Having captivated global audiences with performances at NPR’s Tiny Desk series and AFROPUNK, Sampa The Great, the internationally acclaimed musician and rapper, is now poised to make her mark in South Africa with her brand-new single, “Can’t Hold Us” featuring Mwanje. Released via Loma Vista Recordings, the track signals the launch of a new era for Sampa, introducing her signature sound: Nu Zamrock—a fusion of rock, hip-hop, soul, and African rhythm that is both ancestral and futuristic.
The single is accompanied by a striking visualiser directed by Iggy London, capturing the energy and confidence of Sampa as she steps fully into her artistic power. First teased during a live performance in Brixton alongside legendary streamer DJ AG, “Can’t Hold Us” is a declaration of purpose, heritage, and creative freedom.
“This is the declaration track. I’ve stepped into my power, into my sound, into my purpose. I’ve claimed this thing—Nu Zamrock—as something of my own, something I’m shaping in real time. And in this new form, with this much clarity and drive? You can’t hold us. You can’t stop us. Not anymore,” says Sampa.
Sampa reinvents Zamrock—the genre-defying 1970s fusion of rock, funk, and African rhythm—through her own lens, blending it seamlessly with poetry, hip-hop, and soul. The result is a sound that resonates across generations, rooted in heritage but boldly looking forward. “Zamrock is my sound. It’s my voice. Being defiant, being fearless—that’s what Zamrock is,” she explains.
“Can’t Hold Us” is the first taste of Sampa’s forthcoming third album, following her critically acclaimed releases As Above, So Below (2022) and her debut The Return (2019). Over the years, she has earned global recognition with multiple ARIA Awards, Bandcamp’s Album of the Year, and the Australian Music Prize, while performing on stages worldwide. Now, Sampa is ready to cement her presence in South Africa, bringing her bold, genre-defying sound to local audiences.
Listen to “Can’t Hold Us” here
Press release courtesy of Be Music
