Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP)

As one of South Africa’s most loved and recognized Rap and Hip Hop performers, Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP), born Jabulani Tsambo, is nothing short of a musical phenomenon.  With SAMA wins including “Best Male Artist”, “Best Rap Album” and “Best Hip Hop Artist”, as well as having shared the stage with top international artists such as Snoop Dog, Jamie Cullum and Angelique Kidjo, HHP is a rapper to be reckoned with. Performing in Setswana, isiZulu, Sesotho, English and other local languages, HHP is an ambassador for the colourful linguistic diversity of South Africa, an aptitude recognized by Pan-South African Language Board, which presented this artist with the Multi-Lingualism Award in 2008.

His music-related accolades over the years are as numerous as the languages in which he performs, including Best Record Label (Botswana Hip Hop Music Award 2004), Best Male Artist (Kellogs' Star-in-You Kids awards 2006), People's Choice and Best Music Star (Maftown Golden Awards 2007) and the Mzansi 'Music Star' Award (Stars Of Mzansi Awards 2008), while his award nominations include Most Promising Act In Africa (KORA 2000), Best Male Artist, Best Rap Artist and Best Director (Channel O Awards 2007) and Best African Act (MTV Europe Music Awards 2007).

Besides countless TV interviews and live broadcast performances, HHP has made many other diverse television appearances.  In 2007 he won the third season of the reality dance show Strictly Come Dancing, and in 2008 he starred in 11 episodes of the long-running hit musical-soap opera, Rhythm City. He has also judged on the panel of Idols during the 2010 and 2011 competitions.

With seven successful albums and an eighth on the way, HHP is constantly pushing the boundaries of his genre “Motswako”, meaning “mixture” in Setswana.  Fusing Afro-beat and hip hop rhythms with groundbreaking vocals, HHP is an exhilarating live act, and is able to perform with backing tracks or with his live band, consisting of 6 female (Bass player, Alto Sax, Trombone, Keyboard, 2 backing singers) and 5 male (Guitarist, Keyboards, Drums, 2 backing singers) artists.