'Lotus' By Little Simz

North-London rapper Little Simz (Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo) released her sixth full-length LP on the 6th June, following the critically acclaimed successes of Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (2021) and No Thank You (2022).

The album is more stripped-back and jazzier than her previous work, as is her tendency after more ambitious records. In addition, the album’s primary draw is its lyricism rather than its sound due to the deeply human rawness that causes the thirteen tracks to emulate a series of diary entries rather than traditional rap. That being said, that is not to discredit its sonicism, of course, as Simz and her collaborators have created beautiful and catchy songs, experimental in places such as ‘Young’ and with West African influences like ‘Lion’. Overall, for an album with a name so overtly symbolic, it is clear that its emotion was Simz’s focus.

The Lotus 

The eponymous flower is spiritually significant, especially within Buddhism and Hinduism – offered to deities for prosperity and salvation. The flower is notably referenced in chapter 5 of the Bhagavad Gita: ‘One who performs his duty without attachment (…) is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.’. This is an idea that aligns with the context of the album’s release, accounting for the idea of betrayal that especially inhabits songs ‘Thief’ and ‘Flood’. In addition to the return to straightforward classicalness, Lotus is a kind of rebirth both stylistically and thematically.

Legal Trouble 

In March 2025, it was announced that Simz is engaging in a lawsuit against former producer and childhood friend Inflo (Dean Cover), who founded SAULT and had produced and cowritten her last three albums.

Little Simz and Inflo had begun recording a new album when they entered financial disagreement, suing him for a £1.7m loan he had allegedly failed to repay, £1m of which had covered his live show in December 2023. Simz then scrapped the album, going onto collaborate instead with Miles Clinton James, who went on to produce Lotus.

Cover’s failure to repay loans, and the alleged improper accounting for her funds from his company left Simz unable to pay her full tax liability the following January. The following January she filed the lawsuit – Inflo has not publicly responded.

Personal Highlights 

‘Thief’:

The opening song is characterised by it's nightmarish bass and guitar riffs – clearly fuelled by the anger of the album’s context and the breakdown of her personal and working relationship. While this is all implicit, Simz’ lyrics on this song are definitely the least euphemised on the album: “This person I’ve known my whole life coming like the devil in disguise”.

‘Young’:

Groovy and post-punk, this song has been polarising amongst listeners. It is clear that Simz is satirising her age and lifestyle, especially through the caricatured British accent. In this way, the track is not only genuinely funny, but also a moment of light relief amongst some heavier emotional urgency.

‘Free’: 

This song had been released as a single in March, apparently as a poem before it had been put to music. As a stand-alone piece, it was definitely a beautiful introduction to the album, however in the context of Lotus, it's emotionality is heightened.  The ode to love and connections sits in contrast with that which is told to have been stolen in the first tracks.

‘Lotus’: ft. Michael Kiwanuka and Yussef Dayes

The titular track is a fiery setting straight of the record, in which Simz asserts her struggle with the expectations of fame, preferring self-preservation rather than the presumption that she will be a problem-solver. The instrumental outro is uplifting, with beautiful backing vocals – definitely deserving to be linked with the image of the lotus flower.