2015–2016: Early years Sampa the Great was featured on the second single, "Beauty" (September 2015), by
future soul singer-songwriter Wallace ( Wallace Gollan). The rapper's debut
mixtape,
The Great Mixtape, was released as a free download on 16 October 2015, and later on CD and vinyl by Melbourne label Wondercore Island. It was produced by Sydney-based Dave Rodriguez ( Godriguez). On 18 December a mixtape track, "F E M A L E", was released as a single. The track was co-written by Tembo with D Rodrguez-Lovibond. On 19 January 2016 Sampa the Great released a standalone single, "Black Dignity". Two days later another standalone single, "Blue Boss", was issued. The rapper featured on the track "Second Heartbeat" alongside
Okenyo, for
Urthboy's fifth studio album,
The Past Beats Inside Me Like a Second Heartbeat (March 2016). Another two standalone singles followed, "24" and "Blessings", released together on 25 May. On 6 October she issued a music video, "HERoes (The Call)". On 27 October a related music video, "HERoes (The Response)", was released.
2017–2018: HERoes Act 2 to Birds and the Bee9 On 28 April 2017 Sampa the Great released a single, "Everybody's Hero" featuring British singer
Estelle. Her debut extended play,
HERoes Act 2 was the issued on 12 May. Sampa the Great issued a second mixtape,
Birds and the Bee9 (10 November 2017), which "crosses hip-hop, soul, jazz, gospel and reggae", It was produced by Sensible J, Silentjay and
Kwesi Darko. The track "Casper" contained guest vocals from Syreneyiscreamy, the track "Inner Voice" contained guest vocals from Mwanje Tembo, and the track "Healer" contained guest vocals from Zaachariaha. The mixtape won the
Australian Music Prize in March 2018, which includes
AUD$30000 from
Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA), with their CEO Dan Rosen hoping it, "will assist in developing [her] career and help take her music to the world." She hoped to use the prizemoney to fund her own home studio. On 3 October the single, "Rhymes to the East", was released. On 17 October, the single "Bye River" was released. On 20 October, she featured on the track "Your Orbit" by
Ecca Vandal, on her eponymous debut album
Ecca Vandal. On 5 April 2018 a music video, "Black Girl Magik" featuring Nicole Gumbe, was issued. On 23 April the rapper was featured in the music video, "Your Orbit" by
Ecca Vandal.
2018–2020: The Return On 29 November 2018 the artist released her single, "Energy" featuring Nadeem Din-Gabisi along with an accompanying music video. She intended to release her debut studio album later that year: however, it was delayed. Her debut album,
The Return, was released on 13 September 2019 via Ninja Tune. In October 2019 she was listed at No. 2 on
Happy Mags "The 15 Australian Female Artists Changing the Game Right Now." At the
ARIA Music Awards of 2019 Sampa the Great was nominated in two categories:
Best Video (directed by Sanjay De Silva) and
Best Hip Hop Release for "
Final Form". Upon winning Best Hip Hop Release the artist was "snubbed" by ARIA when the TV broadcast switched to a commercial rather than show her acceptance speech. As the first female person of colour to win a hip hop category the move exemplified systemic racism in the industry. On 23 September 2020 the singer released "
Better Days" with
Baker Boy and
Dallas Woods. The artist was nominated in six categories at the
2020 ARIA Music Awards, held in November, and won three: Best Hip Hop Release,
Best Female Artist and
Best Independent Release for
The Return. She also performed at the 2020 ceremony through a video-link to Botswana and delivered "a strong statement" on "lack of diversity of the Australian music industry" and specifically took aim at the ARIA board for her snubbing in the previous year.
2021–present: As Above, So Below In November 2021, Sampa the Great confirmed new music would arrive early in the next year. She toured North America in March and April 2022. Her track, "Never Forget", is a tribute to
Zamrock; she also worked with Emmanuel Jagari Chanda lead singer of
Witch. It was produced by Mag44 and received positive reviews from critics. In September 2022 the singer-rapper supported
Billie Eilish's tour of Australia and undertook a European tour in the following two months. In 2023, it was announced that Sampa the Great would do the theme song for the animated series
Supa Team 4. Sampa featured on vocals on the first track "Life Goes On" of the
Ezra Collective’s album ''Where I'm Meant to Be'', which won the Mercury Prize in September 2023. ==Personal life==