Sampa the Great’s Can’t Hold Us: Liberated Through Hip Hop

Sampa the Great has been under the radar since her big release As Above So Below, in 2022, which featured a track on Wakanda Forever. The Zambian born, and Australian resident from 2014-2020, hip hop artist has come back swinging. She has a single for the movie Him and is about to release a new record. Her lead single Can’t Hold Us has her amazing vocal spitting bars and brings us a taste of Zamrock…which has me very excited.

First off, what is Zamrock? Well, it’s a fusion of funk, rock, psychedelia and Afro-beats that originated in Zambia from the 60s-70s. It is pretty crazy and a trip to listen to. There are some good compilations out there, which give you an idea of what it’s like. This little known genre is loved by its enthusiasts and it’s great to see Sampa bringing it back. Sampa brings it back with some psychedelic syth and guitar at the beginning of Can’t Hold Us, which runs throughout the track. Heavy 4/4 beats with some thumping percussion harken back to those 70s Afro-beats, as well as modern hip hop. In that way, the track acts as a bridge between modern hip hop and the Zamrock of the 70s.

Sampa’s bars have always been about her cultural pride and pride as a woman. Examples that come to mind are Female and Black Girl Magik. These themes are in full effect on Can’t Hold Us where she celebrates her talent and culture, while hitting on themes of emancipation and breaking free from what binds us. The focus on celebrating Zamrock shows the pride in her culture and the duty to share it with others. THis is a complex track with elaborate hooks, raw and emotive vocals and some ethereal chorus sections. This track showcases Sampa’s evolution as an artist in her full form.

I was so excited to see Sampa come out with a new track. The thing with Sampa is like with all great artists…she is never content with where she is…she must push the genre. She’s like a shark…ever moving forward. The bold choice to blend Zamrock with modern hip hop is extremely exciting and if the album is anything like Can’t Hold Us, we are in for an album of the year contender.

Listen to Can’t Hold Us