Hip Hop Pantsula, better known as HHP, is arguably one of the most innovative hip-hop artists in African music today. His latest album, Acceptance Speech, highlights his versatility and great ability to utilize different genres of music (a style he calls Motswako which means ‘mixture’ in Setswana) to bring out a unique hip hop flavor. Even more interesting is his use of a 12 piece band (6 ladies [Bass player, Alto Sax, Trombone, Keyboard, 2 backing singers] and 6 guys[Guitarist, Keyboards, Drums, 2 backing singers and myself, the rapper]) to round out his style. He has performed with Will Downing, Angelina Kidjo, Jamie Cullum, Saul Williams, Snoop Dogg, Kwani Experience, Ringo, Bongo Maffin, Mapumba and many more.

Darfur has a hypnotic baseline to it with a hint of arabic influence (my hips don’t lie!) and subtly slips in the socially conscious message. Music N Lights harkens back to the feel-good 70’s with a nice head-bobbing beat. Mpitse has a nice feel that has a hint of the trumpets that were so common with older African musicians. Chic Music is a feel-good disco dancing tune that may have you hankering for bell bottoms, a large afro, and a disco ball. The album is definitely not your hard hitting, clubhouse kind of rapping, but a great one for anyone looking for good music, great rapping, and innovative music. Acceptance Speech has been nominated for an Album of the Year award a the South African Music Awards. Who knows, he may just get to five his acceptance speech after all!

To learn more about him, visit his myspace page.