Little Simz released a new album a month ago. As with all of her releases, it is a heady mix of R&B, soul, pop, and hip-hop. The music is far more interesting than most modern hip-hop and her lyrics are always introspective and intriguing. Ms. Faux, Faux Jr., and I were recently talking about the new single “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter because we are being bombarded with ads proclaiming it to be a “Summer bop” that we are apparently supposed to be digging hard. I clicked a link and we watched the video and it is most definitely not a song that we’ll be listening to again. If anything, it is another in a long line of boring, commercially manufactured songs created to promote the image of a young woman whose music is marketed well above her talent level. On the other hand, “Young” by Little Simz is my new Summer bop. The video is hilarious, the track has an f’in killer bass groove, and the song actually showcases dynamics and multiple sections. It doesn’t matter how old you are, sometimes you just need to feel “young and dumb.”

• Song of the Day (2025)