One of London’s best artists is back with a quick EP to keep us going during lockdown, and it’s another solid entry in an already strong discography.
Little Simz is up there with the best of them when it comes to UK rap and grime.
Her last album ‘GREY Area’ was genuinely fantastic, a concise and tightly produced diary of relationship struggles, shifting priorities with new-found wealth, and bangers that radiated confidence. Now she’s back just over a year later with an EP titled ‘Drop 6’, a collection of five short tracks that bring all of her top tier lyrical qualities back to the forefront of the UK scene.
Little Simz’s production has always been refreshingly minimal, sticking to bass strings and rapid drums that give her voice the room it needs to properly flex each bar and line. Her verses are packed to the brim with personality and acute observations, even when four of the tracks here last less than three minutes.
Think of this project like an extension of ‘GREY Area’, another update one year later that gives us a few more anecdotes and stories from Little Simz’s life. It’s a few more pages at the end of a lengthy diary entry, intended to keep things moving throughout this limbo period of seemingly never-ending lockdown.
There aren’t any huge, bombastic bangers on ‘Drop 6’. Nothing has the aggression or snarling self-aggrandising of tracks such as ‘Offence’ or ‘Boss’ from her last album, but her ability to make compelling short burst tunes remains just as strong. A personal favourite of mine is ‘you should call your mum’, a breezy, colourful song that allows Little Simz to air out her doubts and existential thoughts, and gives listeners a few lines of motivation for good measure.
‘might bang, might not’ has perhaps the most intense instrumental on the EP, featuring a booming siren over a low bass line as Little Simz spits rapidly over the top. It comes close to ‘GREY Area’s’ biggest moments, but remains noticeably more understated. ‘damn right’ is a little more relaxed as Little Simz reminds listeners of her place in the game, reflecting on her beginnings in the city and her change in circumstances as her notoriety has increased. ‘where’s my lighter’ rounds things off with a gentler piano cut that boasts crunchy distorted vocals and a dreamy chorus from Alewya, the lone feature on the EP.
I wouldn’t take this EP as an indication of where Little Simz might be headed in the future. It’s clear that ‘Drop 6’ exists as a bit of fun, a work of fan service that gives listeners more of what makes her a truly great modern rapper and artist. It’s not a huge, dense album of carefully constructed tracks, but rather a spilling of inner monologues onto pleasant, acoustic beats.
It’s absolutely worth a listen and, if you weren’t already on board, this is a great place to start with Little Simz’s work. Once you’re done with ‘Drop 6’, make sure to give ‘GREY Area’ a spin – you won’t regret it.
4
out of5
'Drop 6' is a light collection of solid tracks, and cements Little Simz as a top London artist.
This EP is a rush of fast bars, acoustic instrumentals, and anecdotes that'll keep you coming back over and over. A fantastic project.
I’m a Senior Writer and Editing Specialist at Thred. I originally studied English with Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham and as a music and gaming enthusiast, I’m a nerd for new pop culture releases. Follow me on Twitter and drop me some ideas/feedback on email.
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