Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{use British English|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
| type = studio
| cover = Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.jpeg
| alt = Simz hunches forward in her wooden chair and looks shyly over her glasses. Her hair is pulled up in a bun high above her head and she wears a brightly checkered suit.
| artist = Little Simz
| released = 3 September 2021
| recorded = 2019–2020
| genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|soul|R&B|electronica|Afrobeat|jazz}}
| length = 65:12
| label = * Age 101
- AWAL
| producer = * Inflo
- Jakwob
- Miles James
| prev_title = Drop 6
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title = No Thank You
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{singles
| name = Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
| type = studio
| single1 = Introvert
| single1date = 21 April 2021
| single2 = Woman
| single2date = 6 May 2021
| single3 = Rollin Stone
| single3date = 14 June 2021
| single4 = I Love You, I Hate You
| single4date = 8 July 2021
| single5 = Point and Kill
| single5date = 1 September 2021
}}
}}
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert is the fourth studio album by English rapper Little Simz. It was released on 3 September 2021, by Age 101 Music and AWAL.{{cite web|last=Yoo|first=Noah|title=Little Simz Announces New Album, Shares Video for New Song|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/little-simz-announces-new-album-shares-video-for-new-song-watch/|website=Pitchfork|date=21 April 2021|accessdate=31 August 2021}} The album succeeds the Mercury Prize-nominated album, Grey Area (2019){{cite web|last=O'Connor|first=Roisin|title=Mercury Prize 2019: Dave, The 1975 and Little Simz among artists competing for music prize|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/mercury-prize-2019-nominations-1975-dave-foals-little-simz-idles-odds-favourite-a9020226.html|website=The Independent|date=19 September 2019|accessdate=31 August 2021}} and the five-track extended play (EP), Drop 6 (2020).{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/little-simz-announces-new-quarantine-ep-drop-6-out-next-week-2656494|title=Little Simz announces new quarantine EP 'Drop 6', out next week|website=NME|last=Richards|first=Will|date=29 April 2020|accessdate=28 June 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2020/05/little-simz-new-ep-drop-6-stream/|title=Little Simz Releases New EP Drop 6|website=Consequence of Sound|last=Graves|first=Wren|date=7 May 2020|accessdate=28 June 2020}} It is supported by five singles: "Introvert", "Woman", "Rollin Stone", "I Love You, I Hate You", and "Point and Kill". The album was produced by frequent collaborator Inflo and it includes guest appearances from Cleo Sol and Obongjayar.
The album received widespread acclaim and was named the best album of 2021 by Exclaim! and BBC Radio 6 Music. It won the 2022 Mercury Prize on 18 October 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-18 |title=Mercury Prize: Rapper Little Simz wins album of the year award |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63296907 |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=BBC News |language=en}} It was also nominated for the Best Album Ivor Novello Award in May 2022.{{Cite web |last=Flynn |first=Tilly |date=2022-04-07 |title=Nominations announced for The Ivors 2022 |url=https://ivorsacademy.com/news/nominations-announced-for-the-ivors-2022/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=The Ivors Academy |language=en-GB}} It also won the Libera Award for Best Hip-Hop/Rap Record and was nominated for the Brit Award for British Album of the Year. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert has since been considered to be among the greatest hip-hop albums of the 21st century and was included in Rolling Stone{{'}}s ranking of the 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time.{{cite magazine |date=7 June 2022 |title=The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-hip-hop-albums-1323916/ |magazine=Rolling Stone}}
Title and concept
The album title is a backronym of Simbi, which is part of Simz's full first name, Simbiatu. Speaking on the album title to The Guardian, Little Simz commented: "I'm just very to myself and I didn't know how to really navigate that, especially coming in this industry where you're expected to have this extroverted persona all the time. I wanted to just let people know like, yo, I'm actually this way inclined […] When it comes to business and my work, I'm not shy at all, I don't hold back with that. I'm very serious and direct, but other stuff sometimes."{{cite web|last=Hans|first=Simran|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/apr/18/rapper-little-simz-i-dont-hold-back-i-feel-super-free|title=Rapper Little Simz: 'I don't hold back – I feel super free'|work=The Guardian|date=18 April 2021|accessdate=6 July 2021}} Thematically, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert is about Simz "being this introverted person that has all these crazy thoughts and ideas and theories in my head and not always feeling like I’m able to express it if it’s not through my art."
Release and promotion
Little Simz announced the album's title, cover art, release date, and preorder on 21 April 2021.{{cite web|last=Renshaw|first=David|title=Little Simz announces Sometimes I Might Be Introvert album, shares new song|url=https://www.thefader.com/2021/04/21/little-simz-sometimes-i-might-be-introvert-release-date|website=The Fader|date=21 April 2021|accessdate=31 August 2021}} The first single, "Introvert", was released alongside its music video on 21 April 2021. The second single, "Woman" featuring Cleo Sol, was released on 6 May 2021 with a music video directed by Little Simz.{{cite magazine|last=Shaffer|first=Claire|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/little-simz-woman-1165989/|title=Little Simz Releases Lush Music Video for New Song 'Woman'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=6 May 2021|accessdate=31 August 2021}} The track "Rollin Stone" was released as the third single on 14 June 2021,{{cite web|last=Gallagher|first=Alex|title=Little Simz shares hard-hitting new single 'Rollin Stone'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/little-simz-shares-hard-hitting-new-single-rollin-stone-2969637|website=NME|date=15 June 2021|accessdate=31 August 2021}} followed by "I Love You, I Hate You" as the fourth single on 8 July 2021.{{cite web|last=Richards|first=Will|title=Little Simz shares raw new single 'I Love You, I Hate You'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-little-simz-tease-new-song-i-love-you-i-hate-you-on-car-speakers-2986692|website=NME|date=9 July 2021|accessdate=31 August 2021}}{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Niall|title=Little Simz Cuts Deep On New Song "I Love You, I Hate You"|url=https://www.complex.com/music/little-simz-i-love-you-i-hate-you|website=Complex|date=12 July 2021|accessdate=31 August 2021}} A fifth single, "Point and Kill" featuring Obongjayar, was released on 1 September 2021, followed by a music video.{{cite web|last=Powell|first=John|url=https://www.revolt.tv/new-music/2021/9/3/22656089/little-simz-obongjayar-point-and-kill-video|title=Little Simz and Obongjayar head to Nigeria for "Point And Kill" video|website=Revolt|date=3 September 2021|accessdate=7 September 2021}}
An accompanying European tour was announced on 28 May 2021, scheduled for winter 2021 and early 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/little-simz-announces-biggest-tour-to-date-for-winter-2021-2950683 |title=Little Simz announces biggest tour to date for winter 2021 |first=Nick |last= Reilly |work=NME |date=28 May 2021 |accessdate=6 July 2021}}
Chart performance
The album debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart, becoming her highest charting album and first top forty. The album was the biggest selling album in independent record shops the week of its release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/drake-clinches-fourth-number-1-on-official-albums-chart-with-certified-lover-boy__34009/|title = Drake clinches fourth Number 1 album with Certified Lover Boy| website=Official Charts }}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 =AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Monger|first=Timothy|title=Sometimes I Might Be Introvert - Little Simz {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sometimes-i-might-be-introvert-mw0003516512|website=AllMusic|date=3 September 2021|accessdate=8 October 2021}}
| rev2 = Clash
| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev4 = The Guardian
| rev5 = The Independent
| rev6 = The Line of Best Fit
| rev7 = Pitchfork
| rev7score = 7.7/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/little-simz-sometimes-i-might-be-introvert/|title=Little Simz: Sometimes I Might Be Introvert Album Review|website=Pitchfork|last=Pritchard|first=Will|date=3 September 2021|access-date=3 September 2021}}
| rev8 = The Skinny
| rev8score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Moore|first=Sam|url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/little-simz-sometimes-i-might-be-introvert|title=Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert|website=The Skinny|date=30 August 2021|accessdate=31 August 2021}}
| rev9 = The Telegraph
| rev10 = Uncut
}}
The album received widespread acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 88, based on 24 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".
In the review for AllMusic Timothy Monger compared the album favourably to its predecessor; "As on Grey Area, there are no dry spells or dips in quality, just a master class in modern songwriting with heaps of poise and a beating, soulful heart." Lee Wakefield for Clash wrote that Sometimes I Might Be Introvert makes for "addictive listening", adding that "the cinematic flourishes are cranked up and Simz is more confessional than ever, pondering what defines her as both Little Simz the artist and Simbi the person." Uncut concluded it was "an even more ambitious conceptual album that finds her sharing her insecurities, praising her heroes and going on a fairytale voyage over 19 tracks." Writing for The Independent, Helen Brown described it as "the most thrilling album of the year", praising the "Bond theme-level orchestration" in the production and Little Simz's lyricism. Rachel Aroesti, writing for The Guardian, concluded Sometimes I Might Be Introvert "may or may not provide a commercial boost for its maker, but this rich, fascinating album cements Little Simz’s significance regardless."
Entertainment Weekly noted that Little Simz "once again showcases her vulnerability, opening up old wounds from relationships with her father, a past lover, and, ultimately, herself." PJ Somerville from The Line of Best Fit commented that "Talking family, trauma, the industry and her peers, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert is tactical, theatrical, and is the product of 100,000 hours spent honing her craft resulting in a body of work with heart, and its head firmly on its shoulders." Granting the record Album of the Week, James Rettig for Stereogum declared Sometimes I Might Be Introvert as Simz's "most personal album yet but also her most removed, in the sense that it’s cinematic and surreal and overwhelming", praising the subject matter and "sweeping orchestral" production.{{cite news|last=Rettig|first=James|title=Album of the Week: Little Simz Sometimes I Might Be Introvert|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2158982/little-simz-sometimes-i-might-be-introvert-review/reviews/album-of-the-week/|website=Stereogum|date=31 August 2021|accessdate=31 August 2021}} PopMatters' John Amen praised the album, writing that Simz "moves from stream-of-consciousness confessions to epigrammatic observations, volatile rants to equanimous self-examinations, and personal confessions to broad societal diagnoses."{{Cite web|last=Amen|first=John|title=Little Simz: Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (Album Review)|url=https://www.popmatters.com/little-simz-sometimes-might-introvert|access-date=2021-09-03|website=PopMatters|date=2 September 2021|language=en-US}}
Hip Hop Golden Age compared the album to Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998), saying it "echoes Lauryn Hill's masterpiece (...) in ambition, scope, musicality and timelessness".{{Cite web |date=December 29, 2021 |title=The Best Hip Hop Albums of 2021 |url=https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/top-150-hip-hop-albums-of-the-2020s/ |access-date=January 26, 2025 |website=Hip Hop Golden Age}}
=Accolades=
{{notelist|refs=
{{efn|name=fn1|Joint winner with Alpha Place by Knucks}}}}
Track listing
All tracks are produced by Inflo except for "I See You", co-produced with Miles James, and "Rollin Stone", co-produced with Jakwob.
{{Track listing
| headline = Sometimes I Might Be Introvert track listing
| title1 = Introvert
| writer1 = {{hlist|Simbiatu Ajikawo|Dean Josiah Cover}}
| length1 = 6:02
| title2 = Woman
| note2 = featuring Cleo Sol
| writer2 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cleopatra Nikolic|Cover}}
| length2 = 4:29
| title3 = Two Worlds Apart
| writer3 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover}}
| length3 = 2:58
| title4 = I Love You, I Hate You
| writer4 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover}}
| length4 = 4:16
| title5 = Little Q, Pt. 1 (Interlude)
| writer5 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover|Kadeem Clarke|Miles James}}
| length5 = 1:08
| title6 = Little Q, Pt. 2
| writer6 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover|Clarke|James}}
| length6 = 3:46
| title7 = Gems (Interlude)
| writer7 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover|Clarke}}
| length7 = 2:57
| title8 = Speed
| writer8 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover}}
| length8 = 2:41
| title9 = Standing Ovation
| writer9 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover}}
| length9 = 4:08
| title10 = I See You
| writer10 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover|James|Nathan Allen}}
| length10 = 3:58
| title11 = The Rapper that Came to Tea (Interlude)
| writer11 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover|James|Clarke}}
| length11 = 2:45
| title12 = Rollin Stone
| writer12 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover|James Jacob}}
| length12 = 3:39
| title13 = Protect My Energy
| writer13 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover}}
| length13 = 3:09
| title14 = Never Make Promises (Interlude)
| writer14 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover}}
| length14 = 1:02
| title15 = Point and Kill
| note15 = featuring Obongjayar
| writer15 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover|Steven Umoh}}
| length15 = 3:06
| title16 = Fear No Man
| writer16 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover}}
| length16 = 4:04
| title17 = The Garden (Interlude)
| writer17 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover|James|Clarke}}
| length17 = 2:39
| title18 = How Did You Get Here
| writer18 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover}}
| length18 = 4:57
| title19 = Miss Understood
| writer19 = {{hlist|Ajikawo|Cover}}
| length19 = 3:28
| total_length = 65:12
}}
Notes
- "Introvert" and the five interludes feature additional vocals by Emma Corrin.{{cite web|last=Smyth|first=David|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/little-simz-interview-album-introvert-b951293.html|title=Little Simz interview: 'I want to be a legend but sometimes I don't know why'|website=Evening Standard|date=20 August 2021|accessdate=31 August 2021}}
- "Introvert" and "I See You" feature additional vocals by Cleo Sol.
Sample credits
- "Two Worlds Apart" contains samples of "The Agony and the Ecstasy", written and performed by Smokey Robinson.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/sometimes-i-might-be-introvert/1561184260|title=Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz on Apple Music|website=Apple Music|date=3 September 2021|accessdate=5 September 2021}}
Personnel
Musicians
{{div col}}
- Little Simz – primary artist {{small|(all tracks)}}
- Cleo Sol – featured artist {{small|(2)}}
- Obongjayar – featured artist {{small|(15)}}
- Inflo – production {{small|(all tracks)}}
- Jakwob – production {{small|(12)}}
- Miles James – production {{small|(10)}}
- Emma Corrin – additional vocals
- Rosie Danvers – orchestral arrangements
- Graham Godfrey - percussion
- Caroline Adeyemi – vocals
- Paul Boldeau – vocals
- Phebe Edwards – vocals
- Patrick Linton – vocals
- Desrinea Ramus – vocals
- Olivia Williams – vocals
- Qudus Adidas St. Patrick – vocals
{{div col end}}
Technical
{{div col}}
- Matt Colton – mastering
- Ben Baptie – engineering, mixing
- Richard Woodcraft – engineering, mixing
- Jeremy Cole – creative direction, artwork
{{div col end}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for Sometimes I Might Be Introvert ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Australia|40|artist=Little Simz|album=Sometimes I Might Be Introvert|rowheader=true|access-date=10 September 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Austria|15|artist=Little Simz|album=Sometimes I Might Be Introvert|rowheader=true|access-date=15 September 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|19|artist=Little Simz|album=Sometimes I Might Be Introvert|rowheader=true|access-date=12 September 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|64|artist=Little Simz|album=Sometimes I Might Be Introvert|rowheader=true|access-date=12 September 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|27|artist=Little Simz|album=Sometimes I Might Be Introvert|rowheader=true|access-date=10 September 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|24|id=477660|artist=Little Simz|album=Sometimes I Might Be Introvert|rowheader=true|access-date=10 September 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland3|30|date=20210910|rowheader=true|access-date=10 September 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|3|date=20210910|rowheader=true|access-date=11 September 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Spain|79|artist=Little Simz|album=Sometimes I Might Be Introvert|rowheader=true|access-date=19 September 2021}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|19|artist=Little Simz|album=Sometimes I Might Be Introvert|rowheader=true|access-date=12 September 2021}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|4|date=20210910|rowheader=true|access-date=10 September 2021}} |
| {{album chart|UKIndependent|1|date=20210910|rowheader=true|access-date=10 September 2021}} |
| {{album chart|UKR&B|1|date=20210910|rowheader=true|access-date=10 September 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|3|artist=Little Simz|rowheader=true|access-date=1 November 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardIndependent|45|artist=Little Simz|rowheader=true|access-date=1 November 2021}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardAlbumSales|33|artist=Little Simz|rowheader=true|access-date=1 November 2021}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Sometimes I Might Be Introvert}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Little Simz|salesamount=74,056|salesref={{cite magazine|title=Label of love |last=Hanley |first=James |date=October 2024 |magazine=Music Week |page=55–59}}|title=Sometimes I Might Be Introvert|award=Silver|type=album|relyear=2021|certyear=2023|id=19136-6426-2|access-date=16 July 2023}}
{{table end}}