Little Simz sues Inflo over £1.7 million loan

Little Simz, a British rapper and actress, is suing her former producer, Inflo, over unpaid debts. The Mercury Prize winner claims Inflo has not repaid a loan of £1.7 million from 2023, which has left her struggling to pay her taxes. Simz, known for her role in Netflix's "Top Boy," alleges that £1 million of the loan was used to fund a high-profile live show by Sault, the musical collective Inflo founded. The concert took place in December 2023 but faced criticism for its ticket prices, which started at £99. Due to the unpaid loan, Simz says she could not settle her tax obligations in January 2024, leading to additional fees and charges. Inflo, whose real name is Dean Cover, has been a key collaborator with Simz since her third album in 2019. He has also worked with well-known artists like Adele and Tyler, the Creator. In her legal claim filed in January, Simz accused Inflo of mishandling funds from Sony meant for recording costs. She had previously offered him personal loans for her album, expecting to be reimbursed. However, Inflo's lawyers claimed the debt belonged to his label, not him personally. Simz is also seeking repayment for another loan of £1 million that she gave to Inflo for the Sault show. She had requested the money back within three days, but Inflo failed to respond adequately. This news comes as Simz prepares to release her sixth album, "Lotus," on May 9. The album will be produced by Miles Clinton James, known for collaborating with the jazz group Kokoroko.