After making a splash with her 2019 debut album The Return, Zambian-born and Botswana-raised rapper Sampa The Great has faced the sophomore curse head on with a deeply personal and uplifting project. Recorded after relocating from Australia to Zambia during the pandemic, As Above, So Below signifies a transition in her musical journey and an expansion of her creative palette.
On As Above, So Below, Sampa navigates the dichotomy of an African artist presenting traditional sounds to a Western audience. The rapper expertly interrogates the exoticist gaze and industry expectations while reconnecting to African soundscapes through the work of producer Mag44, even getting in on the production herself on "Bona." The track combines elements of Botsawana's Kwaito rhythms and South Africa's Amapiano drone-like instrumentals to create the perfect backdrop for Sampa's fierce rapping.
The album succeeds in maintaining a hip-hop feel while striking out on bolder musical exploration, combining more straightforward hip-hop on the glitchy "Lane," featuring Florida rapper Denzel Curry, with the celebratory Afropop of "Let Me Be Great" with African royalty Angelique Kidjo. Other examples of this balancing act include the rugged Joey Bada$$ collaboration "Mask On," where both rappers explore the personas they free themselves from by removing their masks and facing socio-political discrimination head on with their musical statements.
The album is then kick started by "Never Forget," an ode to Zambia's Zamrock, the psychedelic fusion micro-genre exported by the country in the '70s. Revered by record collectors and music historians today, the genre seems to have become forgotten locally in the capital of Lusaka. It's alive and well on "Never Forget" however, an extended family affair featuring towering opening vocals from Sampa's own sister Mwanjé, and Ngoma drums by local act Nomakanjani backing Mag 44's marimba-laced production. Zambian rapper Chef 187 trades bars with Sampa as she pays homage to her mentor Jagari Chanda, founder of legendary Zamrock group Witch.
It's this generational and stylistic exchange that holds this well-paced album together, with songs like "IDGAF" being led by strong melodies but leaving space for a devastating verse from British spitter Kojey Radical. Throughout the album, the afro-rap fusion never feels forced, and Sampa's lyrical prowess and raw flow allow for her distinctive style to shine though. Her identity is permanently stamped on As Above, So Below — the album both showcases Sampa's growth as an artist and delivers on fan expectation, taking them on a journey beyond bars into Africa's rich musical heritage.
(Loma Vista)On As Above, So Below, Sampa navigates the dichotomy of an African artist presenting traditional sounds to a Western audience. The rapper expertly interrogates the exoticist gaze and industry expectations while reconnecting to African soundscapes through the work of producer Mag44, even getting in on the production herself on "Bona." The track combines elements of Botsawana's Kwaito rhythms and South Africa's Amapiano drone-like instrumentals to create the perfect backdrop for Sampa's fierce rapping.
The album succeeds in maintaining a hip-hop feel while striking out on bolder musical exploration, combining more straightforward hip-hop on the glitchy "Lane," featuring Florida rapper Denzel Curry, with the celebratory Afropop of "Let Me Be Great" with African royalty Angelique Kidjo. Other examples of this balancing act include the rugged Joey Bada$$ collaboration "Mask On," where both rappers explore the personas they free themselves from by removing their masks and facing socio-political discrimination head on with their musical statements.
The album is then kick started by "Never Forget," an ode to Zambia's Zamrock, the psychedelic fusion micro-genre exported by the country in the '70s. Revered by record collectors and music historians today, the genre seems to have become forgotten locally in the capital of Lusaka. It's alive and well on "Never Forget" however, an extended family affair featuring towering opening vocals from Sampa's own sister Mwanjé, and Ngoma drums by local act Nomakanjani backing Mag 44's marimba-laced production. Zambian rapper Chef 187 trades bars with Sampa as she pays homage to her mentor Jagari Chanda, founder of legendary Zamrock group Witch.
It's this generational and stylistic exchange that holds this well-paced album together, with songs like "IDGAF" being led by strong melodies but leaving space for a devastating verse from British spitter Kojey Radical. Throughout the album, the afro-rap fusion never feels forced, and Sampa's lyrical prowess and raw flow allow for her distinctive style to shine though. Her identity is permanently stamped on As Above, So Below — the album both showcases Sampa's growth as an artist and delivers on fan expectation, taking them on a journey beyond bars into Africa's rich musical heritage.