No Thank You, the fifth studio album from British rapper Little Simz, is an excellent follow-up to her 2021 outing, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.

Simbiatu Ajikawo, known as Little Simz, has proven to be one of the most hard-hitting lyricists of the past few years, with records like Grey Area and her debut, A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons. This record is no different.

Opener “Angel” is an incredible lyrical performance by Simz, who is joined by frequent collaborator Cleo Sol. The song describes themes of self-reflection that are similar to those found on Introvert.

Simz is contemplating her newfound fame, what that fame means for her mental health, and her legacy.

The track features majestic production, with a glossy smooth vocal line from Sol. This magical style of rap is very much a continuation of the concepts she realized in her previous work.

“Gorilla” starts out with grandiose horns, again similar to previous songs of hers. While the opener is very much about Simz’s apprehension in her life, this song is the complete opposite, showing off Simz’s confidence and swagger. Again the production is creative, with a combination of an elastic baseline and grand strings in the back of the mix.

“No Merci” describes the artist’s antagonistic attitudes towards the music industry and its ensnaring ways. The title serves as a double entendre, with Simz saying “no thank you” to the music industry while also describing her lack of mercy in criticizing it.

“X” incorporates elements of neo-soul and afro-funk that can be found all over Simz’s discography, and unsurprisingly, she executes it superbly.

The only problem with the record is it feels as though these songs are leftovers from Introvert. The songs on No Thank You have such a similar style and concept that the album can seem half-hearted or rushed at times.

However, even the leftovers from a Simz project are incredible.

With No Thank You, Simz returns with her impeccable rap prowess, and in the process she probably will be blowing up some year-end lists right at the buzzer.