Sampa the Great

Sampa the Great, otherwise known as Sampa Tembo, is a hip-hop and R&B artist who was born in Zambia, grew up in Botswana, and is currently based in Melbourne. Her music embraces traditional sounds and beats of Southern Africa, as well as substantial jazz and soul influences, which are part of the rich texture of her music even when they remain understated, as is often the case. She blends rapping and singing into a fluid state throughout her songs as she crosses back and forth in her songs. Her delivery has a sense of urgency and tightness that contrasts with the generally laid backbeats she raps on top of. Her arrangements are not necessarily sparse, but her songs feel spacious enough that her multitrack vocals and the layered instrumentation don't get in the way.