After the sudden critical acclaim and popularity of “GREY Area,” many fans wondered if Little Simz could continue to improve at such an astronomical rate. She proved with her new album “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert,” her most ambitious and well executed yet, that her artistic progression is nowhere near its peak.

British-Nigerian rapper Simbiatu “Simbi” Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, better known as Little Simz, released her 4th studio album “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert” on Sept. 3, 2021. Prior to its release, fans’ expectations were high after the critical and commercial success of “GREY Area,” her last excellently produced and lyrically impressive rap project. Her latest album’s title is both a thematic statement about the project’s content, and an acronym for Little Simz nickname “Simbi.”

The production on this album differs from “GREY Area” as it is full of lush strings, rich brass, majestic children’s choruses and full, luxurious bass and drums. Many songs expertly incorporate vintage soul samples, like the vocal refrains on “Two Worlds Apart,” or the pitched up female vocals on “Miss Understood.” Much of the album sounds similar to a musical play, with epic instrumentations introducing new topics, themes and beats.

Lyrically and thematically, the album spans topics of the meaning of womanhood, ethnic pride, institutional racism, destructive relationships and navigating introversion while in the public eye.

The album opens with the grandiose track “Introvert,” with repeated drum hits, brass instrumentation and vocal chanting like the beginning of an epic movie. The song fades into a wide bass, string, flute and vocal beat that grows and fades with Little Simz’s diverse and unrelenting lyrics. This song is an awe-inspiring opener that foreshadows the ambition and skill that fills the rest of the project.

The song ends with an interjection from a fairy godmother figure played by English Actress Emma Corrin who comes back throughout the project on various interludes. She advises Little Simz on her journey throughout the album, a journey to find, as the godmother says in “Introvert,” “what it takes to be a woman.”

The fourth track, “I Love You, I Hate You,” is a masterclass in songwriting, with repeated soul sample refrains of the song’s title underscoring Simz’s contradictory and complicated feelings towards a man she both loves and hates: her father. Enthralling brass and string lines and constantly grooving bass constantly grow and shift, pairing with lyrics like “is you a sperm donor or a dad to me?” to lay out a beautifully and honestly told story of a daughter and her emotionally absent father.

“Standing Ovation” focuses on the topics outlined in the song’s title, as it opens with more majestic strings, choruses and bass; it falls back into a reserved and introspective soul sampled beat. Simz intentionally contradicts herself and changes lyrically through technical and unstoppable flows. She first says, “Why the desperate need for applause?” and in her final verse she becomes more outward and braggadocious, taking credit for her rise to fame and her talent formed through hard work. She displays the duality of her personality: a deep introversion mixed with an unabashed pride in her success.

The album closes with another grand ballad, “Miss Understood,” with its high pitched vocals and sparkly keys. The song focuses on Simz’s personality and her relationship with her family as she learns how to navigate her newfound attention and fame. Lyrics like “I write words for a livin’ and still can’t communicate,” illustrate Simz’s struggle, as she is beloved by her audience and lives in the public eye while simultaneously unable to effectively relate to people close to her.

“Sometimes I Might Be Introvert” is a masterpiece of an album. Its instrumentals are diverse and varied, but all retain the same majestic and awe-inspiring spirit. The lyrics are endlessly entertaining and profound, as Simz looks deeply into herself, her relationships and the wider world around her. The songs all fit a broader vision, held together by interludes and interjections by Emma Corrin’s character, but each could be taken on their own as beautiful, entertaining, and focused tracks.