(London) London rapper Little Simz has won the prestigious Mercury Prize for her album Sometimes I Might Be IntrovertedTuesday during a ceremony in the legendary Apollo concert hall in the Hammersmith district.
Posted at 7:14 p.m.
Very moved, the 28-year-old artist declared herself “completely fulfilled” by receiving the prize endowed with 25,000 pounds (38,800 dollars), and paid tribute to her brother and collaborator Inflo.
“We created this album together. There were times in the studio where I didn’t know if I was going to finish this record. I felt all the emotions, I was all in and he stayed by my side and pushed me to get what I wanted,” she said.
In this fourth album, Little Simz, whose real name is Simbiatu “Simbi” Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, explores personal and political themes. She explained to Guardian wanting to express his feeling “of being an introverted person who has all these crazy thoughts, ideas and theories in his head, and who doesn’t always feel like he can express them except through art “.
Created in 1992 as an alternative to the Brit Awards, the Mercury Prize is considered a seal of approval from critics and a stepping stone to greater notoriety. It consecrates the best British or Irish album of the last twelve months.
Little Simz won out over big favorites like Harry Styles, whose album Harry’s House has been the top seller since early 2022 in the UK.
Already Brit Award-winning Sam Fender was another favorite for his second album Seventeen Going Underwhich tackles the issue of social inequality in its region of North East England.
Pop singer Self Esteem, ex-member of the group Slow Club, was also among the finalists for her album Prioritize Pleasewhich celebrates femininity.
Folk singer Gwenno, whose album Treasure is sung mostly in Cornish, were also on this list, as were indie duo Wet Leg, post-metallers Nova Twins and Scottish jazz band Fergus McCreadie.
Also among the finalists was guitarist Bernard Butler, already winner of the second Mercury Prize in history with the indie band Suede in 1993, this time for his collaboration with actress Jessie Buckley. The list was rounded out by post-punk band Yard Act, soul singer Joy Crookes and rapper Kojey Radical.