Entertainment
Little Simz’s astonishing rise to fame as she wins coveted Mercury Prize-Rachael O'Connor-Entertainment – Metro
The artist knew from the age of 14 she was destined to be a rapper.
Little Simz has had an incredible year (Picture: REX/Getty)
Little Simz has capped off an impressive year after scooping the 2022 Mercury Prize for her fourth album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.
The British rapper and singer, real name Simbiatu Ajikawo, hails from Islington in north London, and grew up with her parents on a council estate.
She started her performance career at St Mary’s Youth Club in Upper Street, also previously attended by pop stars Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke.
Simz knew from the time she was a young teenager that she wanted to perform, and was determined to carve out a career in rap, remarking in a 2020 interview with Notion: ‘I’m not going to lie and say there haven’t been some tough moments, but I always knew I’d get to this place.
‘When I was younger, I would dance, act, sing, but from the age of 14, I just knew I was going to make it as a rapper. I felt it deep inside.
‘I just needed to go through some s*** to get here. It’s made me stronger.’
The star performed across the festival circuit to massive crowds this summer (Picture: Getty Images)
Simz was convinced she was destined to be a rapper from the time she was 14 (Picture: Getty Images for PUMA x McQ)
The star rose to prominence with the independent release of her first three albums: Tale of Trials + Persons, 2015, Stillness In Wonderland, 2016, and 2019’s Grey Area.
Grey Area earned Simz her first Mercury Prize nomination, and went on to win the awards for Best Album at both the Ivor Novello Awards and the NME Awards.
She was also recognised at the 2020 AIM awards, where she noted her journey has been ‘the stairs and not the escalators,’ while adding she knows ‘how hard it gets’ for independent artists.
‘The hardest thing you will probably ever do if you are independent is to remain independent, but the rewards are so great,’ she said.
Simz made her Glastonbury debut on the West Holts Stage in 2016 at the age of just 22, and performed again on the same stage earlier this year.
The rapper has stunned crowds at Glastonbury in 2016 and 2022 (Picture: Getty Images)
In the same interview with Notion, asked if she sees herself headlining Glastonbury 10 years from now, she replied steadily: ‘Nah, I want to do it way sooner than that.’
She was named Best New Artist at the 2022 Brit Awards and was singled out by Brit Award queen Adele, who sent her ‘massive congratulations.’
While accepting her own gong for artist of the year, Adele told audiences at the Brit awards: ‘I want to say a massive congratulations to Little Simz. I’ve got so much love for you.’
Simz, meanwhile, brought her tearful mother onstage to accept the prize, who cradled the award and became overwhelmed with emotion.
Simz brought her mother on stage at the 2022 Brit Awards (Picture: Getty Images)
In Simz’s powerful acceptance speech which she dedicated to her mum, she said: ‘I want to say thank you to everyone that’s supporting me on this journey so far.
‘My name is Simbiatu Ajikawo I’m from north London, Islington. Grew up on a council estate, I’m an independent artist and to be here tonight, receiving this award is such a blessing.
‘I’m so grateful.’
The young star capped an incredible year by clinching the prestigious Mercury Award (Picture: Shutterstock)
She went on to say she was ‘living proof that if you work hard at something, no matter where you come from, no matter your background, no matter your race, you can do something extraordinary.’
‘So for all the kids: keep dreaming, keep pushing. I am you. You are me,’ she said.
And, accepting the prestigious Mercury Prize on Tuesday, she said she was ‘very overwhelmed and grateful’ and admitted there had been times when she did not know whether she would finish the record.
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Addressing her fellow shortlisted nominees, she added: ‘We all made incredible albums, we all changed people’s lives with our music and that’s the most important thing.’
Little Simz is also nominated for a string of accolades at the UK Music Video Awards, which are due to take place later this year.
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MORE : ‘Overwhelmed and grateful’ Little Simz wins Mercury Prize 2022 with Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
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