The award concludes a successful year for the London rapper, who also won the award for best new artist at the 2022 Brit Awards. She informed the audience that she was “overwhelmed and grateful” to have received the Mercury Prize.
This year’s coveted Mercury Prize was awarded to Little Simz for her album Sometimes I Might Be Introverted.
She triumphed against Yard Act, Wet Leg, Self Esteem, Sam Fender, Nova Twins, Kojey Radical, Joy Crookes, Jessie Buckley, Bernard Butler, Harry Styles, Gwenno, and Fergus McCoodie.
Little Simz was proclaimed the winner at London’s renowned Hammersmith Apollo on Tuesday night, a month after The Queen’s death in September.
The judging panel said: “British and Irish music has flourished more than ever in a year that has, to put it mildly, provided quite a few difficulties.
“This made it very difficult for the judges to select an overall winner.
“Everyone was able to support Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz because the judges were so delighted with it.
“This accomplished and intricate, yet completely approachable record was created by an artist who strives to challenge herself continually. It addresses both personal and political concerns while setting them to music that is both intelligent and varied.
The 28-year-old woman stated that she was “overwhelmed and thrilled” to receive the honor.
“To my family here, my loved ones in this location. I would want to express my gratitude to the Mercury for this fantastic award “She stated,
“I’d like to thank my brother and close collaborator Info… he’s known me since I was so little, he’s been by my side, and we collaborated on this record.
“There were periods in the studio when I wasn’t sure if I was going to finish this album, as I was going through all my emotions. He stood by me and encouraged me to release this record for you all.”
The award concludes a successful year for the London rapper, who also won the award for best new artist at the 2022 Brit Awards.
As he is currently on tour in the United States, Harry Styles submitted a video message instead of attending the prestigious honors, while Kojey Radical and Nova Twins performed.
Wet Leg sang Chaise Longue, Self Esteem performed I Do This All The Time, and Sam Fender concluded the evening with his viral tune Seventeen Going Under.
Little Simz’s victory follows Arlo Parks, who won the award last year for Collapsed in Sunbeams.
