Samsa

Samsa is an American rapper from Queens, New York, associated with the lo-fi, SoundCloud-driven wave of internet rap that flourished in the mid-2010s. He built a devoted online following in 2017 with tracks like «Butterflies», «Tinder Samurai» and «Anthropocene», which spread quickly through SoundCloud and streaming platforms and racked up millions of plays despite his outsider, DIY approach to releasing music.

His sound blended hazy, melancholic production with introspective, often deadpan lyricism, fitting within the broader desi and diaspora-influenced corner of underground rap that was emerging alongside acts on smaller collectives and labels such as Off The Jump. His stage name was drawn from Gregor Samsa, the protagonist of Franz Kafka's «The Metamorphosis», a reference fans have connected to the isolation and alienation running through his music.

In December 2017, Samsa announced his retirement from music and departure from his label, citing a loss of passion for the work, and stepped away from releasing new material. Songs like «Solo», «Haunt Me» and «Burfi» remain popular among listeners who discovered his catalog after his exit, and he is remembered as one of the more distinctive voices of that era's SoundCloud rap underground.