Who is Lil Simz: A Closer Look At The Best International Flow Winner
Since 2019, the BET Hip Hop Awards have been dedicated to recognizing the influence of international artists globally with the “Best International Flow” award.
RELATED: Hip Hop Awards Cypher: Little Simz, 6lack, Mysonne, Axel Leon And Tee Grizzley Shut Down The Cypher!
UK rapper Stormzy took the honors last year for his critically acclaimed body of work, Heavy Is the Head, as did Ghanaian rapper Michael Owusu Addo in 2019 after delivering a well-received project, Black Love Album.
Similarly, this year was equally as stacked with the likes of Dave (UK), Ladipoe (Nigeria), Lawylow (France) and others also garnering nominations.
Lil Simz, a 27-year old North London MC, won this year's “Best International Flow” and is no rookie to the BET Hip Hop Awards stage.
Not only was she part of the inaugural class in this category, with her nod in 2019, but the Yoruba rapper was on our radar even before the nomination, as she took part in a cypher alongside 6lack, Mysonne and others at the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards.
While not nominated in 2020, Simz was far from idle, releasing the latest installment to her cult Drop EP series, Drop 6, followed by her fourth studio album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, this September.
With the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards airing tonight, here’s a look at the “Point and Kill” rapper, as she could very well take the honor home this year.
Was A Child Star
Although Simz can come off reserved and even shy at times, the British-Nigerian rapper-singer-actor is very much made for the limelight. In fact, it’s been shining brightly on her since a child.
Born Simbiatu Ajikawo, she was a performing arts kid who eventually found her voice at St Mary’s Youth Club in Islington. And as a teenager, she starred in TV shows on CBBC (Spirit Warriors) and E4 (Youngers), all the while making music and uploading it on SoundCloud and Bandcamp.
By 21 she’d written, recorded and released four mixtapes, five EPs and an album (A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons), all on her own label, Age 101 Music. After a brief stint at the University of West London, she decided to pursue music full-time.
Even today she still dabbled in the arts, landing a recurring role in the Drake-sanctioned Netflix show Top Boy in 2019.
Super Close With Mom
To truly understand Simz, one must observe the relationship she has with her mom.
The youngest of four, Simz was mainly raised by her mother after her parents split up when she was 11. Being that her mom was a foster carer, it gave Simz the burden of taking care of the family, making their bond that much stronger.
The UK rapper has since dedicated a song “Woman,” to her mother and photographed her for an issue of GQ Style, with the words “BLACK IS” scrawled across her cheek. Her mom was also Simz’s date to the NME Awards (where she won Best British Album).
Has Her Own Record Label
Simz is also not only a multi-talented artist, but she’s about her business.
The songstress is the founder of her own independent label, Age 101, which is a part of Kobalt's recording arm AWAL, who manufactured her 2015 debut album, A Curious Tale of Trials+Persons.
The AWAL and AGE 101 partnership includes global marketing, global physical and digital distribution and label support.
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Co-Signs From The Greats
At 23, Little Simz had already had the blessings of Lauryn Hill and Kendrick Lamar.
Lauryn Hill picked Simz, alongside Nas, Kehlani and Noname for her ‘Diaspora Calling!’ Tour in 2015
Similarly, in 2017, Kendrick Lamar declared on BBC Radio 1 that she “might be the illest doing it right now” and in his 2019 headline set at Glastonbury, Stormzy shouted her out as a legend.
