Hip Hop Pantsula | |
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Hip Hop Pantsula with Jennifer Su (2012)
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Background information | |
Birth name | Jabulani Tsambo |
Born |
Mafikeng, North West |
September 14, 1980
Origin | North West, South Africa |
Genres | Motswako |
Occupation(s) | Rapper |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1997–present |
Labels | Lekoko Entertainment |
Associated acts | Cassper Nyovest, Nuru, Omar Hunter El, KayGizm, Asheru |
Jabulani Tsambo (born 14 September 1980), better known by his stage name Hip Hop Pantsula, shortened to HHP, and his nickname Jabba is a South African MotswakoMC who frequently performs in ethnic languages, though mostly in Setswana.
Pantsula completed his high schooling at St. Alban's College in Pretoria. He was initially part of a group called Verbal Assassins, working closely with producer Tebogo Rameetse. In 1997, he and his school friends met with producer Chicco Twala who produced their debut album, Party. However, the band split soon after the release of Party. Pantsula had his next album, Introduction, produced by singer and producer Isaac Mthethwa and recorded in different South African ethnic tongues such as Setswana, isiZulu and Sesotho.
Pantsula frequently uses the phrase "Maf-town" in his music, which refers to his hometown, Mafikeng, of South Africa's North West province.
In 2004 HHP released O Mang, an album that saw him reuniting with his old school friend, Tebogo Rameetse as the producer of a track entitled On My Own. The remix of this track, produced by "Beatmaker" earned him critical acclaim.
He was honoured in September 2007 in the inaugural Mafikeng Golden Stars Awards held at the Mmabana Convention Centre.
Pantsula released Acceptance Speech in December 2007 with its first single, Music & Lights, whose music video features Danny K and US R&B Star Amerie. In December 2009 Pantsula released his seventh studio album Dumela. That same year, he collaborated with another well-known South African rapper, Proverb, on a song entitled Breadwinners, once again featuring Tebogo Rameetse on production. He co-chairs a record label, Lekoko Entertainment.