[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/218753663″ params=”color=000000&inverse=false&auto_play=false&show_user=true” width=”100%” height=”20″ iframe=”true” /]
Sampa The Great, aka Sampa Tembo, has always been interested in how music has the power to inspire humans. This is because over the years music has had such a power to change her life. She says that music is a soul language and the slam poetry influences in her music are quite obvious after the first listen of one of her songs. Sampa also uses intriguing storytelling in her music that makes you feel well acquainted with her and perhaps allows you to find similarities between the both of you. Her message about The Great Mixtape is that, “It’s a search for creativity, laughter, purpose & rhythms.” In the end it’s much, much more.
Adding a new cog to the ever-growing Aussie hip-hop machine, Sampa The Great radiates fluidity and grace with her powerful voice that explores imaginative and poignant themes.
Tembo originally hails from Botswana, Africa and currently creates tunes in Sydney although she recently signed up with Melbourne-based label, Wondercore Records. Her music stems from the many political and cultural influences from her childhood in Botswana and shows her diversity in the rap scene as well as her inner determination to show her story through the outlet of hip-hop.
In her own words, she is a female poet, singer and songwriter who aims to inspire her audience through the skills of music, poetry and visual art. Her music ranges from contemporary rap and delicate audio verse. Beatrice, number six on the mixtape, is soft and mellow and explores a side to Tembo that is beautiful and fluid.
By nature, the majority of her other songs are rhythmic, complex and modern. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that she is a new artist from Australia and not a well-established rapper from a cultural hub like Brooklyn. This mixtape boasts her wide range of talents: her singing voice is mature on its own, and coupled with effortless raps and fine taste for curating a bed of beats, she could very well be the next FKA Twigs.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/218754039″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
The production throughout the mixtape is flawless and a credit to her producer Godriguez. Tight beats meld wonderfully with Tembo’s powerful voice, allowing imaginative yet poignant themes to shine through the 12 tracks. Songs like Weoo and Female explore some of the electronic territory that she makes use of and her huge energy that reflects a passion for perosnalising hip-hop.
The most exciting thing about Sampa The Great is that she’s young and mature; a representative of fresh ideas and authenticity in Australian hip-hop. She joins the likes of Baro and Tkay Madiza in their brilliant efforts to refine the image of hip-hop in Australia.
Next week she kicks off a little headline tour; catch her at Newtown Social Club and the Northocte Social Club on the 13th of November.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/218753777″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
