Music
Plus One
The 11 best Little Simz songs
Ahead of her landmark headline shows at Co-op Live and The O2 this October, we rank the 11 best Little Simz songs
The conversation about artists who’ve shaped contemporary UK rap and hip hop cannot happen without a close look at the work of Little Simz. The rapper, actor and multidisciplinary artist first made her mark with her debut album, A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons, in 2015 – an independently released project that introduced listeners to her distinct cadence, feminist and introspective lyrics, and unabashed authenticity. So popular was the project’s lead single, ‘Dead Body’, that The debut project, as with Little Simz subsequent discography, was met with critical acclaim, cementing her as an artist to watch – one whose gradual but meteoric rise to memorable Glastonbury performances come as no surprise.
Since her 2015 debut, Little Simz has garnered a devoted and growing fanbase, eager to listen to her Mercury Prize-winning catalogue and engage with her avant-garde, boundary-pushing visuals. (Add latest single ‘Young’ from her upcoming album, Lotus, to the visuals list). Through fashion, music, acting and beyond, Little Simz is able to shapeshift and stand out in every creative arena she performs in, as we expect for her curatorial debut at this year’s Meltdown Festival at the Southbank Centre, and for her biggest UK headline shows to date at Co-op Live and The O2 this October.
It’s hard to rank such an evolved, award-winning collection of songs from such a singular artist, but we’ll do our best in this list of the top 11 songs by Little Simz, ranked.
11. ‘Free’
(Lotus, 2025)
A new addition to the Little Simz discography, but mighty enough to display its importance – our list begins with soulful track ‘Free’ from Simz’s upcoming album, Lotus. ‘Free’ begins with Alexander Bonfanti’s vocals on the song’s refrain “Wishing that the love will set us free”, before Little Simz begins a heartfelt exploration of what love is – “forgiving yourself”, “understanding that people can change”, every time she puts “pen to the page” – before a second verse that explores the pitfalls of fear. ‘Free’ is an ode to self acceptance and a renouncing of self deprecation, a perfect introduction to Simz’s latest era as she steps into her most confident and poignant moment yet.
10. ‘where’s my lighter (Feat. Alewya)’
(Drop 6, 2020)
Drop 6 often goes unincluded where Simz’s discography is concerned, but this EP shows her lyricism at its sharpest and her delivery at its hungriest. The five-track lockdown release is a callback to her carefree early mixtape releases, with ‘where’s my lighter’ letting both Little Simz the rapper and Little Simz the producer shine on the track, alongside the vocal stylings of multidisciplinary artist Alewya. “Took it day by day but we in this” marks the final line of Little Simz’s chorus, marking a somber reflection of how far she’s come and a fearful yet optimistic look to the future. Her hard work to “make sure her family eats” is an emphasis on the source of her drive, and this community-minded yet introspective hidden gem is more than apt to kick off our top 10.
9. ‘Little Q, Pt. 2’
(Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, 2021)
A more overtly optimistic and positive track, and our first trip to her seminal Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, coming in at our ninth spot is ‘Little Q, Pt. 2’. An ode to the story of Little Simz’s cousin Qudus, ‘Little Q, Pt. 2’ celebrates his story, how much he had to overcome as a young Black boy growing up in south London, and how important it is to uplift the young Black community who are disproportionately affected by gang and state-sanctioned violence. In an interview with Loud and Quiet, Simz express how as much as her album was inspired by her personal stories, “it’s also an opportunity for me to shed light on other people’s stories and give them that platform.” Her ability to handle sociopolitically sensitive topics with care and understanding is what makes her artistry unversally relatable, and ‘Little Q, Pt. 2’ is the prime example of this.
8. ‘might bang, might not’
(Drop 6, 2020)
We’re back to Drop 6 for our eighth spot on our list, with the brassy opening track ‘might back, might not’. Simz has been on record describing having to overcome a dip in self-confidence, mental health and connection to others during the recording and release of Drop 6. ‘might bang, might not’ speaks to accepting the uncertainty of that time, pushing through to release the project despite her trepidations – accepting that it might bang, or it may not have. While the bassline demands your immediate attention, and her lyrical delivery is equally arresting – complete with comparisons to Lauryn Hill – ‘might bang, might not’ still leaves room for the air of loneliness and anxiety affecting Little Simz during the lockdown period. It’s a track that allows us to enter her inner world, while reminding us that she’s still a top-skilled rapper and artist.
7. ‘Sherbet Sunset’
(GREY Area, 2019)
“That little GREY area” is the opening line of our seventh track, ‘Sherbet Sunset’, and a fitting introduction of GREY Area to this list. The 2019 project was met with critical acclaim and is considered her standout; a concise yet brave and unflinchingly honest project, with genre-traversing features from Little Dragon, Michael Kiwanuka, Chronixx, and fellow SAULT member Cleo Sol. ‘Sherbet Sunset’ is somber Simz, but equally confident Simz, discussing her dissatisfaction with love (calling her ex “Chuck” out by name), and the pitfalls of heartbreak. It’s almost a premonition of her 2025 single, and our 11th spot, ‘Free’, where she discusses acceptance that love is both the good and the bad, but ‘Sherbet Sunset’ lets us in to the beginning of that introspective journey.
6. ‘Bombo Fabrika (Remix)’
(Bombo Fabrika (Remix), 2017)
Allow me to place a rogue but very deserving track on our list, with the Gabriel Garzón-Montano and Little Simz 2017 collaboration. The remix of Garzón-Montano’s track ‘Bombo Fabrika’ allows Little Simz to be more poetic and yearnful, descriptive and romantic. It’s a different lyrical offering for her, but allows listeners to see the breadth of her pen as she describes a picturesque day where she and the subject of her affections can “make memories”, and build their trust between them. “there’s nobody but us and it’s only you on my mind / They might mistake this for lust but they’ll never get how we vibe”, there is truly a Little Simz song for every moment, even an intimately shared one.
5. ‘Venom’
(GREY Area, 2019)
Back in the GREY Area for our top five, there was no way we could make this list without ‘Venom’. One of my personal favourite COLORS Studio performances, Little Simz calmly delivers a razor-sharp, powerful set of verses that bubble with rage at misogyny and inequality, whilst allowing the catharsis of expressing anger across a range of other personal issues as well. As the TikTok viral line goes, “Never givin’ credit where it’s due ’cause you don’t like pussy in power”, ‘Venom’ is GREY Area‘s call to arms, and remains one of Little Simz most popular tracks to date.
4. ‘Shotgun (Feat. Syd)’
(Stillness in Wonderland, 2016)
The collaboration of two very singular and distinct voices in music, Little Simz bars pair perfectly with the smooth and gentle vocals of The Internet’s Syd on ‘Shotgun’. As the weather gets better and the summer finally shows itself to us, ‘Shotgun’ should be the first song you play at every summer barbecue. Produced by The Rascals, ‘Shotgun’ is an ode to the right person riding shotgun by your side, through the ups and downs of life. It’s marked by many special performances where Simz actually brought Syd out to perform the song in front of UK audiences, including her Afropunk London set, which always brought out the shotgun riding camaraderie in fans.
3. ‘Woman (Feat. Cleo Sol)’
(Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, 2021)
One of many Cleo Sol-Little Simz collaborations, but perhaps their most poignant, number three on our list is Sometimes I Might Be Introvert lead single, ‘Woman’. Where ‘Venom’ is cathartic rage against the patriarchal machine, ‘Woman’ is the calm celebration of womanhood in all its forms despite the challenges faced. It’s a silky smooth, somewhat sexy track that allows Little Simz to show a confident, empowered vocal performance and the lyricism to match, and is a true feat in her repertoire.
2. ‘One In Rotation + Wide Awake (Feat. SiR)’
(Stillness in Wonderland, 2016)
Our final journey to Stillness in Wonderland, the second spot on this list goes to ‘One In Rotation + Wide Awake’, featuring LA-based R&B artist SiR. Stillness is home to a more sunny, R&B-tinged, neo soul-leaning Simz than her more expansive subsequent hip hop projects, but there’s a warmth to that early, honey-soaked delivery that allows early Simz to stand out just as much as her fully fledged Mercury Prize-winning self. It’s a great look at how far she’s come as an artist, with ‘One In Rotation’ being an outward expression of her dreams to be a star, play big stages and have a lasting career. It’s safe to say she’s done just that, with her O2 headline show coming up this year.
1. ‘Point and Kill (Feat. Obongjayar)’
(Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, 2021)
There could only be one song at the top of this list and it had to be ‘Point and Kill’. The production leans into the early Afro funk of prominent West African acts from the 70s – think The Funkees, Ebo Taylor and Bunny Mack – all while both Little Simz and Obongjayar weave Nigerian Pidgin into their verses, allowing their roots to shine. In an interview with Genius (2021), Simz explained that “the title comes from a phrase used in Nigeria to pick out fish at the market, or a store. You point, they kill.” And that’s exactly how Little Simz approaches her goals. “If I want it, it’s mine.”
