Jabulani Tsambo, popularly known as Jabba or HHP (Hip Hop Panstula) was born in Mafikeng in the North West Province.
The Mostwako MC, is known for having made Setswana cool.
The rappers love for music started at a young age when he teamed up with his high school friends to start the group Verbal Assassins. With the assistant of Chicco Twala they created their debut album Party before separating in 1997.
HHP later went on to release a number of albums including Introduction, Maftown, O Mang?, Acceptance Speech and Motswako High School.
HHP the celebrated musician
Over his long career, HHP had been nominated for numerous awards, including a BET for Best International Act. The star also won over the hearts of thousands when he took to the dance floor as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing SA in 2007. Eventually winning the competition alongside partner Hayley Bennet.
His last Album
According to reports earlier this year in April the artist mentioned in a Tweet that his album DRUM would be his final. After being questioned by a fan on the social media site about when he would drop the album, and whether or not it will be his last, the rapper responded: “Yes it’s my last.”
Family life
In 2016 reports claimed that HHP had married the former Big Brother Africa contestant Lerato Sengati. The two were very private about their relationship, but the rapper finally confirmed the rumours in an interview with Slikour, saying: “Being married is amazing.”
But this year there were rumours of a separation.
Depression
In an interview with Gareth Cliff in 2016, the musician admitted that he had attempted suicide three times.
He said the first of those two suicide attempts came as he was struggling to get gigs and radio stations were not playing his music anymore.
On the first attempt, Jabba said he waited for his children to go to school, went into his garage and tried committing suicide through carbon monoxide poisoning, which did not work after an hour of inhaling the gas. He then asked his friend for his car to attempt the suicide again, which did not work.
The third and last time he tried suicide in 2015 was after he had had a “silly” fight with his then girlfriend. He waited for her to leave the house and tried helium poisoning, which also failed.
According to the Citizen one of the rappers friends confirmed that the cause of his death is suspected to be suicide saying, “It was the depression that took him.”
