Little Simz has won this year’s prestigious Mercury Prize with her fourth studio album ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’.

The 28-year-old, born Simbiatu Abisola Ajikawo beat off Yard Act, Wet Leg, Self Esteem, Sam Fender, Nova Twins, Kojey Radical, Joy Crookes, Jessie Buckley and Bernard Butler, Harry Styles, Gwenno and Fergus McCreadie nominated alongside for the award.

The crowning took place during the award ceremony, which recognises the Best British Album of the year, at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, west London, on Tuesday evening.

Following the announcement, Little Simz took to the stage to give a powerful rendition of here track ‘How Did You Get Here’.

“This accomplished and complex, yet entirely accessible album, is the work of someone striving constantly to push herself. It deals with themes both personal and political while putting them against music that is as sophisticated as it is varied.”

Accepting her prize, Little Simz said she was “very overwhelmed and grateful” to win the award.

“To my family over here, my loved ones right here. I want to say a huge thank you to the Mercury for this incredible prize,” she said.

“I want to say thank you to my brother and close collaborator Inflo… he’s known me since I was so young, he’s stuck by me, we created this album together.

“There were times in the studio when I didn’t know if I was going to finish this record, I was feeling all the emotions and really going through it. He stuck by me and pushed me to deliver this album for you guys.”

The prize caps off a big year for the London rapper, who also won the best new artist trophy at the 2022 Brit Awards.