Little Simz at 02 Academy Islington review

Image: Little Simz

Aged 11 Simbi Ajikawo stood on the stage at the O2 Academy in Islington and performed with her local drama group. 10 years later and Simbi, known on stage as Little Simz, has just sold out the entire venue on her first headline tour. "This is unreal" she told the crowd on Wednesday. 

The rapper from London is currently touring with local grime artist Chuck 20 and American songstress Tiffany Gouché. In an already packed out venue due to his Islington roots, Chuck 20 hyped the crowd announcing "there's no place like home".

Next to the stage was the LA based Tiffany Gouché showcasing a selection of songs from her EP Pillowtalk. Exploring R&B to rap, you can heavily expect the name Tiffany Gouché to pop up on your hit playlist anytime soon with songs like 'Red Rum Melody'.  

After almost two hours of warm up and support acts, the crowd were finally ready for Little Simz to come on stage. Opening with 'Persons', the crowd were well and truly into the set. The look of complete shock could be seen on Little Simz face, selling out her home town venue. What an achievement for a first tour aged 21. 

Following on with 'Wings And The Lights', Little Simz had the crowd chanting the words back and everybody up on their feet. During 'Gratitude' which Little Simz belted out word for word, she looked around the venue in utter amazement.

She then stopped to tell the crowd about her next door neighbour, Mary, who could constantly hear her music when she was growing up, which consequently led her to produce the song 'God Bless Mary'.

After came the question the artist's fans had been waiting for all night: "Do you want to see a dead body London?". Out came a group of dancers, extravagant lights and the incredible set of lungs from Simbi Ajikawo singing 'dead body'. It's song which has become a stable track on radio station's grime playlists, helped by a remixed version including Kano and Stormzy.

As a sold out venue on Little Simz first tour, she will most definitely be going far in this industry. 

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