Out of all the underground rappers in Milwaukee on the rise, Simi has been one of my favorites for a while now. Ever since she first started releasing music a couple of years ago, she has stood out majorly. Everything about Simi’s sound and energy sets her apart from her peers. Simi has such a fierce aura when she is on the mic. Her music really stands out for her commanding presence and nature. Simi’s music style differs from what most people would consider the Milwaukee sound. Instead of going with the high-octane Slap music sound most people associate with Milwaukee, Simi has a sleeker Trap sound that is really palatable. Simi does not have a ton of output yet, but what she has released has been of very high quality. Her 2024 EP, Simi Automatic, was definitely one of my favorites of the year. Near the end of 2025, she dropped her single ‘Push It,’ which was a favorite as well(if you do not know this one, check out the Eastside Vibes write-up and listen to it, trust me). Simi recently dropped her first single of 2026, ‘Ash Ketchum,’ which I wanted to highlight below. Please let me know in the comments what you think of Simi and ‘Ash Ketchum.’ 

Similar to Simi’s last single, ‘Push It,’ ‘Ash Ketchum’ is propelled by an awesome sample. The melody and overall feeling of this track are driven by a sample of Willie Hutch’s ‘I Choose You’(or UGK’s ‘International Player’s Anthem’ for fans of early 2000s Hip Hop). This is obviously a great and very recognizable sample that will get anyone lit when it plays. The drums on this one sort of differ from Simi’s past tracks. Instead of having a smoother Trap sound, the drums on this one have a faster NY Drill kind of tempo. The bass on this track absolutely bangs, making the song feel so strong. I love how it rattles. Simi’s confident energy and flow are more present than ever since on this track. She has always been great on the microphone, but she is definitely improving. The way she slides on this beat is awesome. The title ‘Ash Ketchum’ is perfect for this one, considering the sample and lyrics. Overall, ‘Ash Ketchum’ is another dope addition to the catalog for Simi. This is the type of track to get any function jumping this summer.