British rap star Little Simz has spoken out for the first time since filing a multi-million-pound lawsuit against her longtime collaborator and SAULT founder Dean “Inflo” Cover, calling the situation “frustrating” and “hurtful.”
The Mercury Prize winner – real name Simbiatu Ajikawo – opened up in a new Billboard interview, weeks after it was revealed she had taken legal action against Inflo, the acclaimed producer behind several of her most celebrated albums including GREY Area (2019), Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (2021), and No Thank You (2022).
The lawsuit alleges that Inflo withheld £1.7 million in loans Simz gave him – including £1 million to help fund SAULT’s first and only live show at Drumsheds London – and failed to account for recording funds provided by Sony. The repayment deadline for the loan tied to the Drumsheds show reportedly passed in December 2023, leaving Simz unable to meet tax obligations and accruing interest charges as a result.
Inflo has yet to respond publicly to the lawsuit.
Reflecting on the emotional toll, Simz told Billboard:
“I was really frustrated and hurt, and I wanted to scream.”
She admitted the situation disrupted her creative flow, leading her to abandon four full album projects she’d made with Inflo:
“They were great, but it’s more the situation of who I made them with… It’s like having a kid with someone. You might split with the person, but you don’t just stop loving the kid.”
Simz and Inflo share deep personal and professional roots, having met as children at St. Mary’s Youth Club in London. Their creative bond became a cornerstone of SAULT’s sonic identity, with Simz even performing at the Drumsheds show alongside Inflo’s wife Cleo Sol and Michael Kiwanuka.
On her upcoming album Lotus, due June 6, Simz directly confronts the Inflo saga on the opening track with biting lyrics:
“I’m lucky that I got out now / It’s a shame, I really feel sorry for your wife… This person I’ve known my whole life, coming like a devil in disguise.”
Before Lotus drops, Simz will curate the 2025 Meltdown Festival at London’s Southbank Centre, where she’s set to deliver a one-off orchestral performance. The festival will also feature acts like The Streets, Ghetts, Jon Batiste, Lola Young, and Yukimi from Little Dragon.
She’ll cap off the year with her biggest headline shows to date in October at Manchester’s Co-Op Live and London’s O2 Arena.
As her legal battle looms and old partnerships unravel, Lotus may well mark the beginning of a bold new chapter in Little Simz’s journey — one defined by clarity, closure, and control.
