Little Simz rejects restrictions On 'No, Thank You' Album

Challenging conformity and shattering expectations whilst still standing in the shadows of her 2021 Mercury award-winning album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert. Little Simz proves that you don’t have to be a victim of your own success.

The follow-up album, No, Thank You is a shock to the system because the release was completely unexpected. The only warning before the drop was a social media post by Simz.

Freeing herself from the social pressure from peers and fans, she brings thought to a whole conversation topic ranging from gender inequality, politics and racial discourse that apply to Western society.

Recorded with her regular collaborator Inflo, we see Simbi Ajikawo, better known as Little Simz navigate the aftermath of her commercial and cultural success.

There’s a frank honesty that is refreshing when listening to any Little Simz song. Undertones of wariness can be heard as Simz’s conversationalist flow addresses the darker side of the music business in the beginning of the project on ‘Angel’.

However, Cleo Sol’s vocals provide a spiritual and uplifting feel to the track that is only strengthened by the interjecting string instrumentation.

Intelligently Simz links personal problems to wider issues providing insight into Simz’s consciousness. She raps “How do you go against the system that you were colonized by.”

On ‘Gorilla’, a smooth jazz-infused bass guitar rift and loud off-beat drums provide the perfect space for the North Londoner to style out championing a braggadocio attitude on the mic. “Confidently she exclaims “Sim Simma who’s got the keys to the bludclart bima”, styling as she depicts status and wealth in the subtlest of ways.

Transitioning into the electronic groovy ‘Silhouette’ Simz explores the price of finding freedom which was briefly touched on in the opening song and the concept of choosing yourself rather than letting yourself be harmed by other people’s actions

On the proud ‘No Merci’ Simz takes pride in her blackness and shares the hardships of being Black-British in this country. The violins on the track give it a tense feel and in moments the mood darkens as the topics get more serious.

The political ‘X’ is realist bordering on cynical in tone. Layered low-pitched vocals are employed, alongside drums to give off a haunting feel to the track. Soulful hooks inject pleading between each of Simz’s fierce verses.

Now at the halfway point, ‘Heart on Fire’ Simz retraces her steps with penetrating lyricism against the soft backdrop constructed from piano keys and a strummed guitar “We all start off so pure, do it for love nothing more’, she goes on to question when her love for music became tainted despite it being for pure intentions

Every word is self-affirmation spoken with the most delicate of touches like a caress or a gentle kiss on ‘Broken’. We see a fluid Simz as she flows over the instrumentation using poetic language to conjure the most vivid images in relation to the Black-British struggle.

Again, Simz closes the distance to share her personal struggles with mental health, before widening the scope to brush on different black experiences.

The soulful ‘Saturday’ highlights the importance of Simz’s role as a role model for young black girls, whilst the most experimental track on the project ‘Who Even Cares’ has a serene underwater element to it.

Concluding the album with ‘Control’, Simz fully gives in on the intimate love song relinquishing control. She details her romantic experiences with a charismatic poise and intricate wordplay.

Accompanying the project is a cinematic short film shot in Paris, directed by photographer and filmmaker Gabriel Moses. the film features Heart on Fire’, ‘X’, ‘Silhouette’, ‘Sideways’ and ‘Broken’. Speaking on the collaboration, British director Gabriel Moses stated “I have a proper appreciation for Simz’s music & as a person she’s a real humble soul; deserves all the success there is to receive. I'm blessed to collaborate with her on an honest project like “No Thank You”. Love to everyone who worked on the film, without them it doesn’t happen so credit to all of them.”

No, Thank You is arguably where we see Simz at her freest and daring, and confirms to everyone that yes, Little Simz can keep on pushing boundaries whilst enrichening her legacy even further.