Samson: The Album is the debut studio album by American rapper Chika. It was released on July 28, 2023, through Warner.[1][2]

Samson: The Album
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 28, 2023 (2023-07-28)
Genre
Length54:13
LabelWarner
ProducerDerek Dixie
Chika chronology
Once Upon a Time
(2020)
Samson: The Album
(2023)
Singles from Samson: The Album
  1. "Requiem for a Dream"
    Released: June 2, 2023
  2. "Truth or Dare"
    Released: June 30, 2023
  3. "Demigod"
    Released: July 7, 2023
  4. "Mad"
    Released: July 21, 2023

Background and composition

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The album's title was inspired by Samson, a Old Testament figure who loses his superhuman strength in an act of betrayal by his lover Delilah.[3] Chika described how this story resonated with her in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine.[4]

I think that my strength has always been my vulnerability, but at the same time, it’s always been my weakness because that’s the thing that’s weaponized the most against me. I wanted to tell my story based on Samson because there’s been a lot of pitfalls; things that have publicly been about me that would look like a loss.

— Chika, in Mankaprr Conteh, "Chika Can Explain Everything", Rolling Stone, 2023

In that same interview, Chika disclosed how her mental health struggles, particularly with post-traumatic stress disorder, had influenced the album's lyrical content.

Release

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In June 2023, Chika released two singles: "Requiem for a Dream" and "Truth or Dare," a collaboration with Freddie Gibbs. Samson: The Album was announced alongside the release of album's third single, "Demigod", on July 7. The album's fourth single, "Mad", was released on July 21 and the full project was released a week later.[1][5]

Track listing

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Samson: The Album track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Overture" (featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda)
  • Dixie
  • Chika
2:15
2."Intro"
  • Oranika
  • Derek Dixie
  • Dixie
  • Chika
2:23
3."Requiem for a Dream"
  • Thurst
  • Dixie
  • Chika
2:06
4."Truth or Dare" (featuring Freddie Gibbs)
4:05
5."Outro"
  • Thurst
  • Dixie
  • Chika
0:50
6."Demigod"
  • Oranika
  • Derek Dixie
  • Dixie
  • Chika
4:34
7."Night 4"
  • Dixie
  • Chika
3:05
8."Awards"
  • Oranika
  • Derek Dixie
  • Dani Pampuri
  • Filipe Pampuri
  • Dixie
  • Chika
4:03
9."Mad"
  • Oranika
  • Andre Robertson
  • Andrew Gradwohl Jr.
  • Carl Taylor
  • Dixie
  • Derelle Rideout
  • Zachary Perry
  • Bizness Boi
  • Derelle Rideout
  • Ekzakt
  • Jupiter!
  • BigWhitebeatz
  • Dixie
  • Chika
2:46
10."Prodigy"
  • Oranika
  • Daniel Pampuri
  • Derek Dixie
  • Dani Pampuri
  • Dixie
  • Chika
4:39
11."Intermission"
  • Oranika
  • Dixie
  • Dixie
  • Chika
0:43
12."Show Me"
  • Oranika
  • Daniel Pampuri
  • Derek Dixie
  • Filipe Pampuri
  • Dixie
  • Dani Pampuri
  • Filipe Pampuri
  • Chika
1:58
13."Plain Jane"
  • Oranika
  • Dixie
  • Dixie
  • Chika
3:17
14."Tap"
  • Oranika
  • Dixie
  • Dixie
  • Chika
2:28
15."Hurt"
  • Oranika
  • Dixie
  • Dixie
  • Chika
1:44
16."Unc's Interlude" (featuring Snoop Dogg)
  • Oranika
  • Snoop Dogg
  • Snoop Dogg
0:46
17."Blind"
  • Oranika
  • Declan Miers
  • Dixie
  • Filipe Pampuri
  • Snoop Dogg
  • Dixie
  • Declan Miers
  • Filipe Pampuri
  • Chika
3:17
18."Brother's Betrayal"
 1:08
19."Delilah"
  • Oranika
  • Dixie
  • Dixie
  • Chika
3:19
20."Get Here" (featuring Stevie Wonder)
  • Oranika
  • Dixie
  • Dixie
  • Chika
4:38
Total length:54:13

References

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  1. ^ a b Fu, Eddie (July 7, 2023). "Chika Announces New Album Samson, Shares "Demigod": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  2. ^ Tourous, Cyrena; Godfrey, Gavin; Harris, LaTesha; Hilton, Robin. "New Music Friday: The best releases out on July 28". NPR. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  3. ^ Daw, Stephen. "Queer Jams of the Week: New Music from Sam Smith, Anne-Marie, CHIKA & More". Billboard. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Conteh, Mankaprr (July 27, 2023). "Chika Can Explain Everything". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  5. ^ Sacher, Andrew (July 7, 2023). "Chika Chika announces long-awaited debut album 'Samson,' shares "Demigod"". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved July 28, 2023.