Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP)

BIO

Raised in Mmabatho, Hip Hop Pantsula/HHP (born Jabulani Tsambo) was a hip hip artist from South Africa.

HHP died 24 October 2018.

His break came in 1997 when he and his school friends met with renowned producer Chicco Twala who produced their debut album 'Party'. The band split soon after the album’s release. Tsambo (aka Hip Hop Pantsula) then met singer/producer Isaac Mthethwa, and the two worked on his debut solo album. The result was 'Introduction' (2000), an album that introduced a new, vibrant and innovative genre that came to be known at Motswako. The album was recorded in various South African languages like Setswana, isiZulu and Sesotho.

It was followed by a string of albums: 'Maf-Town' (2001), a tribute to the town of Mafikeng, 'O Mang?' (2003), 'O Mang Reloaded' (2004), 'YBA 2 NW' (2005), 'Acceptance Speech' (2007), including the smash hit ''Music & Lights', 'Acceptance Speech Re-Written' (2008), 'Dumela' (2009) and 'Motswafrika' (2011). In 2009 he picked up a MTV Africa Music Award for Best Video for 'Mpitse'.

Outside of music, HHP appeared on the third one-off TV special of quiz show 'Test The Nation', entitled 'National Parenting Test', as the Team Captain representing fathers. In 2007 he won the third season of the reality dance show 'Strictly Come Dancing' along with his professional dance partner Hayley Bennet.