First Look Friday: Little Simz Sets SXSW Ablaze, Readies Debut EP

Little Simz just made what was already an enormous year for the UK hip-hop and r&b scene double it's size; the left-of-center landscape has exponentially expanded with British imports like Sampha, Hawk House, Sam Smith, Kwabs, Kwes and now the electric and youthful Simz. After a year full of dynamic releases--unveiling her stellar Black Canvas mixtape on Hov's L+ T-- and a spirited surprise set with Waldo at the illest showcase at SXSW this year (ahem, our collabo with the West Coast camp Soulection) the industry is ablaze with pro-Simz sentiment. And not surprisingly, as she is the latest addition to that ever widening primordial pool of organic soul and trap sensibilities that's been brewing across the pond.

Her latest offering "The Hamptons" --premiered by the homies, er, mates at SoulCulture--is a wavy mid-tempo rocker that showcases her vigorous delivery over delicate and airy arpeggiated synth lines and some trap-perfect 808s laid down by producer Da-P. Thus far, the portfolio doesn't just impress; it infects. It takes the textures of Golden Coast hip-hop and melds them with a type of lyrical tenacity that you simply won't catch anywhere else. Needless to say, Little Simz is scorching the scene right now and with her debut EP slated for a spring release, we've got way too much to be excited about these days. You can listen to her latest gift "The Hamptons" below, but be sure to catch her tearing up the stage with Waldo at the OKP x Soulection SXSW showcase, performing her Sango produced gem "Mandarin Oranges." Keep it locked folks, we'll have plenty more on Simz in the coming weeks.