Last week, I wrote about Topaz Jones’ Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Momma and why it deserves some more attention because of how great it is. However, in the week since then, I’ve returned to an album I listened to when it came out, but never came back to. I’m grateful I made this decision because that album, Little Simz’s Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, is a fantastic album that deserves to be in the conversation for album of the year.
UK rapper Little Simz already made it clear that she is an artist to watch after her incredible 2019 album, GREY Area, so those in-the-know were ready to be blown away again. And when I heard it, I… really liked it, but didn’t love it. There were many albums coming out at the time, and I foolishly let this one fall to the wayside. Don’t be like me guys, this is masterful. At times grand and lush with orchestral arrangements and huge swathes of string, horn, and choral flourishes, this album feels huge. At the core is Little Simz, who is posing the question: “Simz the artist or Simbi the person?” She says this in the beautiful and awe-inspiring opener “Introvert.” We see as Simz tries to deal with the dichotomy of being a rising star who has guest appearances in blockbusters like Venom: Let There Be Carnage and still being herself, a flawed person who has their own issues that the public has no idea about.
These problems include the open wounds left from an absent father, which Simz talks about on the incredible “I Love You I Hate You.” You can tell some songs are from the point of view of Simbi the person, such as the aforementioned “I Love You I Hate You,” or the equally as good “Little Q Pt. 2,” while other songs take on the point of view of Simz the artist, such as the cold blooded “Rollin Stone” or the infectious “Fear No Man.” This all takes place in the form of a narrative being told of Simz’s journey into a new world and her journey to becoming a woman. It’s masterful stuff here, and I could go on forever, but honestly you just have to hear it for yourself to experience it. I cannot recommend this album enough, so before the year ends, do yourself a true honor and listen to this amazing album.
