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Sampa the Great doesn’t ease back into the spotlight, she arrives with something to say. Her new single, “Simon Says,” lands as the first taste of her upcoming third album, Nu Zamrock, out October 30 via Loma Vista Recordings.
The Zambian-Australian rapper and singer built her name on genre-blurring records that mix hip hop, jazz, and African musical traditions, and Nu Zamrock pushes that further by drawing directly from her family’s history. The album takes its name and inspiration from Zamrock, the psychedelic rock and funk movement that swept Zambia in the 1970s, after Sampa discovered her uncle had been a founding member of the pioneering band WITCH. “Simon Says” carries that lineage forward while staying rooted in her hip hop foundation.
The track moves through hip hop rhythm, African percussion, and psychedelic touches, giving it a layered, restless energy that shifts rather than settles. Sampa’s vocal delivery stays sharp and direct throughout, matching the song’s subject matter, a pointed reflection on the pressure of visibility and the music industry’s fixation on how artists are supposed to look and act.
What makes “Simon Says” worth hearing is how personal the critique feels without losing its groove. It’s a song built for people who want their music to say something, wrapped in a sound that still moves. For longtime fans of Sampa’s genre-crossing catalog, it’s a strong signal of where Nu Zamrock is headed.
MusicPorta says:
“Simon Says” shows Sampa the Great at her most confident, blending psychedelic texture and African rhythm with a rap delivery that never loses its edge. The production keeps shifting under her, mirroring the song’s theme of resisting a fixed identity. It’s a bold, purposeful opener to what sounds like her most personal project yet.
MusicPorta Rating: ★★★★★
“Simon Says” is an exciting track with captivating energy, impressive delivery, and a memorable sound. Make sure you listen to this impressive song and add it to your playlist today.
“Simon Says” By “Sampa the Great” BELOW
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