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As Above, So Below (Sampa the Great album)

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As Above, So Below
Studio album by
Sampa the Great
Released9 September 2022 (2022-09-09)
RecordedZambia[1]
Length39:08
LabelLoma Vista
Producer
Sampa the Great chronology
The Return
(2019) 		As Above, So Below
(2022)
Singles from As Above, So Below
  1. "Lane"
    Released: 29 April 2022[2]
  2. "Never Forget"
    Released: 29 June 2022[3]
  3. "Bona"
    Released: 28 July 2022[4]
  4. "Let Me Be Great"
    Released: 9 September 2022 [5]

As Above, So Below is the second studio album by Zambian singer-songwriter and rapper Sampa the Great, released on 9 September 2022 through Loma Vista Recordings. The album was recorded in Zambia after Sampa the Great relocated there from Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic,[6][1] and was announced in June 2022 alongside the release of the second single.[3] As Above, So Below peaked at number 12 on the ARIA Charts.

In a statement accompanying the album's release, Sampa the Great said "After years of feeling like I had to represent and be an ambassador for everyone, I finally feel like I get to be an ambassador and fully represent myself."[7]

The album was nominated for Australian Album of the Year at the 2022 J Awards.[8]

The album was nominated for the 2022 Australian Music Prize.[9]

A deluxe version was released in May 2023, featuring 7 live tracks.

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic81/100[10]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Clash8/10[12]
Exclaim!8/10[6]
The Guardian[13]
NME[14]
Pitchfork6.8/10[1]

Paul Simpson from AllMusic said "As Above, So Below takes influence from past and present styles of music from Zambia, Botswana (where Sampa was raised) and South Africa, sounding organic and earthy yet thoroughly contemporary. A much more concise record than the sprawling, jazzy The Return, As Above similarly celebrates heritage and culture while looking inward and discussing personal issues."[11]

Kish Lal from The Guardian wrote, "Tied together by a desire for authenticity and marked by a ferocious culmination of frustration and self-actualisation, As Above, So Below is Tembo's most cohesive body of work yet." Lal concluded the review with "The underlying thesis of As Above, So Below is the revolutionary act of self-love, which is distilled in 'Let Me Be Great', featuring the Beninese singer Angeliqué Kidjo. A bright tangle of horns and soaring vocals from Kidjo is an emotional, full-circle moment teeming with mutual respect from one start to another."[13]

Kyann-Sian Williams from NME said "The record is a heartfelt, honest homage to a country and continent, created by a powerful, unapologetic artist. This intelligent, harmonious and compelling album shows just how much Sampa the Great has grown over her years in the limelight."[14]

James Mellen from Clash said "The beautiful blends of genres and crisp production make As Above, So Below an enthralling listen, and has Sampa raising the bar for herself once again."[12]

Antoine-Samuel Mauffette Alavo from Exclaim! opined that "As Above, So Below signifies a transition in [Sampa the Great's] musical journey and an expansion of her creative palette. Sampa navigates the dichotomy of an African artist presenting traditional sounds to a Western audience. The rapper expertly interrogates the exoticist gaze and industry expectations while reconnecting to African soundscapes."[6]

Stephen Kearse from Pitchfork found that "Sampa folds zamrock, polyrhythmic percussion and choral harmonies into her roving music. Though her rapping remains impersonal, she sounds renewed on these homegrown songs, the anxiety of her past music replaced with relief." Kearse added "The album is leaner and punchier than its restless predecessor, trading winding verses and interludes for streamlined songs of celebration... the songs prioritise rhythm and groove with a mix of live instrumentation and buoyant drum programming."[1]

Double J said "While there have been some significant changes for album number two, plenty remains the same. Most notably, Sampa Tembo's raw skills as a lyricist and rapper. She spits with a confidence, clarity and passion that sounds genuinely inextinguishable across the album. As if she's never had more to say and never felt more comfortable saying it."[7] In their 50 best albums of the year list, Double J placed As Above, So Below at 7th.[15]

Track listing

[edit]
As Above, So Below track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Shadows"
Mag444:19
2."Lane" (with Denzel Curry and Powers Pleasant)
  • Kleinman
  • Pleasant
  • Sacks
  • Solomon "Plate" Moyo
2:42
3."Never Forget" (with Chef 187, Mwané, and Tio Nason)
  • Mag44
  • Blazer
3:37
4."Mask On" (with Joey Badass)
2:52
5."Bona"
  • S. Tembo
  • Mando
  • Mag44
  • Sampa the Great
2:40
6."Can I Live?" (with Witch)
  • Mag44
  • Blazer
4:14
7."Imposter Syndrome" (with James Sakala)
  • S. Tembo
  • Mando
  • Samuel Nyambe
  • James Sakala
  • Mag44
  • Sampa the Great
4:17
8."Tilibobo"
  • S. Tembo
  • Mando
  • Moyo
  • Mag44
  • Moyo
3:04
9."Lo Rain" (with Mwanjé)
  • S. Tembo
  • Dreamlife
  • Pleasant
  • M. Tembo
  • Mag44
  • Pleasant
  • Dreamlife
3:32
10."IDGAF" (with Kojey Radical)
  • Mag44
  • Sampa the Great
4:08
11."Let Me Be Great" (with Angélique Kidjo)
  • S. Tembo
  • Angélique Kidjo
  • Mando
  • Samuel Masta
Mag443:54
Total length:39:08
Deluxe edition (Live from Lusaka)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."Shadows" (featuring Gabbi Chansa Lamba and iMitundy Choir)
  • S. Tembo
  • Mando
  • Agripa Bwalya
  • Collins Sikwese
  • Ian Wabu
  • Kelvin Chipoya
  • Mark Simwanza
  • Peter Ngoma
4:57
13."Imposter Syndrome" (featuring James Sakala and iMitundu Choir)
  • S. Tembo
  • Mando
  • Nyambe
  • Salaka
  • Bwalya
  • Sikwese
  • Wabu
  • Chipoya
  • Simwanza
  • Ngoma
4:36
14."Can I Live?"
  • S. Tembo
  • Chanda
  • Mando
  • Bwalya
  • Sikwese
  • Wabu
  • Chipoya
  • Simwanza
  • Ngoma
4:20
15."Mask On" (featuring Natasha Chansa)
  • S. Tembo
  • Mando
  • Moyo
  • Virginie
  • Bwalya
  • Sikwese
  • Wabu
  • Chipoya
  • Simwanza
  • Ngoma
3:07
16."Never Forget" (featuring Chef 187, Tio Nason, Mwanjé, and Nomankanjani)
  • S. Tembo
  • Kaira
  • Mando
  • Nyirongo
  • M. Tembo
  • Bwalya
  • Sikwese
  • Wabu
  • Chipoya
  • Simwanza
  • Ngoma
3:57
17."Tilibobo" (featuring Mag44 and Solomon Plate)
  • S. Tembo
  • Mando
  • Moyo
  • Bwalya
  • Sikwese
  • Wabu
  • Chipoya
  • Simwanza
  • Ngoma
4:52
18."Lo Rain" (featuring Mwanjé)
  • S. Tembo
  • Dreamlife
  • Pleasant
  • M. Tembo
  • Bwalya
  • Sikwese
  • Wabu
  • Chipoya
  • Simwanza
  • Ngoma
6:42

Personnel

[edit]

Musicians

  • Sampa Tembo – vocals
  • Mwanjé – additional vocals (tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11), vocals (3, 9), background vocals (12)
  • Mag44 – drum programming (1, 3–11), additional vocals (4, 8, 10)
  • Sammy Masta – guitar (1, 3–6, 8–12), additional vocals (4, 10), vocals (11)
  • Samuel Nyambe – keyboards (1, 3–6, 8–11), additional vocals (4, 7, 10)
  • Mufrika – piano (1)
  • Gabby Chansa Lamba – spoken word (1)
  • Amadou Suso – strings (1)
  • Tio Nason – additional vocals (2, 11), vocals (3), background vocals (12)
  • Solomon Plate – drum programming (2, 4), additional vocals (4)
  • Denzel Curry – vocals (2)
  • Joshua Lungu – African percussion (3)
  • Philip Ngoma – African percussion (3)
  • Chef 187 – vocals (3)
  • Joey Badass – vocals (4)
  • Kalukusha Nkole Gibson – bass guitar (6)
  • James Sakala – vocals, guitar (7)
  • Dreamlife – drum programming (9)
  • Powers Pleasant – drum programming (9)
  • Kojey Radical – vocals (10)
  • Arthur Kabaso Seba – saxophone (11)
  • Angélique Kidjo – vocals (11)
  • Kunda Nyenda – alto (12–18)
  • Lysa Phiri – alto (12–18)
  • Lazarus Lalo Zulu – keyboards (12–18)
  • Sarah Katai – soprano (12–18)
  • Wendy Mvula – soprano (12–18)
  • Bartholomew Chilufya Chimbwa – tenor (12–18)
  • Evans Mulwe – tenor (12–18)
  • Kasonde "Tek1" Sunkutu – drums (12–18)

Technical

  • Mike Bozzi – mastering (1–11)
  • Ruairi O'Flaherty – mastering (12–18)
  • Neal H Pogue – mixing (1–11)
  • Nathan Burgess – mixing (12–18), engineering (2)
  • Powers Pleasant – mixing (2)
  • Ben "Blazer" Kalul – engineering (1, 2, 4, 5, 7–18)
  • Ezekiel Nyimbili – engineering (1)
  • Sidney Muyamba – engineering (1)
  • Maleho Makgothi – engineering (2, 9)
  • Juan "Saucy" Pena – engineering (4)
  • Dave Holmes – engineering (10)
  • Jean Hebrail – engineering (11)
  • Mapalo Manda – engineering assistance (12–18)

Visuals

  • Christopher Leckie – package design
  • Imraan Christian – photography

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for As Above, So Below
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[16] 12

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Version Format Label Catalogue
Various 18 November 2022 Standard CD, digital download, 2x LP, streaming Loma Vista LVR02896
Australia 12 May 2023 Deluxe digital download, streaming Loma Vista —

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Stephen Kearse (12 September 2022). "Sampa the Great: As Above, So Below Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  2. ^ David James Young (27 April 2022). "Sampa The Great enlists Denzel Curry for comeback single "Lane"". NME. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b Ellie Robinson (29 June 2022). "Sampa The Great shares enchanting new single "Never Forget", details second album". NME. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  4. ^ Alex Gallagher (28 July 2022). "Listen to Sampa the Great's Triumphant New Single "Bona"". Music Feeds. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  5. ^ Eddie Fu (9 September 2022). "Rap Song of the Week: Sampa the Great Strikes Out for Herself on "Let Me Be Great"". Consequence. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Antoine-Samuel Mauffette Alavo (9 September 2022). "Sampa the Great Weaves Past and Present on the Electrifying 'As Above, So Below'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Sampa The Great – As Above, So Below". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Here's all the J Awards 2022 nominees!". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Shortlist Revealed for the 18th Australian Music Prize". Music Feeds. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  10. ^ "As Above So Below by Sampa the Great Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Sampa the Great – As Above, So Below Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Sampa The Great – As Above, So Below". Clash Music. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Sampa the Great: As Above So Below review – a triumphant and defiant homecoming". The Guardian. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Sampa the Great – 'As Above, So Below' review: a powerful, free-spirited statement". NME. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  15. ^ "The 50 best albums of 2022". Double J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Sampa the Great – As Above, So Below". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
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