Little Simz is committed to making it in 'A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons'
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By Alex Dionisio
With a Kendrick Lamar-like sound and a Drake-like start in the entertainment business, English rapper/actress Little Simz (Simbi Ajikawo) is tearing up the UK underground and clawing at America's too. Formerly know as Lil Simz but also as Vicky from the BBC's Spirit Warriors, Simz is making her biggest name in rap. She already has her own record label, Age: 101 Music, and a list of mixtapes and EPs (three in 2015 alone), and on Sept. 18, she released A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons, her debut LP.
All throughout but especially at the beginning of track one "Persons," Simz is all for further empowering women. She is also for making it and going for what you need to in life, but perhaps an even greater portion of A Curious Tale is dedicated to grappling with fame, a typical ritual in today's semi-sensitive rap industry. Simz is mostly grounded with her nice solid spitting, but spots like "The Lights" feel like the opposite, floaty and drifty. She truly is an emcee, as evidenced by her fierceness in "Tainted." She has a cold hard inside that contrasts to an exterior that is more warm and inviting. That is why it is both puzzling and human of her to take on an apologetic tone there and in "God Bless Mary."
In short, A Curious Tale is Simz's strong mental plan for success in life and music. Now, she should put it in action and come back with some great stories on her sophomore round. The only downsides to this project are Simz's primary focus on her own particular predicament and that she can drone on with didactic sagely insight, but at least it's not some old party and bullsh*t stuff. The only guests are The Hics on "Gratitude," and the production, a lot of classical strings and heart-wrenching guitar and modern drums, is provided by IAMNOBODI, Deezy Hustle, Prezident Jeff, OTG and others. With pounds of wisdom, remarkable flows and beautiful music, A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons is a heck of an album-start for Little Simz.
