British rapper Little Simz has released her sixth studio album, Lotus, and it continues to show why she is abound with talent and laden with critical acclaim. Her music is defined by its maturity, sensibility and introspection but this work sees a new element woven throughout: confrontation.

Little Simz’s albums have a cohesiveness that is backed through their production. She is a rare adherent to utilising one producer for a whole album; her albums Grey Area, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert and NO THANK YOU were all helmed by Inflo. Lotus too follows the formula of one producer but it is no longer Inflo in charge. One only has to listen to Lotus‘ opening track, “Thief”, to find out why he is no longer around. Little Simz is scathing in her appraisal of her former longtime collaborator who is alleged to be a hater, a devil and a thief due a severing of their relationship over a financial dispute. Also absent is Inflo’s wife, singer Cleo Sol, who contributed backing vocals to over half of the songs on NO THANK YOU.

Picking up the production responsibilities for Lotus is Miles Clinton James who has previously collaborated with Little Simz. However, his musical background is distinct; his only prior full-length album production work was for afrobeat band Kokoroko on Could We Be More. James steps up in a major way here with instrumentals that cover genres as wide as jazz, punk, bossa nova and – of course – afrobeat with hip hop sensibilities.

All of this is for Little Simz to shine as her talented self. She stated in her interview with Vogue that she approached this as if it was her final album and wished to feel no constraints on her expression. Her perseverance shines through despite the adversity of her life; the betrayal and feelings of self-doubt that exist throughout her releases. Like the lotus that adorns the cover, Little Simz grows through the adversity. As she raps on “Lonely”, “I was lonely making an album ’til I realised I’m all I needed to get through.”

Lotus
Little Simz
Featuring: Cashh, Yussef Dayes, Lydia Kitto, Michael Kiwanuka, Miraa May, Moonchild Sanelly, Obongjayar, Sampha, Moses Sumney, Wretch 32, Yukimi
Production: Miles Clinton James
Singles: “Flood” featuring Obongjayar and Moonchild Sanelly, “Free”, “Young”