The Return
by Sampa the Great
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. n8lewisreview
    Sep 15, 2019
    10
    With an arresting, and dizzying set of flows. An apparent bottomless knowledge of hip hop harmony and flow. And an uncanny & mystical knowledge and grasp for silver-age B-Boy rhythms and 90’s era deep cuts - Sampa pimp slaps rap’s problematic gender norms out of existence and devours the “uncool factor” of female emcees in a puritanically male world - one breathless verse at a time. SheWith an arresting, and dizzying set of flows. An apparent bottomless knowledge of hip hop harmony and flow. And an uncanny & mystical knowledge and grasp for silver-age B-Boy rhythms and 90’s era deep cuts - Sampa pimp slaps rap’s problematic gender norms out of existence and devours the “uncool factor” of female emcees in a puritanically male world - one breathless verse at a time. She truly is “the Great”. And The Return is too.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

74
#74 Best Album of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Pitchfork
    Sep 23, 2019
    73
    Running 78 minutes, The Return is a dynamic suite of a record, touching on multiple genres without losing focus. ... The Return occasionally feels like it’s beating you over the head. But that’s also part of its charm.
    Read full review
  2. Uncut
    Sep 19, 2019
    90
    Epic debut, an emotionally rich and stylistically broad mediation on homeland, exile and identity. ... A lavish feast of an album. [Nov 2019, p.30]
  3. musicOMH.com
    Sep 16, 2019
    70
    This is a talent to watch, The Return laying down an impressive statement of intent, a marker of Sampa The Great’s potential. This will surely grow with subsequent releases, and it is exciting to think of where she could go next.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »