— Zambian-born Botswana-raised poet and rapper Sampa The Great announces her sophomore album, As Above, So Below, alongside the release of her new single and video,“Never Forget”.
After returning home to Zambia during the pandemic, Sampa reconnected with a different side of herself, a side that expresses more purely the nourishment and influence she received from her upbringing in Zambia and represents a return to her younger artistry. From collaborations with South Africa-based creatives Rochelle Nembhard and Imraan Christian to time spent recording with a long-established network of close friends and family, Sampa The Great unlocks an age of authenticity and debuts a newly revitalized Sampa to the world.
Following this extended retreat, Sampa returned with her captivating single and music video, “Lane”, featuring Denzel Curry, just earlier this year. Now, as she prepares to release her new album, Sampa’s newest single “Never Forget”, featuring Chef 187, Tio Nason, and Mwanjé, arrives as a brandishing ode to the golden era of Zambia’s socially prolific genre, Zamrock. Offering recognition to the music coming out of the African diaspora today while also honoring the stories of those who tread previously, “Never Forget” is the stamp uniting both center-points in history. A choral harmony from Sampa’s own sister, Mwanjé, heralds the track’s opening, before a low-slung bassline booms out punctuating hooks from Zambian songwriter, Tio Nason. An array of percussion adds a Zambian richness, from traditional Ngoma drums by band Nomakanjani, to hand claps, to marimba to the signature 808’s from Mag 44, one of Zambia’s pioneering Hip-Hop producers.
Accompanying “Never Forget” is today’s official music video, directed by Imraan Christian along with creative direction and on-set direction from Rharna Nembard and Furmaan Ahmed respectively. Starring Sampa The Great, MC Chef 187, Tio Nason, and Mwanjé, the video showcases a darkly lit performance space along with artful choreography and the guilefully costumed personas of Sampa. Interspersed throughout the clip is archival footage of Zambian life in the 70s, including performances from some of the Zamrock acts that have paved the path since. The end result is experienced as a highly cinematic and enthralling vision.
Sampa The Great says about the single and video,
““Never Forget” is an ode to Zamrock music, a genre born in the ’70s combining traditional Zambian music and psychedelic rock. In particular, the song focuses on kalindula music. This tribute was inspired by the band WITCH and their lead singer Mr. Jagari Chanda, who has become one of my musical mentors. I discovered Zamrock later in my life and was surprised that this music was known globally, yet not fully celebrated and acknowledged in Zambia today. It hit home for me as I felt similarities in my own journey, having had my career take off outside my birth country. I thought it was fitting to pay homage to those who came before me and merge past, present, and future through music and imagery; passing the baton from one generation to the next. The archival footage in the clip includes the late great Paul Ngozi, the late president Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia’s first president), and the legendary WITCH.“
Director Rharha Nembard says,
““Never Forget” pays homage to the past, present and future. Acknowledging the ones that have come before, in order for us to be here today. When I first heard the song, the notion of time came up so strongly. African time has always been nonlinear and cyclical. The vision for this video was to explore that notion of time, merging past, present and future simultaneously in a harmonious symphony that honors and pays respect to those that have passed the baton and paved the way for the next generation of Zambian artists. Sampa carries the past, present and future of Zambian music. She stands on the shoulders of giants and this is our offering to them.“
According to Sampa, her upcoming album, As Above, So Below, unveils the complexity of her being — a quality showcased throughout the record through fusions of weighty intensity and softer sensuality. “As Above” translates as Sampa outside’s self, while “So Below” is the Sampa within, together uniting to reveal the highest version of herself, without a mask, or role to play. Anchoring the record, is Eve, Sampa’s blueprint of her ideal self who manifests within As Above, So Below’s lyrics, and visually appears throughout the album’s forthcoming videos.
As Above, So Below is set to arrive worldwide on September 9 via Loma Vista Recordings. Listen to “Never Forget”, watch the music video, and check out the As Above, So Below tracklist right here. Also, be sure to follow Sampa The Great on Instagram and Twitter for more updates on what’s to come.
As Above, So Below Tracklist
1. Shadows
2. Lane feat. Denzel Curry
3. Never Forget feat. Chef 187, Tio Nason, Mwanjé
4. Mask on feat. Joey Bada$$
5. BONA
6. Can I Live feat. W.I.T.C.H
7. Imposter Syndrome feat. James Sakala
8. Tilibobo
9. Lo Rain feat. Mwanjé 10. IDGAF feat. Kojey Radical
11. Let Me Be Great feat Angélique Kidjo