7/10

Upon the release of her breakthrough debut album 'The Return' in 2019, Sampa The Great quickly became one of the most notable hip-hop artists to have emerged from Australia for years. Born in Zambia and raised in Botswana, she created this incredibly diverse sound that maintained a progressive Western direction, heavily rooted within her African heritage. But with the pandemic shutting down her new homeland entirely, she spent much of those years back in Zambia, rediscovering who she truly is. And now returns with her sophomore studio album 'As Above, So Below', a record that is more about self-discovery and reinvention.

While the tone and aesthetic behind 'As Above, So Below' remains very much in the same avenue of her original material, there is this distinctive flair for African influences permeating every texture throughout her latest full-length. Inviting a flurry of high-profile artists such as Joey Bada$$, Kojey Radical, Denzel Curry and countless others along for the ride, her newest release aims to fuse her two sides to her origins into one vibrant flow that brings more of her effervescent and adventurous intentions to the forefront throughout.

It may not have the same bite that her debut LP possessed, but 'As Above, So Below' gives us a strong insight into how Sampa The Great sees herself and her path right now. Brimming with fresh and innovative ideals and a driven approach to production, she has returned with a wonderfully inventive offering, filled with progressive energy from start to finish.