SOUTH Africa’s award-winning Hip Hop star and rapper, HHP (Hip Hop Pantsula) also known as Jabba has died at the age of 38.
The wife of the rapper’s publicist, Lerato Sengadi, confirmed the death to TimesLive newspaper. “Yes, yes it’s true. I am with the family at the moment,” the paper quoted Lerato, who spoke from the scene as saying.
HHP was one of the pioneering artistes of the successful SA Hip-Hop sub-genre Notswako (Khuli Chana, Cassper Nyovest, Fifi Cooper etc.).
He is also one of the first rappers to successfully mix Hip-Hop and Kwaito, and was one of the first SA rappers to achieve mainstream success.
He had hits such as “Tswaka,” “Bosso,” “Music and Lights,” “Lekoko La Lekoko,” and countless others, and released several gold-selling albums.
HHP, whose real name is Jabulani Tsambo, had according to reports opened up in the past about his struggles with depression.
According to TimesLive, another media outlet SowetanLive reported back in 2015 that he had attempted suicide on several occasions.
Messages have started pouring in from his colleagues including AKA and Da L.E.S who have both eulogised the late rapper on their Twitter pages.
HHP had a number of awards including South African Music Award for Male Artist of the Year, MTV Africa Music Award for Video of the Year in 2009.
In one of his most successful single releases, HHP brought American singer, Amerie, on board for the remix of Music & Lights.
Though the cause of death hasn’t been confirmed yet, HHP’s death is coming a few weeks after the death of another South African celebrity, Shoki Mokgapa was announced.
