Lifestyle
Simbiatu Ajikawo: Started at 16, became one of UK’s most acclaimed Hip Hop figures (PHOTOS)
Known by his stage name, Little Simz, Simbiatu is described by fans as Best UK Rapper Of All Times. She was born February 23, 1994, in Islington, London, and grew up becoming a British-Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, and actress.
The Yoruba woman has become one of the most acclaimed figures in contemporary UK hip-hop, blending introspective lyricism, jazz, soul, and electronic elements in her music with her work often exploring themes of identity, mental health, ambition, and Black womanhood.
She was said to have been influenced as a teenager by artists like Busta Rhymes, Nas, Biggie Smalls, and especially Lauryn Hill and started releasing music independently around 2010, gaining traction through mixtapes and live performances at venues like Hackney Empire and the Royal Albert Hall.
Ajikawo expanded into film and TV, featuring in:
– Top Boy (Netflix, 2019–2023) where she played roles as Shelley, a resilient club owner navigating London’s underworld.
– Malcolm & Marie (2021): Supporting role in the Zendaya-John David Washington drama.
– Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) where she was a musician in the Marvel film; also contributed to the soundtrack.
– Upcoming: Steve (2025), a film with Cillian Murphy, where she starred alongside Tracey Ullman and Emily Watson.
Credit: Ethnic African Stories
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