Sampa the Great works as a poet, songwriter, and visual artist, channeling music that aims to uplift, empower, and spark positive transformation through its introspective and socially aware lens. Her vocal approach shifts between forceful, self-assured rap, fluid soul-jazz vocals, and reflective spoken-word passages, while her sound blends abstract hip-hop production with African rhythmic elements, spiritual neo-soul textures, and additional genre infusions. After claiming the Australian Music Prize for her 2017 mixtape Birds and the BEE9, she delivered the reflective full-length debut The Return in 2019. The follow-up As Above, So Below surfaced in 2022, drawing from childhood musical memories alongside contemporary strains such as Afrobeats and amapiano.
Born Sampa Tembo in Zambia and raised in Botswana, she connected with hip-hop upon first encountering 2Pac's "Changes" during childhood. Rapping soon became a focus, and after relocating to Australia in early adulthood she gained footing within Sydney's hip-hop community. Wondercore Island issued the 2015 project The Great Mixtape, crafted with producer Godriguez, which quickly generated significant attention. The 2016 tracks "Blue Boss" and "Black Dignity" earned rotation on BBC Radio 1 and Australia's Triple J, while guest spots followed on recordings by Urthboy and Remi. Expanding audiences led to shared bills with Kendrick Lamar, Hiatus Kaiyote, Ibeyi, and Little Simz, plus appearances at WOMAD and Sugar Mountain. In 2017 she joined British R&B icon Estelle for the three-song EP HERoes Act 2. Later that year she joined Ninja Tune's Big Dada roster and unveiled the single "Rhymes to the East," paving the way for the second mixtape Birds and the BEE9, which earned the Australian Music Prize. She also contributed to psych-pop songwriter Jonti's second album Tokorats.
Ninja Tune released her first proper album The Return in 2019. The expansive, celebratory set, shaped by production from Kwes Darko (aka Blue Daisy) and Clever Austin (of Hiatus Kaiyote) alongside features from Ecca Vandal and London jazz collective Steam Down, explores questions of identity and heritage. Additional appearances arrived on tracks by the Avalanches, Quakers, and Tony Allen, followed in 2021 by the collaboration "Free & Equal" with Angélique Kidjo. Her second album As Above, So Below arrived via Loma Vista in 2022, incorporating contributions from Denzel Curry, Kojey Radical, Joey Bada$$, and Kidjo, with Mag44 and Sampa handling production duties.
