“London, I need you to understand that you’re witnessing greatness, and I don’t say that with arrogance, I say that with confidence,” declared Little Simz midway through her second sold out night at Alexandra Palace, the final date of her tour in support of last year’s fifth LP No Thank You.
It’s a confidence that’s been hard-won; having flown criminally under the radar for the first part of her career, since 2019’s Grey Area, Simz’ currency has steadily risen, culminating in a Mercury Prize win and a BRIT Award for 2021’s Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.
Now, dressed in a slick, special agent-style uniform of white shirt, black tie, shades and leather gloves - with fans dotted throughout the venue in matching, tribute attire - she’s an indisputable star, in command of an unforgettable show that could be transposed onto any major festival headline slot and soar.
In truth, it’s a particular mix of supreme confidence and endearing honesty that encapsulated Simz’ - real name Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo - presence. Entering to Silhouette, backed by a towering wrap-around screen showing a group of appropriately silhouetted gospel performers in the throes of song, for a large portion of the night Simz was the only physical body on stage: a bold move that only the most commanding of performers could pull off in such a cavernous space.
But for every moment that she cemented her place at rap’s top table from the playful verses of "might bang, might not", to the majestic, laser-focused Introvert - there was another that cut through the spectacle to pull back to the person who’d grown up a mere stone’s throw away.
The biggest spontaneous cheer of the night came during an early Two Worlds Apart, in which Simz rapped “London-born estate girl to international sensation”, while, later in the night, she gave an inspirational speech about following your dreams: “If there’s anything that anyone is truly passionate about then go for it. My house is 20 minutes away, and now I’m selling this place out”.
Interspersed with admissions that she’d woken up feeling ill and “didn’t know how [she] was going to find the strength”, and a poignant request for a minute’s silence for those lost in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Simz’ show was as much about community and humanity as it was an underlining of one of the most talented lyricists and performers of her generation. A stunning and heartfelt display from an artist at the absolute top of her game.
