Album Review: Sampa The Great - The Return

When Sampa Tembo chose her moniker, ‘Sampa The Great’ it seemed aspirational; she was seeking to become the greatest version of herself. With her debut album, The Return, she’s already living up to the name. In the four years since the release of her breakout mixtape, Tembo has won the Australian Music Prize, collaborated with the likes of Estelle, supported some huge names in hip hop including Ms Lauryn Hill and Kendrick Lamar, and played one of the world's biggest festivals in Glastonbury. Tembo established herself as a force with The Great Mixtape and Birds And The BEE9, but with The Return she takes infectious hooks and solid delivery to another level.

Setting the tone of the album, opener Mwana sees the Zambian-born, Botswana-raised artist, joined by Sunburnt Soul Choir, Mwanje Tembo and Theresa Mutale Tembo, return to her roots. On Freedom, which follows, the poet explores the difficult task of navigating the music industry and having to sacrifice autonomy over her image and artistry. Supported by a fervent choir and questioning her willingness to compromise her art, she makes a statement with an impassioned fierceness.

A melting pot of musical influences, the album boasts some great production. Classic hip hop instrumentals - horn samples, intricate beats - paired with Tembo’s hard-hitting verses break up soulful tunes where her vocals shine and dance over glistening keys and captivating melodic bass lines (Summer, Leading Us Home). 

On the Silentjay produced lead single Final Form, which samples The Sylvers’ 1973 funk track Stay Away From Me, Tembo proclaims, “Great state I'm in/In all states I'm in/I might final form/In my melanin.” True to form it’s confident, empowering and intrinsically connected to Tembo’s heritage.

A collaborative effort, Ecca Vandal, Krown, Steam Down, Blue Lab Beats and Boadi are just some of the acts credited on the record. Over nine minutes long, the album’s title track, featuring Jace XL, Alien, Whosane and the insanely talented vocalist Thando, is all about returning - to one's self, home, motherland, mind. The huge 19-track record is closed out by Made Us Better, a poetic, uplifting tune with a nostalgic sound.

Drawing influence from hip hop, jazz, soul, R&B and southern African sounds, Sampa The Great has created something original, somewhat spiritual, and entirely authentic. She has remained at the forefront of the Australian hip hop scene for numerous years now, but with The Return, is destined for global acclaim.