London rapper Little Simz won the prestigious British Mercury Prize for his album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert on Tuesday, beating out One Direction singer Harry Styles, among others.

The 28-year-old said she was “very, very overwhelmed” when she accepted the £25,000 prize at the ceremony in London, paying tribute to her brother and collaborator Inflo.

“We made this album together, there were times in the studio when I didn’t know if I was going to finish this record, I felt all the emotions and really went through it, and he stood by me and pushed me to deliver. ” She said.

The artist, whose real name is Simbiatu ‘Simbi’ Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, deals with personal and political issues on her fourth album.

She told the Guardian that the album reflects her feeling of being “that introverted person who has all these crazy thoughts and ideas and theories in my head and doesn’t always feel like I can express them if it’s not through my art is”.

The awards ceremony, held at the legendary Apollo venue in Hammersmith, west London, was broadcast by the BBC and included performances from all the acts, although Styles had to pre-record his.

Established in 1992 as an alternative to the mainstream Brit Awards, the awards are seen as a seal of critical approval and a stepping stone to wider fame.

But Styles, already a global superstar, also did the final editing for Harry’s House, the best-selling UK album of 2022 so far.

Brit Award winner Sam Fender was another high-profile artist shortlisted for his second album Seventeen Going Under, which explores the problem of social disadvantage in his native north-east of England.

In recognition of the best British or Irish album of the past 12 months, the Mercury previously went to the likes of Pulp, Arctic Monkeys and PJ Harvey.

Also making this year’s 12-artist shortlist was art-pop singer Self Esteem, formerly a member of indie band Slow Club, for her album Prioritise Please, a celebration of femininity.

Folk singer Gwenno, whose album Tresor is sung primarily in Cornish, also made the list, along with indie duo Wet Leg, post-metallers Nova Twins and Scottish jazz act Fergus McCreadie.

McCreadie told BBC Radio 6 Music: “It’s great to be a part of it for Scottish music, to have this recognition, hopefully it can encourage musicians in Scotland.”

Guitarist Bernard Butler, who won the second Mercury Prize in 1993 with legendary indie band Suede, reappeared on the shortlist, this time for his collaboration with actress Jessie Buckley.

Completing the shortlist were post-punk act Yard Act, soul singer Joy Crookes and rapper Kojey Radical.

Last year’s winner was Arlo Parks for her debut album Collapsed In Sunbeams.