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Little Simz's "Lotus": A Masterclass In Emotional Resilience and Sincerity

  • Writer: Rhianna Dankwa
    Rhianna Dankwa
  • Jun 9
  • 2 min read

Updated: Jun 9

Little Simz with dreadlocks styled upwards, wearing a light blue and orange striped jacket, a red top, and white socks with dark shoes. She is bending forward, looking directly at the camera with a striking expression. The background is a textured light pink wall with subtle shadows.
Little Simz was able to turn severe adversity into musical gold. @littlesimz/Instagram

Lotus, the latest album from Little Simz, has resonated deeply within the music industry for its nuanced yet powerful exploration into years of personal and professional hardship.


Simz, born Simbiatu Ajikawo, is currently in a legal battle with former childhood friend, collaborator and producer Inflo (real name Dean Cover) over an alleged £1.7m in unpaid loans. 


In an industry intoxicated by highly publicised disputes, from the defining Kendrick Lamar vs Drake feud to Diddy’s sex abuse scandal, the Nigerian artist stands apart by simply letting her words tell the story.


In an interview with The Guardian, the 31 year old said: “I just wanted to be true to the emotion…because I don’t want things to eat me up and fester.”


The album’s title alludes to the lotus flower that grows in muddy waters, perfectly capturing Simz's resilient and mature approach to navigating tough situations.


The cover of Simz's album "Lotus". The black and white image features a single lotus flower in the centre, appearing to float against a dark, moody background that fades from a lighter grey at the top to deep black at the bottom. The flower is subtly lit, highlighting its delicate petals. In the bottom left corner, there is a vibrant pink, vertical rectangular shape with small black dots arranged in a vertical line, making the word LOTUS.
The cover of Little Simz's latest album Lotus

When speaking to The Irish Times, she said: “I always think there’s reasons why we go through things. 

“I chose to invest my energy into trying to make this record and doing something good with it.”

Simz's song "Lonely" anchors the album, powerfully conveying her profound pain with lyrics like "Maybe music just isn't meant for me anymore / Maybe I'll erase all these memories from my core."


On BBC 1Xtra with DJ Target, Simz described Lotus as her ‘diary’, specifically mentioning "Lonely" as the moment where nothing could go unsaid.


The Islington rapper almost gave up on music after four failed attempts to release a new album with producer Inflo after No Thank You in 2022. Their separation surprised the music world, as they had the perfect producer-artist partnership.


Simz and Inflo first met at Mary's Youth Club in North London, where Simz's musical passion began. She then performed with Inflo’s wife, Cleo Sol, and Michael Kiwanuka in Inflo’s group SAULT.


The deep psychological distress Simz experienced due to Inflo, alluded to in "Thief" as "This person I'd known my whole life coming like the devil in disguise," ultimately led her to a new collaboration with Miles Clinton James, who produced Lotus.



Simz, lauded for her creative vision and versatility, credits influences like Missy Elliott and Ms. Dynamite. Her introspective album, Sometimes I Might Be An Introvert, earned her a Mercury Prize in 2021 and Best New Artist at the 2022 BRITs. 


Little Simz is seated in a cinema, with her legs stretched across the red velvet seats. She is wearing a brown leather jacket, a red and white striped skirt, and black and white checkered slip-on shoes with white socks. Dark sunglasses and a black and white checkered top are also visible. The cinema seats appear worn, adding to the atmosphere of the image.
Simz has been widely credited for her influence in the UK rap scene.  @littlesimz/Instagram

Her solo 2024 performance on the Pyramid Stage cemented her reputation as one of the top UK rappers.


This year Simz became the youngest artist to curate the prestigious Meltdown Festival, joining a distinguished list of icons including Grace Jones, David Bowie, and Chaka Khan. 


Beyond her musical prowess, Simz has showcased her versatility on screen, appearing as single mother Shelley in Netflix's gritty crime drama, Top Boy.


A headshot of Little Simz's character Shelley from Netflix's Top Boy. She has dark dreadlocks, and is wearing a light-coloured top and a delicate gold chain. She has a subtle nose piercing and is looking towards the viewer with a slight smile. The background is softly blurred, showing hints of a room interior.
Simz's character Shelley in Top Boy.  @topboynetflix/Instagram

Beneath the surface of glory and fame, Lotus reveals a fragile, heartbroken and relatable artist grappling with the universal themes of betrayal, lies and exploitation. However, this ‘diary’ offers a masterclass in emotional resilience, and challenges the normalisation of demonizing narratives in the music industry.


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