Never Forget (Sampa the Great song)

Never Forget is a song by Zambian singer and rapper Sampa the Great featuring fellow Zambian rapper Chef 187 and fellow Zambian singers Tio Nason & Mwanjé. It was released on June 29, 2022, as the third single from the former's second studio album As Above, So Below.^[1]

"Never Forget"
Single by Sampa the Great featuring Chef 187, Tio Nason, and Mwanjé
from the album As Above So Below
Released	29 June 2022
Recorded	2022
Genre	Zamrock hip hop
Length	3:37
Songwriter(s)	Kondwani Kaira Magnus Mando Mwanje Tembo Sampa Tembo Taonga Nyirongo
Producer(s)	Mag44 Blazer
Sampa the Great singles chronology
"Lane" (2022) "Never Forget" (2022) "Let Me Be Great" (2022)
Music video
"Never Forget" on YouTube

Background and style

Sampa describes 'Never Forget' as 'a ballad' to Zamrock; a genre that emerged in Zambia in the 1970s. It is a fusion of Kalindula and Psychedelic rock.^[2]

Composition

Sampa composed the first and third verse of the song while Chef 187 composed the second verse. The song features a bridge which was written by Sampa's sister Mwanjé and a chorus written by Sampa's cousin Tio Nason.^[3]

Music video

The song's music video was released on Sampa's YouTube channel on 28 June 2022. The video was directed by Rharha Nembhard, Imraan Christian, and Furmaan Ahmed.^[4] Nembhard disclosed that the idea of time came across her thoughts as soon as she listened to the song, this inspired her and other directors to have the video exhibit the past, present, and future simultaneously. Archival footage of Kenneth Kaunda giving a speech and Paul Ngozi performing are among the footage used in the video to show the cultures of early Zambia.^[5]

Usage in media

The song was used in one of the trailers for the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.^[6][7]

References

1. Ellie Robinson (June 29, 2022). "Sampa The Great shares enchanting new single 'Never Forget', details second album". New Musical Express. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
2. Justin Curto (October 13, 2022). "The Hidden Family History Behind Sampa the Great's 'Never Forget'". New York Vulture. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
3. Ed Lindsay (July 6, 2022). "Sampa The Great ft: Chef 187, Tio Nason + Mwanjé - Never Forget (Official Video)". Word Play Magazine. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
4. L.T Staff (June 29, 2022). "Sampa The Great unveils 'Never Forget' which she describes as an ode to Zamrock music". Lusaka Times. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
5. Magaret Farrell (June 28, 2022). "Sampa the Great Connects to Past, Present, and Future in "Never Forget" Video". Flood Magazine. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
6. Ural Garrett (October 7, 2022). "How Sampa The Great's Zamrock Hip Hop Vibes Made The Recent 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' Trailer". Black Entertainment TV. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
7. L.T Staff (October 4, 2022). "Sampa The Great , Chef 187 , Tio feature in new 'Black Panther' trailer". Lusaka Times. Retrieved May 9, 2023.