Drop 6 EP - Little Simz: Review
is a British rapper who had a breakout moment last year when her record Grey Area became one of the most critically acclaimed rap records of the year. Following up the hype of the album quickly she has returned with an EP of material completed during the COVID-19 quarantine,
Review By Lavender:
When I finished Grey Area last year I was excited to hear whatever Simz had coming next, but I also assumed that we may be waiting a while for that new music to come. Thankfully she had something ready for a pretty quick turnaround and just barely a year out of releasing her breakout album has dropped a five song EP that serves as a real quarantine blessing.
The only song here that goes out of its way to be a hard-hitting banger is the opener might bang, might not. The song has a rumbling lowkey beat that never lets up as Simz delivers rapid fire bars over top with a swagger that is impressive throughout. The hook could be a touch better but I still really enjoy the song.
The rest of the EP focuses more on a lyrical and conscious style of hip hop usually with pretty good results. one life, might live is a much more lowkey approach with a slick bassline and a measured but still technically proficient flow. Simz is on her lyrical game big time dropping some incredibly slick bars and taking on all challengers. The hook is a touch repetitive but certainly doesn't hurt the otherwise great song that much. you should call mom has the brightest instrumental on the EP with percussion that just pops out of the mix in a way that is incredibly catchy. Simz is lyrically fire from start to finish and she rarely takes a moment for the listener to catch their breath. The song is a strong display of Simz immense talent.
damn right isn't my favorite song of the bunch but it does have some more big lyrical highlights. Despite it's short runtime it still feels like it drags a little bit with the same flow and short instrumental loop taking up most of its 2 minute runtime. where's my lighter is the closing track and the most complete one structurally speaking. There is a featured guest singer providing a pretty loose and airy hook that pairs with a trilogy of introspective verses from Simz. She is covering a lot of bases in this quick song and it is once again impressive to see her lyrical prowess on display, even if the song isn't as exciting as it maybe could be.
Drop 6 is a solid collection of tracks that can be a little bit weak on songwriting and hooks, but is strong in the quality of Simz performances and slick lyricism. For a project not intended to stand up to a proper studio record I am more than happy with the quality of tracks here and can definitely see this going down as one of my favorite EP's of 2020 when all is said and done. 7/10
Album Cover Review by Tyler Judson:
It's so simple! Maybe too simple. I think the concept is strong and the silhouette is executed well but there's really nothing else to comment on. There is ample room for any text they might want and it just seems like a waste of space. The choice of color is interesting because it's a bright color that's eye catching but I also wouldn't want to look at it too long because of the eye melting saturation. 4/10
For more conscious hip hop check out my review of Jay Electronica's A Written Testimony here
