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Listen: Sampa The Great - Bona

ARIA-Award winning, Zambian-born Botswana-raised poet and rapper builds anticipation for forthcoming album with big, bassy new single.

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Image Credit: Travys Owen

Building on last month’s Never Forget, today Sampa the Great blesses us with her latest single of vibe-melding, bass heavy hip hop, Bona, as we inch ever closer to the September drop of her next studio album, As Above, So Below. 

Produced by Zambian production wiz Mag44, Bona was co-produced by Sampa, being her first official producer credit as the pair bring elements of Kwaito and Amapiano music with r&b and chilled trappy style beats. Chimes and piano offset heavy 808 basslines as Sampa’s rapid fire, versatile flow spits bars that spread “Sampa’s wide-reaching message of “Bona”, to be yourself and not succumb to the intimidation of others”.

Of the track, Sampa says “I haven’t yet shown the influence Botswana has had on me musically; this is the style, language and swag of Batswana youth. “Bona” is a chance for me to shine light on other elements of music that I was influenced by when growing up, outside of Zambian music. I want to bring a Southern African anthem to the mix and DJ desks, and show that not all music coming out of Africa is Afrobeats.”

Sampa The Great’s new album As Above, So Below is out September 9 

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