Little Simz

Biography

Simbiatu "Simbi" Abisola Abiola Ajikawo (born 23 February 1994), better known by her stage name Little Simz, is an English rapper and actress. She rose to prominence with the independent release of her first three albums: A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons×A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons18 September 2015 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Persons2:042Wings4:073The Lights4:014Tainted4:015Gratitude3:376God Bless Mary4:177Dead Body3:528Full or Empty4:249This Is Not an Outro2:4210Fallen1:53 (2015), Stillness in Wonderland×Stillness in Wonderland16 December 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1LMPD4:042Cheshire's Interlude: Welcome to Wonderland1:023Doorways + Trust Issues4:134Her (Interlude)1:575One in Rotation + Wide Awake3:556Shotgun3:087Picture Perfect3:038Cheshire's Interlude: Misled0:449King of Hearts3:3210Bad to the Bone3:1511Zone 33:4112Poison Ivy3:2913Cheshire's Interlude: Stay0:4114Low Tides4:0015No More Wonderland3:37 (2016) and Grey Area (2019), the last of which was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and won the awards for Best Album at both the Ivor Novello Awards and the NME Awards.
Her fourth album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert×Sometimes I Might Be Introvert3 September 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 19 tracks1Introvert6:042Woman4:293Two Worlds Apart2:584I Love You, I Hate You4:165Little Q, Pt. 1 (interlude)1:086Little Q, Pt. 23:467Gems (interlude)2:578Speed2:419Standing Ovation4:0810I See You3:5811The Rapper That Came to Tea (interlude)2:4512Rollin Stone3:3913Protect My Energy3:0914Never Make Promises (interlude)1:0215Point and Kill3:0616Fear No Man4:0417The Garden (interlude)2:3918How Did You Get Here4:5719Miss Understood3:28 (2021), received widespread critical acclaim, with several publications deeming it the best album of 2021. It won the 2022 Mercury Prize, and earned her the 2022 Brit Award for Best New Artist and the Libera Award for Best Hip-Hop/Rap Record. Her fifth album, No Thank You×NO THANK YOU12 December 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks1Angel5:522Gorilla4:053Silhouette6:334No Merci5:175X6:046Heart on Fire3:587Broken7:298Sideways2:109Who Even Cares4:3710Control3:47 (2022), was released to critical acclaim. In 2024, she was featured on the single "We Pray" by Coldplay, alongside Burna Boy, Elyanna, and Tini. Her sixth studio album, Lotus×Lotus6 June 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Thief4:002Flood2:483Young2:504Only3:365Free3:366Peace4:287Hollow2:558Lion2:589Enough3:0210Blood4:2811Lotus6:3612Lonely4:2613Blue4:15, was released on 6 June 2025.
Outside of music, Ajikawo has starred in the Netflix revival drama series Top Boy. She also appeared as herself in the film Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021).

Early life

Ajikawo was born in Islington, London, to Nigerian parents. She was raised on a council estate with two older sisters. Her mother was also a foster carer during her childhood. She is ethnically Yoruba.
She studied at Highbury Fields School in London and also attended St Mary's Youth Club in Upper Street, Islington, with pop stars Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke. Ajikawo has credited Mary's Youth Club for its influence on her career, describing it as "the place where it all began for me … a second home".
Ajikawo later studied at Westminster Kingsway College and The University of West London where she pursued her music career.

2015–2017: Career beginnings and A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons and Stillness in Wonderland

Ajikawo has performed at Rising Tide, iluvlive, Industry Takeover (Urban Development) Hackney Empire, Somerset House and the House of Lords. She also performed at the BBC 1Xtra Prom 2015 at the Royal Albert Hall, alongside a full orchestra led by Jules Buckley. Ajikawo can be heard on the Leave to Remain film soundtrack, performing the song "Leave It As That". In early 2013, she appeared on BBC Radio 1Xtra to discuss her performance at the Hackney Weekend. Ajikawo went on to do a Maida Vale session for Huw Stephens. She released her debut studio album, A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons×A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons18 September 2015 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Persons2:042Wings4:073The Lights4:014Tainted4:015Gratitude3:376God Bless Mary4:177Dead Body3:528Full or Empty4:249This Is Not an Outro2:4210Fallen1:53, on 18 September 2015.
She was given the opportunity to tour with Nas, Lauryn Hill, and Kehlani in 2016. In April 2016, Little Simz became the first UK rapper to be named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Europe list. She subsequently participated in the Forbes Under 30 Summit EMEA in Jerusalem and performed at the Israel Museum. On 12 December 2016 Little Simz released the lead single to her upcoming album, "Poison Ivy". Just two days later, Simz released the album's second single, "Picture Perfect". On 16 December 2016 Simz released her sophomore full-length studio album, Stillness in Wonderland×Stillness in Wonderland16 December 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1LMPD4:042Cheshire's Interlude: Welcome to Wonderland1:023Doorways + Trust Issues4:134Her (Interlude)1:575One in Rotation + Wide Awake3:556Shotgun3:087Picture Perfect3:038Cheshire's Interlude: Misled0:449King of Hearts3:3210Bad to the Bone3:1511Zone 33:4112Poison Ivy3:2913Cheshire's Interlude: Stay0:4114Low Tides4:0015No More Wonderland3:37, alongside its comic-book companion, Welcome to Wonderland.
In 2017, she performed as the opening act for Gorillaz during their Humanz Tour, and was the vocalist for the song "Garage Palace", featured on the Super Deluxe edition of their album Humanz. On 11 May 2017, Simz released "Backseat×Backseat9 May 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Backseat3:31". On 11 October 2017 she released "Good For What", before releasing the deluxe edition to her aforementioned album on 3 November 2017.

2018–2021: Grey Area, Drop 6 and Sometimes I Might Be Introvert

Ajikawo releases her music on her own Age 101 Music record label with an exclusive distribution licensing arrangement with AWAL Recordings. On 6 September 2018, Ajikawo and her label AGE 101 signed a worldwide deal with AWAL Recordings, after AWAL had distributed her debut album "A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons×A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons18 September 2015 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Persons2:042Wings4:073The Lights4:014Tainted4:015Gratitude3:376God Bless Mary4:177Dead Body3:528Full or Empty4:249This Is Not an Outro2:4210Fallen1:53" in 2015. This deal was renewed on 18 June 2020.On 17 September 2018 Simz released "Offence" as the lead single to her upcoming studio album, Grey Area×GREY Area1 March 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Offence2:482Boss3:053Selfish3:464Wounds4:395Venom2:356101FM3:117Pressure3:288Therapy3:159Sherbet Sunset4:5510Flowers3:45. The album's second single, "Boss" was released on 23 September 2018. The album's third single, "101 FM×101 FM5 December 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1101 FM3:11" was released on 4 December 2018. The album's final single, assisted by Cleo Sol, was released on 16 January 2019, alongside the album's announcement. Grey Area was released to critical success and was nominated for the Mercury Prize, and IMPALA's European Independent Album of the Year Award (2019). On 6 May 2020, while in quarantine, Simz released her tenth extended play, Drop 6.
Simz announced the title, cover, release date, and pre-order for her fourth full-length studio album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert×Sometimes I Might Be Introvert3 September 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 19 tracks1Introvert6:042Woman4:293Two Worlds Apart2:584I Love You, I Hate You4:165Little Q, Pt. 1 (interlude)1:086Little Q, Pt. 23:467Gems (interlude)2:578Speed2:419Standing Ovation4:0810I See You3:5811The Rapper That Came to Tea (interlude)2:4512Rollin Stone3:3913Protect My Energy3:0914Never Make Promises (interlude)1:0215Point and Kill3:0616Fear No Man4:0417The Garden (interlude)2:3918How Did You Get Here4:5719Miss Understood3:28 on 21 April 2021. The album's lead single, "Introvert×Introvert21 April 2021 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Introvert" was released alongside the announcement. The album's second single, "Woman×Woman6 May 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Woman4:29", assisted by Cleo Sol, was released on 6 May 2021. The album's third single, "Rollin Stone" was released on 14 June 2021. The album's fourth single, "I Love You, I Hate You" was released on 8 July 2021. The album's fifth and final single, "Point and Kill" was released on 1 September 2021, just two days prior to the release of the album. On 3 September 2021, she released her fourth studio album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert debuting at number 4 on the UK album charts and winning BBC 6's Album of the Year. The album would also give Simz her first Mercury Prize win in October 2022.

2022–present: No Thank You, Drop 7 and Lotus

On 6 December 2022 Ajikawo announced her fifth studio album, No Thank You×NO THANK YOU12 December 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks1Angel5:522Gorilla4:053Silhouette6:334No Merci5:175X6:046Heart on Fire3:587Broken7:298Sideways2:109Who Even Cares4:3710Control3:47. Once again produced by Inflo, the album found her speaking out about the rap industry on songs such as "X" while exploring themes of mental health in Black communities on songs such as "Broken". The album was released on 12 December 2022 and was well received.
Ajikawo performed her song "Heart On Fire" with Joan Armatrading during the 76th British Academy Film Awards ceremony, held on 19 February 2023.
In February 2024, Ajikawo announced Drop 7, her 11th extended play. The project saw a shift to an electronic dance sound and was released on 9 February 2024.

At 2024's Glastonbury, on the night of Saturday 29 June 2024, she performed the penultimate act on the Pyramid Stage. Her performance received rave reviews. On the same day, she was invited by British rock band Coldplay to perform the song "We Pray". The single was released on 12 August 2024, featuring Burna Boy, Elyanna and Tini, and is part of Coldplay's studio album Moon Music.
On 26 February 2025 Ajikawo announced her sixth studio album, Lotus×Lotus6 June 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Thief4:002Flood2:483Young2:504Only3:365Free3:366Peace4:287Hollow2:558Lion2:589Enough3:0210Blood4:2811Lotus6:3612Lonely4:2613Blue4:15, which was slated for release on 9 May 2025. She delayed the album to 6 June 2025 due to scheduling conflicts with a film.
Ajikawo's extended play Sugar Girl released on 8 May 2026.

Acting career

Ajikawo's acting career began with the role of Vicky in the BBC children's series Spirit Warriors, originally broadcast in 2010, and as Meleka in the E4 television series Youngers. She was narrator for the television series Afrofuturism, and played Shelley in Netflix's revival of Top Boy, which premiered in autumn 2019. She appeared as herself in the Sony's Spider-Man Universe film Venom: Let There Be Carnage, singing her song "Venom×Venom13 September 2019 · Single · SoundtrackSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Venom2:34" in a nightclub rave, which Venom goes to after his split from Eddie Brock. In 2025, she played Shola, a young teacher in Steve, the movie adaptation of the novel Shy by Max Porter, opposite Cillian Murphy in the lead role.

Artistry

She describes her music as rap and experimental. Whilst she is closely affiliated with the grime genre, she has also pulled inspiration from other genres including reggae, blues, synth-rock and jazzy R&B.
Ajikawo grew up listening to rap artists Busta Rhymes, Nas and Biggie Smalls, which influenced her to pursue a rap career. Lauryn Hill has often been cited as one of her biggest influences. Ajikawo stated "I think The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was really my education. Lauryn Hill was one of the first artists that really made me feel the power of music." She also drew inspiration from jazz musicians Nina Simone, John Coltrane and Billie Holiday for her album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert×Sometimes I Might Be Introvert3 September 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 19 tracks1Introvert6:042Woman4:293Two Worlds Apart2:584I Love You, I Hate You4:165Little Q, Pt. 1 (interlude)1:086Little Q, Pt. 23:467Gems (interlude)2:578Speed2:419Standing Ovation4:0810I See You3:5811The Rapper That Came to Tea (interlude)2:4512Rollin Stone3:3913Protect My Energy3:0914Never Make Promises (interlude)1:0215Point and Kill3:0616Fear No Man4:0417The Garden (interlude)2:3918How Did You Get Here4:5719Miss Understood3:28. Other inspirations include her idol Kendrick Lamar, who called her "the illest doing it right now" in 2015.
Ajikawo met producer Inflo of the R&B band Sault at a youth center, and he would produce three of her albums including Sometimes I Might Be Introvert×Introvert21 April 2021 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Introvert. A financial conflict with Inflo caused Ajikawo to part ways with him and have Miles Clinton James (known for producing Kokoroko) produce her sixth album Lotus×Lotus6 June 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Thief4:002Flood2:483Young2:504Only3:365Free3:366Peace4:287Hollow2:558Lion2:589Enough3:0210Blood4:2811Lotus6:3612Lonely4:2613Blue4:15 instead.

Endorsements

In July 2026, Ajikawo was named the UK beauty ambassador for Miu Miu Beauty and debuted as the face of the brand's Fleur de Lait fragrance campaign.

Personal life

Ajikawo lives in London. She is a childhood friend of actor Fady Elsayed and actress Letitia Wright. Ajikawo and Wright have remained good friends and Ajikawo photographed Wright for the artwork for her single "Selfish" in 2019. Whilst Ajikawo believes in God, she does not currently follow any religion.
Ajikawo is a fan of Arsenal F.C.
In 2018 her friend, model Harry Uzoka, was murdered, inspiring her to write her song "Wounds".