Little Simz

Simbiatu "Simbi" Abisola Abiola Ajikawo (born 23 February 1994), better known by her stage name Little Simz, is a British rapper, singer and actress.

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.

In early 2013, she appeared on BBC Radio 1Xtra to discuss her performance at the Hackney Weekend.

Ajikawo then went on to do a Maida Vale session for Huw Stephens.

She also has received praise from Kendrick Lamar.

She rose to prominence with the independent release of her first three albums; A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons (2015), Stillness in Wonderland (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 (2021) received widespread critical acclaim, with several publications deeming it the best album of 2021.

It went on to win the 2022 Mercury Prize.

It also 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 (2022), was released to critical acclaim.

Outside of music, Ajikawo has starred in the Netflix revival drama series Top Boy.

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 went on to attend St Mary's Youth Club in Upper Street, Islington, which pop stars Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke also attended.

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 from there.

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 jazz musicians Nina Simone, John Coltrane and Billie Holiday for her album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.

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".

She released her debut studio album, A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons on 18 September 2015.

On December 12, 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 December 16, 2016, Simz released her sophomore full-length studio album, Stillness in Wonderland 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 May 11, 2017, Simz released "Backseat".

On October 11, 2017, she released "Good For What", before releasing the deluxe edition to her aforementioned album on November 3, 2017.

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" in 2015.

On September 17, 2018, Simz released "Offence" as the lead single to her upcoming studio album, Grey Area.

She was narrator for the television series, Afrofuturism, and played Shelley in Netflix's revival and third series of Top Boy which premiered in autumn 2019.

She appeared as herself in the Sony/Marvel film Venom: Let There Be Carnage, singing her song "Venom" in a nightclub rave, which Venom goes to after his split from Eddie Brock.

Ajikawo has performed at Rising Tide, iluvlive, Industry Takeover (Urban Development) Hackney Empire, Somerset House and the House of Lords.

This deal was renewed on 18 June 2020.