HHP puts his money where his mouth is

South African hip-hop icon and multi award winner name Jabulani Tsambowho aka HHP, is stepping up his game and taking his music to the next level with a groundbreaking collaboration for his upcoming album, "Dumela".

The Mafikeng born rapper, hot on the heels of the success of his previous albums has decided to enlist the vocal stylings of prolific US hip-hop legend Nas for a cross continental collaboration on one of his tracks, ‘Keledimo’ for his soon to be released album.  So determined was he to make this dream collaboration happen with Nas that, HHP was willing to pay over R100 000 for chance to share the microphone with the legendary emcee.

Nas, a New York native, who was born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, is the estranged husband of pop singer Kelis, who burst on to the music scene in the early 90’s with his classic albums ‘Illmatic’ and “It was written’ and is best known for his controversial hit ‘Hip Hop is Dead.’

"I respect Nas's craft and have always wanted to do something with him, I didn't want to go the route where he raps in my song for free, which he would have had to offer because then I still would be waiting for him to get back to me. So I decided to pay him for the track because I look up to the guy, so I took the normal standard route of featuring an artist in a song," HHP said.

The track featuring Nas, is set to be released on the planned 25-track double album in which the Maf-town native talks about "being idolised by people when all he wants is for them to realise he is human".

Even though working with Nas has meant that he has had to push back the release of his album by three months, because of all the technicalities involved when working with international artists, HHP has said that it is money he probably "won't regret spending, as he has got what he wanted".

"I could have waited for connections and favours from people to hook me up with Nas for months, but since I wanted my album out before the end of this year, I didn't wait for favours and decided to do it myself and go about it the right way," he said.

Other collaborations that fans can look forward to on the album include a collaboration with Hatian born multi platinum selling artist, formally with the Fugees, Wyclef Jean and African- American neo soul singer Goapele.

Article written by Rami Nhlapo
(JT Comms Media Resource Centre)