Leave it to a UK MC to make her moniker more proper by correctly spelling “little” without shortening or apostrophes. But that is emblematic of up-and-coming UK rapper Little Simz. She refuses to rely solely on the resurgence of grime and its fusion with UK hip-hop to influence her sound. She spits over a bit of grime, rock, electro, traditional east coast hip-hop, and Southern trap. Her bars are densely packed — fitting a seemingly unconscionable number of syllables into any given one without spilling over or rapping to fast for comprehension. She refuses to cave to American or grime influences in her lyrical subject matter as well. She raps about an everywoman life in an uncommon way. She is confessional, contemplative, and accessible as opposed to the women on top of the American rap game. As she told the Guardian, she is “not a UK female MC, I am an artist.”

On her surprise EP, Age 101: Drop X, Simz’s attitude is easily apparent. She either goes bar-for-bar or outraps every male feature, including TDE’s Isaiah Rashad, Mick Jenkins, and her frequent UK collaborators. The sounds vary with electro bleeps, heavily reverbed guitars, grimey elements, and classic drum breaks taking turns driving tracks. She earned a nod at the BET awards in june for Best UK Act, but if she keeps releasing quality projects like this, it won’t be the last we hear about her in the States. Stream Age 101: Drop X below.

Name your price to download Age 101: Drop X on Little Simz’s bandcamp page.