Good grouping is one of those darts expressions that hasn’t really broken though into pop terminology. It refers to 3 tidily arranged darts, but why not use it for 3 top singles in a row, or a bunch? Little Simz has recently demonstrated really really good grouping. Her three last singles, Introverted, Woman and now, Rollin’ Stone have formed a consistent bunch in terms of quality. The grouping thing goes off key if we start talking stylistically. There’s been a pretty wild spread, with Little Simz’ finely pitched raps keeping things tight.
It makes sense to check these 3 singles in order, so here goes. First up was Introvert, which grabbed everyone’s ears with a high impact, orchestral backing track. It came blasting out of the radio, and did a wonderful job announcing that Little Simz was back and trailing the forthcoming album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (aka SIMBI, which is how Simz is known to her friends). At the end of the track came a short monologue by actress Emma Corrin, which struck me personally as veering towards the bumptious over-egging end of the monologue spectrum. Plenty of other people thought it was exactly eggy enough though.
Woman also ends with a little chatty snippet, and this time it’s pure, maximum unbumptiousness. Presumably it’s Little Simz’ mum, and it caps a truly masterful, lush UK soul confection. Everything about Woman is the nuts, but let’s highlight Cleo Sol’s sweet vocal on the chorus, I love how you go from zero to 100, and leave the dust behind. It’s wonderful.
And now, the third dart. Rollin’ Stone. It’s stripped back, with a studio vibe distilled all the way down to what sounds like maybe just 4 or 5 knobs and one pingy drumstick. This puts Little Simz’ rap front and centre, letting it win you over in an irresistible stream of smart rhymes and winning UK delivery,
Might be a brat for a bit, fuck your blunt man I want my spliffs,
Want my farm and I want my chicks.
Spanish website, Hypersónica describes it as the return of the Little Simz with ‘más músculo’, meaning more muscle. Foregoing the abundance of sound in Introvert and Women, we get a direct line to a her voice. Which is really tough not to surrender to. The lyrics feature plenty of travel, like you’d expect for a Rollin’ Stone, opening with a glimpse of how to chill well Sao Paolo – Yeah yeah God flow make you wanna dance all day like Alfonso. Despite that, Rollin’ Stone gives off a sound of tight horizons, honed hard for a well-focused boom.
THIS WEEK
Little Simz – Rollin’ Stone
35,267 views since 14th June Weekly Average Views – 61,717
LAST WEEK
Buzzy Lee – Strange Town (Julia Holter edit)
Weekly Average Views – 598 Blog Week Views – 119
EXTRAS
Little Simz – Woman
Little Simz – Introvert
Little Simz – Might Bang, Might Not