Before I start this piece, I would like to mention a bit of a back story. Now, this is one of the first records since 2016 where Little Simz hasn’t worked with her frequent collaborator INFLO, who she recently sued for not paying back a 1.7 Million Euros Loan. That is a lot of money. INFLO and his wife Cleo Sol are frequent collaborators, so there is just this mess throughout her life. Artistic, economic and emotional.
Of course, this album is aggressive, loud. You can hear Simz clutch her teeth in many of the tracks. In one way, she is letting out all of this anger. But yes, Little Simz. In my old blog, I spoke about how her record reminded me of a more modernised Lauryn Hill, when Sometimes I might Be Introvert came out. Another record you need to check out. Yes, I also have a thing for British rap. Especially the accent, and the vibe.
The album is titled Lotus. Now, Lotus, a flower memorialised by Hinduism and Buddhism, represents peace, purity and inner strength. But it is a flower that grows in the midst of extreme conditions. In this case, it is a classic coming of age trope we are seeing. Moving on, finding newer pastures, betrayal. What comes out of this is a very strong record.
In this case, it is Miles James production, and he ate. Yes, it is nostalgic to go back to her previous records and relish the mastery of SIMBI, but in certain parts this record beats this. Reminds me of Jurgen Klopp to an Arne Slot transition. The anger on this record is portrayed raw, from the first track. Thief is a diss track about INFLO. Thief highlights so much of what makes Simz such a good MC. She has got a good songwriting prowess, and the beats blend almost like fluid.
I loved Flood. It was powerful. Very powerful. The other singles, including the very disliked Young was very much fun. For me, one must acknowledge how consistent Ms Simz is with her writing style. Even during this rough patch, the emotional maturity laden on this record, the perils of being young, the art of refixing yourself and living with your own emotions.
Probably, on my list of potential best albums of the year. And genuinely, what a record.