Little Simz, one of the boldest and most conceptual artists working in UK rap has been consistently dropping excellent projects since the 2020s began, and even before that. Now, Little Simz is back with Drop 7, not the first in her ‘Drop’ series of EPs.
Little Simz sounds as confident as ever on Drop 7. Compared to the pacy delivery of her hits like ‘Venom’ from GREY Area, here Simz sounds more relaxed and at home than she has in a while. The opening track ‘Mood Swings’ is an example of this, which delivers a flowing performance from Little Simz that rises and falls in intensity. Supported by an EDM backing beat and West African drums, it’s the meatiest track on the EP and a taste of the musical places Simz is interested in going.
Other tracks like ‘Fever’ sustain this small-scale experimentation. ‘Fever’ brings in poppier tones, a change that allows for a slower pace, with more room given to the backing track. Drop 7 sees Simz experimenting with her delivery in ways fans have not seen before. ‘I Ain’t Feeling It’ sustains this dreamier sound to her voice that elongates words and slows down the pace. It imbues her lines with a unique weight that heightens the tracks. It’s a testament that none of these would-be experimental songs feel misplaced, they feel slower and less frantic, giving time for the whole experience rather than prioritising Simz, a confident development in her identity as a performer.
‘Power’ is the most traditional Little Simz gets on Drop 7. At just 55 seconds long, ‘Power’ takes its listener back to the straight delivery reminiscent of GREY Area. It can be seen to stick out amongst a collection of more thoughtful songs, but also reminds us of her power as a conceptual artist. Everything has a place in Drop 7, and ‘Power’ exists to remind us of how experimental Drop 7 feels. The length of the song feels like a denial of the typical Simz, and plays with the expectations people might have of her going into the last track.
Drop 7 also cuts back on the overall production compared to her previous records. The closing track ‘Far Away’ in many ways feels like a poppier track, and Simz gets the closest to singing we have seen. Gone are the choir melodies, but this never takes away from the soul of the song. Simz melts into the background but never feels absent from the song. The instrumentals find that dreamy quality seen on ‘I Ain’t Feeling It’, and closes Drop 7 with a nostalgically warm rhythm. It’s quieter and as a result feels more intimate, like Simz is bringing us a bit closer to her as an artist and what her priorities are as a performer.
Little Simz’s latest project Drop 7 is yet another example of why she is one of the best artists in rap today. Melding together techno-rap with Afro influences, she creates a hypnotic mix of powerful drums with a more laid-back club sound, that has no right to work as well as it does.
Words by James Evenden
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