Little Simz has always operated on free will. Her career is less a series of bold, attention-grabbing gestures and more a steady, determined journey toward self-actualization. Coming up through London’s fiercely independent grime and hip-hop circuits, alongside figures like Kano and Ghetts, Simz distinguished her sonic identity in a way that felt alternative but universally resonant. Perhaps its most conceptually driven artist, she is blessed with a knack for world-building and a deep respect for hip-hop’s foundational principles. She’s also made a name for being relentlessly prolific, tapping into a seemingly boundless creative well.

“Hello, Hi,” is her latest dispatch. Produced by SHYY and RIGAS, the track is bound by tensile drill beats, overlaid with an acoustic guitar loop and a subtly filtered vocal sample. Across the brief runtime, there is poignance of self-assuredness, a quiet confidence that permeates the track. It’s a subtle flex, a reminder. “I know pain and scars, I know martial arts / Neighbours can’t believe how a Black woman got this far,” Simz raps, lines so compact and deliberate. It’s a song about being seen, on her terms, and about the power of knowing exactly who you are.

“Hello, Hi” arrives in the wake of her celebrated 2024 EP Drop 7, a project that further concretised her place as one of the industry’s most consistent and visionary voices. This new track not only reinforces her remarkable talent but also signals an exciting creative trajectory for the year ahead.