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Sam Turpin

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Sam Turpin
Birth nameSamuel Thomas Turpin
Born (1995-09-02) September 2, 1995 (age 29)
OriginJohannesburg, South Africa
GenresHip-Hop/Rap, Alternative
Occupation(s)Rapper, producer
Years active2013-present

Samuel Thomas Turpin (born 2 September 1995) is a South African rapper, producer and musical artist.

He is the son of South African photographer and activist Gisèle Wulfsohn.[1]

Biography

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Turpin grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa where he was exposed to a variety of cultural influences, including hip hop music and hip hop culture.[2] In 2011, his mother passed away from cancer and the following year Turpin began making music as an outlet to express emotion and cope with loss.[3]

Music career

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In 2013, Turpin released his debut single "Cranes" which garnered enough interest for him to start performing around Johannesburg.[4] In 2014, he released his debut EP "Eternal Sentiment" as a limited online release.[5] Turpin released his second EP "Wasi-Wasi" accompanied by some self-produced music videos.[6] In 2016, Sam was interviewed about the state of South African youth and society in director Lebogang Rasethaba's noted documentary "The People Versus The Rainbow Nation" which was released on MTV.[7] In 2017, he released his first full-length mixtape "4am In Jozi", a musical ode to the night-time anxieties of central Johannesburg.[8] The project garnered Turpin a brand showcase of selected artists as well as fashion-oriented placements in the South African creative industry.[9][10]

Turpin performing live in Soweto, 2019

In early 2019, Turpin released the first single since his mixtape, a song titled "Summer Evening" featuring London-based India Shan, which plays like a personal letter to his mother.[11] According to Turpin, this was the first time he was able to express himself "directly" to his mother since she passed.[12] This was followed by "Sahara Flow", a single drawing more from his Jewish heritage, sampling an ancient Hebrew chant, sung by South African singer Jessica Sherman.[13] In late 2019, Turpin joined the live ensemble of The Charles Géne Suite and began performing at festivals, club shows and events.[14]

In mid-March 2020, during South Africa's COVID-19 lockdown, Turpin and collaborator Lenny-Dee Doucha released their single "Cloud City" specifically for their followers in lockdown.[15][16] In May 2020, Turpin collaborated with film maker Katya Abedian-Rawháni to release their short musical film "Sahara Flow" which premiered via London's Nataal Magazine.[17][18] In early 2022, Turpin participated in the POST POST digital concert organised by Music in Africa and Tshepang Ramoba of the renowned BLK JKS and released his latest single "Broken Mirror", collaborating on the cover artwork with Japanese visual artist Keisuke Nakayama.[19][20] Sam was then featured on The Charles Géne Suite's debut album "Suite Nites", appearing on two tracks.[21] In mid 2022 Sam produced and starred in the short film and music video for “Whiskey Music” off of The Charles Géne Suite album.[22][23] In November 2022, Sam travelled to Cape Town with fellow artist Laliboi to perform at two shows, Selective Live and The Lightning Bolt Festival.[24]

Turpin performing in Tokyo, Japan, 2024

In January 2023, the Suite Nites album featuring Sam was released in Japan as a deluxe physical edition through Paraphernalia Records and Disk Union.[25][26][27] In September 2023, Sam released his latest project, the three track EP "Syncope" along with his self-directed visuals for the single "Moon Light" which featured Laliboi, The Charles Géne Suite and Jenny Dison.[28] In October 2024 Sam travelled to Tokyo, Japan to perform at the Tour du Monde Event by NO VISA.[29][30]

Personal life and education

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In 2017, Turpin received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand in Anthropology and History.[31] He later pursued a program in music production and sound engineering.[32]

Turpin is fluent in English, isiZulu and also knows some basic French and Japanese.[33]

Discography

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Extended plays

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  • Eternal Sentiment (2014)
  • Wasi-Wasi (2015)
  • Syncope (2023)

with ILLA N

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  • Cold Chinese Food (2014)

Mixtapes

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  • 4am In Jozi (2017)

Albums

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with The Charles Géne Suite

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  • Suite Nites (2022)

References

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  1. ^ "Gisèle Wulfsohn: A self-portrait of courage". The Mail & Guardian. 6 January 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  2. ^ Mann, Dave. "Ja. Edition 9". Issuu. p. 14. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  3. ^ Hunkin, Jessica. "A Q&A with Sam Turpin on the Release of 'Thoughts'". Between 10and5. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  4. ^ UrbanDubz (14 August 2013). "South Africa's Rising Star, Sam Turpin Drops His Debut Single 'Cranes' -". Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  5. ^ Lumumba-Kasongo, Enongo (31 March 2014). "NEW SUNSET [PROD. SAMMUS] | SAM TURPIN x SKY BLEW". S ∆ M M U S | PHD. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  6. ^ MacDonald, Fleur (7 January 2016). "Rapper Sam Turpin on collaborating for EP Wasi-Wasi". TRUE Africa. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  7. ^ Sosibo, Kwanele (20 April 2016). "Review: The People versus the Rainbow Nation". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  8. ^ Mkhabela, Sabelo (1 August 2017). "First Listen: Sam Turpin's '4am In Jozi' Is A Soundtrack For Johannesburg Nightlife". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  9. ^ Pulumo, Khumo. "Born in the 90s". eNCA. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  10. ^ HYPE MAGAZINE Staff (20 February 2018). "Ray-Ban Reinvention On Air | Hype Magazine". Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  11. ^ Perfect, Bob (23 May 2019). ""Summer Evening" is Sam Turpin's emotional tribute to his mom". Bubblegum Club. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Sam Turpin Releases Emotional Tribute to His Mother 'Summer Evening'". OkayAfrica. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  13. ^ Sam Turpin (Ft. Jessica Sherman) – Sahara Flow, retrieved 24 April 2020
  14. ^ "Bongeziwe Mabandla, The Charles Gene Suite to headline UMI Feel Good Series, Our Music festival". www.glamour.co.za. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  15. ^ Mandisa Ntsinde (14 April 2020). "#AltTuesdays: Sam Turpin Delivers Charming Love Letter With "Cloud City" Ft. Lenny-Dee". Online Youth Magazine | Zkhiphani.com. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  16. ^ Harding, Andrew (3 April 2020). "South Africa's ruthlessly efficient fight against coronavirus". BBC News. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  17. ^ "Sahara Flow". nataal.com. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Katya Abedian". Studio Journal knock (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  19. ^ Mandisa Ntsinde (1 March 2022). "#AltTuesday: Sam Turpin Speaks On The Brokenness Of The World In "Broken Mirror"". Online Youth Magazine | Zkhiphani.com. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  20. ^ Skye Mallac (7 March 2022). "SAM TURPIN DROPS MORAL TRUTHS ON NAVIGATING THE WORLD IN HIS NEW TRACK "BROKEN MIRROR"". Texx and the City. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  21. ^ Skye Mallac (1 July 2022). "THE CHARLES GENE SUITE SPIN AN EXTENDED GENRE-HOPPING SONIC DELIGHT IN THEIR ALBUM, SUITE NIGHTS". Texx and the City. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  22. ^ Boipelo Tshabalala (31 August 2022). "Distilling the moment with The Charles Géne Suite and 'Whiskey Music'". Bubblegum Club Magazine. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  23. ^ TAYO ODUTOLA (16 September 2022). "The Charles Géne Suite and Sam Turpin find inspiration in "Whiskey Music" [Video]". EARMILK MUSIC PUBLICATION. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  24. ^ Harry Fisher (17 November 2022). "The Lightning Bolt: Africa's Biggest Custom Bike Competition". ZA Bikers. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  25. ^ BARKS JAPAN MUSIC NETWORK (10 January 2023). "South African Neo Soul Supernova "The Charles Gene Suite", debut world's first CD". barks.jp. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  26. ^ OTOTSU (11 January 2023). "音楽大国、南アフリカ発のミュージシャン・コレクティヴ、The Charles Géne Suiteを取り巻く新世代の才能たち、そして彼らが歴史の中で連綿と繋いできたもの". oto-tsu.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  27. ^ YOKO ITAYA (3 February 2023). "ジャズやヒップホップ、オルタナティブ・ミュージックなどを越境しながら、洗練された都会的な街の気持ちの良い夜の空気や、そこで暮らす人々の温かい息吹を感じとれる素晴らしいアルバム『スイート・ナイツ』。音楽大国、南アフリカ発のミュージシャン・コレクティヴ、The Charles Géne Suite-インタビュー". oto-tsu.jp. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  28. ^ Mike Bower (22 September 2023). "SAM TURPIN RELEASES A CRISP AND TO THE POINT EP CALLED SYNCOPE". Texx and the City. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  29. ^ Chiyumi (2 October 2024). "NO VISA + TYO GQOM + LoversOnly 'Tour du Monde / 世界一周'". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  30. ^ Enter Shibuya (2 October 2024). "NO VISA + TYO GQOM + LoversOnly "Tour du Monde / 世界一周"". Enter Shibuya. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  31. ^ Monaheng, Ts'eliso (24 October 2014). "South African Hip Hop Series: Video Profile On Rapper Sam Turpin". Africa Is a Country. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  32. ^ Sabelo Mkhabela (15 May 2019). "Sam Turpin Releases Emotional Tribute to His Mother 'Summer Evening'". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  33. ^ "Bonheur et liberté : Découvrez Parissoweto Vol. 8, compilée par Sam Turpin". PARISSOWETO Δ. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
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