes were great as well.
cool album! not what i'd normally listen to but I really liked the flow and lyrics. favorites: offence, venom, 101 fm
Disco de hip hop dos menos irritantes.
My first 5/5 with this list and well deserved. I've been meaning to check out some of Little Simz work for a while due to high praise, and I see why. Every track was great, and she is one hell of an emcee. Lots of personality, writing ability, and impact. Production on this was also excellent front to back. Short and sweet album; no filler and all great.
British style urban angst.
Oh, that's interesting! Fresh and diversed. Like it!
Yes please. Great rapping, great lyrics, sonically smooth. I’ll be back.
Really enjoyable. I can tell I'm going to come back to this from time to time.
3.75
very cool
The goat Light 9
I thought she had a good sound. I liked this album.
Benefits from multiple listenings. There's no catchy riffs or hooks, but there's a ton of depth and vibes, spanning from light to very heavy.
This is an angry, aggressive album with vivid, nighttime production, bumblebee bass hooks and alien sounds in abundance. Lyrically, Little Simz leans heavily on cliché, and sprays profanity more liberally than Tarantino. The concrete detail in her song a is powerful.
Now here's a surprise, a British hip-hop album that isn't mortifyingly-awful. Fresh, tuneful and inventive, I enjoyed this quite a lot. Her flow is really good and the usually-embarrassing parochialisms aren't too clumsy here. Dragged down a bit as the obvious American slurs still sound a bit silly (think: reverse Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins), but overall pretty good and pleasantly concise.
Vet album, weet niet wat het in de lijst doet verder, maar gaat vaker geluisterd worden.
I know Little Simz and that she probably pioneered a certain style of rap, but I could not get into any of these songs.
Very good
Little Simz is the stage name of London rapper Simbi Abisola Abiola Ajikawo. For someone who is only 29, she has accomplished so much!! She has had some acting gigs, and has released 5 studio albums up to this point. This one I am reviewing today is her third. Simz states that Biggie Smalls, Nas, and Lauryn Hill were huge influences for her. I was a huge fan of Simz's style of music, mixing rapping and singing parts together, and from time to time rapping in a "chopping" style (rapping very fast). The flow she achieves is amazing! I was happy to see that the song Flowers featured Michael Kiwanuka (who I've reviewed on here before, and thoroughly enjoyed). Overall, a phenomenal album today, and one that completely blind sided me. I assumed when I saw her stage name that I would be dealing with a shitty "rap/pop" group like Juice WRLD, Lil Peep, or Lil Nas X, especially given the fact that the album dropped in 2019. However, that is not what this was at all. This was closer to 90's - early 00's rap (Like Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, or Eminem). Very thoroughly enjoyed this album today. Listened to it 3 times in fact! Favourite songs: Boss, Venom, Flowers, Therapy, Offence, Pressure Least favourite songs: if forced to pick, Wounds 5/5
Started ok. Fell away. Not my bag really
Great album. Little Simz is a technically accomplished rapper but it is the producer Inflo who really makes this stand out. Little Simz raps like it was the year 2000, and she explicitly references Jay-Z in the first track in the best line of the album. It somehow feels fresh with the old school exaggerated bragging. It’s obvious she is a fan of the turn of the century New York hip hop. Little Simz lyrics as a whole are alright but not interesting enough for five stars. The production by Inflo though is definitely five stars. Dynamic, organic and banging.
Should be a 3 1/2. alredy knew Venom and still my favourite from the album
Great rapper! Great rap vocals and rhymes and personality. Contemporary yet classic sounding production.
Surprisingly decent album with good lyrics and rhyming, lacking a standout song though
En bombe bébé
solide
Objectively a good record, but I still haven't clicked with British rap. Blimey crumpets, god save the king or whatever. Feels weird to say that instead of "God save the queen". I have nothing to say about this, I'm just writing random words.
Surprised and delighted with this awesome artist
:)))
3.5 maybe - not of all this is good but Venom is an alltimer and there's plenty to like
Maybe I'm just in the wrong mood, but I'm not feeling it. Another 3*. Some good tracks, though - maybe this is a harsh rating.
Love this. Can't believe I skipped it when it came out.
Pretty good, but not my thing
The track Flowers stuck out to me. Generally a cool album to listen to.
This was a pleasant surprise
Some enjoyable songs, and the length was nice.
I’ve heard her song Venom around the internet, but never know who it was. Finding it here was cool! Enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
Love that her London accent comes out. Never heard of her before, but I’m impressed. A good UK hip-hop album. Favorite songs: Boss, Selfish, Venom, and 101 FM.
Jotenkin liian tai liian vähän jotakin 2/5
Höh ei kyllä lähtenyt. Kiinnostava artisti ja olin onnellinen, kun piti kuunnella. Ehkä jotain toista levyä pitää vielä kokeilla.
Old schoolimman kaman jälkeen tää tuntui virkistävän erilaiselta. Kiinnostavat taustat ja saundi, 4/5
Really did not expect to like this as I'm not a huge rap fan, and most rap I do enjoy is from the 80s and 90s. However I loved the beats, lyrics, and general flow of this album. The production and use of sound effects was top notch as well. The content was poignant, aggressive, but also descriptive and empathetic. 5/5 Favorites: 101 FM, Selfish, Wounds Least Favorites:
Bättre än den nya rap jag hört i alla fall.
I honestly didn’t hate it
Well, I think this is the best British rapper that I've been served on this list. I can say that. I can also say that she at least sounds modern in the era that she's working in, unlike many of the other British rap entries on this list. It's fine. I don't get why this album in particular was singled out (other than that it was British), but it's at least fine. I still haven't gotten a Kendrick album on this list yet, though, at that fact becomes more glaring every time that I get an album by a British rapper who I've never heard of 3/5
When it's good, it's very good (Selfish, Venom) but some filler, not as good overall as Sometimes I might be Introvert
It was ok, not sure i got into it but feel like it had more to it than a 2*
Pretty good.
Cafe music
See? It's possible for a hip-hop album to be good without being 30 minutes longer than it should be, and filled with mini-episodes of life stories. Sometimes, it's enough for the music to speak for itself. Little Simz has great flow here, and I particularly enjoyed how her music had a stronger alt-R&B feel which lent well to the quiet agressiveness of her rapping. It's still too recent to definitively say that this belongs in the 1,001 albums that must be listened to, but it was a cool record. Standouts were Selfish, Boss, and 101 FM.
This is two sketchy selections in a row, which means I'm starting to question the creator of this list's judgement. Or maybe, considering how many albums I've reviewed here, the site's administration is trying to weed me out by throwing a bunch of junk at me.
Really nice beats. The rapping itself is a bit monotonous.
ok, this is entertaining. fun even. I dont like MOST rap. ,But unlike most urban stuff , this has some nice head candy / enjoyable musical sounds, pace, attitude, and its lyrical and fast. The lyrics are catchy. But they cant be sung out loud in public. Fun irrisistable new music for me. 4. ***(I am impressed my her releases since this 2019 album. Her style has evolved veryu quickly and her African and jazz influenced album is very VERY enjoyable to listen. An artist to watch - maybe my eyes werent open or int he right places ?***
I find her voice quite irritating at times & her lyrics juvenile at other times. But not all the time. Sometimes she nails it. And I really like the music. It’s a big, full sound. And it never feels repetitive or boring. She’s obviously a talent.
One of my great pleasures in life is when my children introduce music to me. Hal recently recommended Little Simz to me, and pointed me at her later Sometimes I Might Be Introvert album, which I really like (especially the song Point and Kill). I hadn't spent any time with her back catalog yet. I rate her flow, which is much more in the British grime tradition than an U.S. inflected style. I love the production (led by her main collaborator, Inflo, from the Sault collective). The use of real instruments is funky and soulful. I love that the album is concise and to the point (and no skits -- hooray!) Given that most hip hop records on this list are some form of gangsta, it was sweet blessed relief to hear something fresh and outside of the gangsta genre (which I really don't enjoy), although Boss leans heavily on the n-word, but I love it when she calls out "I'm a boss in a fucking dress!" I am relived to have an album on the list that is by a woman of colour, and not in the rock tradition. I would argue that this album is a bit too recent to truly tell if it is a classic album that you MUST hear (given that she won the Mercury Prize for her following album, it suggest she has more to offer). I give this 3.5 stars because I think her later album is better, and round down because I think this is a bit too recent to be on this list. but don't get me wrong; I really enjoyed this record, and found it a breath of fresh air after weeks of white-boy rock.
Jag blir förbannad när sådana här skivor kommer. De är så jävla usla.
Amaze. Legendary.
Not terrible had some interesting beats and rhymes
Digging the bass lines. Listening to Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn...and then this is thrown at me. Only being out 4 years should disqualify it from being on the list. Favorite Track : Sherbet Sunset 2 / 5
Although it‘s Not my cup I can appreciate a certain vivid power and playfulness. 3.4
Was not familiar with this artist and saw it was a rap album from 2019 I had some trepidation but was pleasantly surprised. Good flow and I liked a lot of instrumentals. 101 FM that sample and chorus were my favorite.
Big ol' fan. I had been recommended a Little Simz song a couple weeks ago from a different album and really enjoyed it so I was pleased to get offered up this one. Super fun, unique music production with all sorts of different vibes and instrumentations. Weird notice but she must have a metronome in her head because she raps so fucking on-beat it's insane. Big fan of all of it. especially 'Offence' 'Boss' and '101 FM'
who let the brits rap
From the top of the flats.
simz fair enough to me
Not my style
Ik zou het zelf niet snel opgezet hebben, maar ik vond deze toch wel erg lekker hoor. Ze heeft een hele intrigerende stem en de nummer hebben een super lekkere flow erin zitten. Het is echt niet per se mijn type muziek, maar ik snap wel echt dat dit op de lijst staat. Het blijft van het begin tot het eind interessant. 4 sterren.
I'm impressed by the production and the beats. It's different than what I'm used to and is great at using a variety of instruments and sounds. Little Simz herself is talented and got expresses a badass attitude through her lyrics and flow. Overall it's a bit too mellow for my taste. A little more energetic songs on the album wouldn't hurt.
Jazz inflected with insightful lyrics, Little Simz has a powerful voice with something to say.
Great album! She's got an awesome music and acting career. Dual threat. 4/5
Was cool
This is good. Not sure if will hold up, but it was a good listen.
Jazz-rap, funky and spacey beats, lyrics and flows are incredible. Unique artist, loved this. Great album.
I didn't know what to expect but enjoyed the relaxed beats and purposeful flow to the lyrics. The lyrics were often meaningful and personal, which was appreciated when compared the wanton content of much of [even great] rap. The album felt a bit unpolished, which lends itself to feel more authentic.
Usually when I get record assigned from the list that I’ve never heard of, from an artist I’m completely unfamiliar with (especially newer records), a shiver runs up my spine, a sense of trepidation sets in and I begin to question my life choices. Can you blame me, though? Each and everyone of us has been burned by this dumb list and have had to sit through our fair share of underwhelming to straight up awful records. Well, that initial reaction couldn’t have been more unfounded with GREY Area. 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. In fact, it leaves you wanting more.
Good stuff!!
Better than I thought it would be...
Musically much better than most of what passes under the hip-hop bridge, but still nothing I would willingly listen to.
Some of it was good, some of it was not for me. But not a bad album.
Meh
Second listen: First time it was a 1/5 for me. This time around I found the song "Boss" to be exceptional and so far, that one song has saved this album. Standouts: Boss Others: Selfish, 101 FM, Therapy, Rating: 2.5/5
There was some interesting sounds and beats going on in the background and I didn’t dislike listening to it, but ultimately it’s just not for me and not an album I’ll feel compelled to revisit
Reminds me a lot of Kendrick Lamar. Her wordplay isn't as complex but her flow is really similar.
SLAPS. absolute bop after bop.
I’m really happy this is on here, one of the best hip-hop records of the last few years
I like this more than I thought I would. The newer British hip hop has been stronger than I might have thought.
Dynamic and interesting record with amazing string and acoustic instrumentation. Nice use of guest vocalists and some hard hitting lyrics and themes. Great stuff and a shining example of what rap music can be
Feeling, passion, introspection, great live instrumentation. Boss, which was one of the most famous songs off the album was actually my least favourite, which is strange as I usually love confrontational music. Had Jasmine Sullivan yesterday, and whilst I enjoyed that, the energy of this blows it out the water.
Self-empowered and confident, this album is excellent.
this a boss ass bitch fr didn't expect to like this album as much as I did
I don’t get it. Not a single jam and not something I’ll tell my kids to listen to.
No stress I'm a boss in a fucking dress. Simz has found space to rap about her lived experiences and the prejudices she has faced in summiting the music industry. Innovative samples, traditional Chinese to Rasta to grime
I've never heard of Little Simz, or heard any of her songs previously. She's a very talented rapper, very fast rhymes, no mumbling the lyrics as some rappers do nowadays. Overall this was a good rap album
Mmh
Little Simz, eh? What a surprising treat this is. Not that I think modern rap = bad but it simply slaps. Nicki Minaj and Cardi B could never.
I refuse to believe that British hip hop has evolved this far from trash like the streets in less than 20 years. Two albums from this genre managed to get into my 1 stars while this honestly might make it into my 5 star dependent on how much I listen to it tomorrow because it’s great from the lyrics to the beats to the overall sound.
heard recently, listened to again incredible production, really fresh
Not sure what to expect with this as not my usual cup of tea, but it was a pleasant surprise. I got some kind of 80's sonic vibe but in a modern sound with some great lyrics. I did find that further into the album I started to feel the songs got a bit samey, but the first few tracks I was definitely into
Pretty well done, but just not my thing.
Speak King! What amazing production! I dig the dialect hard. This is great.
Might have been the British accent but I liked this. Probably would like it more, or, who knows, maybe less, if I spoke rap. Regardless, glad this one made the list.
With all honesty I can say I do not understand this album. Perhaps it’s because I’m past 30? Regardless this is not one I will highly recommend, though the production values are VERY high.
Now here we go. This is VERY different (and better) than the monotonous and repetitive UK artists we have heard. Firstly because this isn't a rock album. I've been dying to hear some UK Hip Hop artists and had no idea about Little Simz. Boy am I glad we got this one. This was an awesome showing that makes me want to listen to all of her other albums too. At a tight 35 minutes, it gets to the point, has a ton to say, on top of great beats and lyrics. I've already listened to this album twice and excited for more plays. Offence, Selfish, Venom, 101 FM are all standouts for me. Really digging the cover too.
Great album! She may be British, but I'm still surprised to see Little Simz included on this list. She's been one of the most exciting new rappers in the last few years, and it started with this album for me. I think it's still my favorite, even though many would say SIMBI is her best (and NO THANK YOU is also really good). This one just feels more organic to me, more out to prove she's got it than making a grand statement. Really great to hear this again. Favorite tracks: Boss, Offence, Venom, 101 FM, Sherbet Sunset, Wounds. Album art: A great artistic portrait cover here, black and white but I'll allow it since it's decidedly grey. 4.5/5
Surprisingly good. Especially enjoyed "Offence" and "101 FM." Let's call it a 3.5.
Better than I expected
Ну я ее и так знаю, клевая, но чот у меня аллергия на нарциссизм и эджи
I hadn’t heard the name Little Simz before, but then again I’m not very knowledgeable on hip hop. I did note that it seems to be odd to be “Little” rather than “Lil” based on a bunch of other artists, but that’s pretty much the end of my preconceptions. Songs I already knew: Selfish Favourites: Selfish, Venom I was surprised that I recognised Selfish after hearing it. I can’t even place where I’d heard it, but it was definitely familiar. It’s quite refreshing to hear hip hop by a British female artist, as you don’t tend to hear that very often. Overall, there were some very good songs and some less so. I’d recognise this to hip hop fans, but I’m unsure if it would win over anybody that isn’t already a fan of the genre.
Hip Hop trash. 0.5/5
English rap, with heavy minimalist beats.
Better than I thought but not great
Wow
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would.
Excellent album, grew stale towards the middle but recovered at the end
A contemporary classic and one of the best hip hop albums of all time.
This is an album that probably will be retconned from the list on one of the next editions. British hip hop record, with no original style or beats, and pretty interesting way of rapping by Little Simz, but in general GREY Area doesn't bring anything new or exceptional to the table. Few songs like Sunset Sorbet, or Venom were pretty good, mostly on the lyrical side, with some nice changes to the tempo as well. Interesting, but in my opinion it doesn't belong to the list of greatest albums in anything (maybe other than contemporary hip hop).
Fine British rap, wouldn’t skip any songs if they came up in a playlist . Not my particular style and really lost me with the lyric about people being unaware because they haven’t read the alchemist, followed by “we live in a society..” 2.5/5