Hillzy, born Hilary Chipunza, is quickly becoming one of Zimbabwe’s most promising and exciting Contemporary Urban Music acts. With his unique voice, poignant lyrics, and captivating vulnerability, Hillzy has already built a dedicated following across the globe.
Hillzy’s music straddles the fine line between Hip Hop’s brazen braggadocio and R&B’s melancholy melodies. He first broke onto the scene with his T.U.T.OR. Mixtape, featuring a blend of uptempo Hip Hop tracks with Hillzy’s long-time collaborator H3nry. The project was released while both artists were still studying at the University of Cape Town, where Hillzy developed his skills as a producer, engineer, and multi-genre artist.
During this time, Hillzy managed to build his following and secured collaborations with Cassper Nyovest and Jeremy Loops. He also had appearances on SABC 3’s Morning Expresso and SABC 2’s Hectic 9, and collaborations with Huawei, Castle Lite, and Uber soon followed.
In 2017, Hillzy had a breakout year when he released “Muroora” – an impassioned and stripped-down love ballad that dominated radio and streaming platforms. To date, the song is known as one of Zimbabwe’s quintessential wedding songs. In the same year, he won the Best Diaspora Award at the Zimbabwean Hip Hop Awards, secured an Adidas brand deal, and was named one of Hype Magazine’s Freshmen of The Year.
Hillzy then returned to Zimbabwe, where he undertook the most daring campus tour since the early 2000s. The Legacy Tour featured Hillzy and Garry Mapanzure as the only billed headliners who performed at sold-out shows across every major university and college in Zimbabwe in the summer of 2019. The tour is still regarded as one of the most successful tours in the country.
More success followed as Hillzy caught the eye of Afrobeats superstar and mogul – Mr Eazi. Hillzy then collaborated with Mr Eazi on “You Are Enough”, which was released via Mr Eazi’s Empawa label.
After that, Hillzy’s work and accolades got the attention of American superstar producer and engineer – Dakari (G-Eazy, Halsey, Charlie Puth, E-40). Dakari signed Hillzy to his Cider Music imprint, and the two then began work on Hillzy’s critically and commercially acclaimed “Chisikana EP”. The project featured chart-topping collaborations with Sha Sha, Gemma Griffiths, and Garry Mapanzure.
As a talented vocalist, Hillzy is also widely known for his song covers, which have generated a great deal of interest in their own right. His cover for Big Sean’s “Jumping Out The Window” was featured in the 2017 MTV Music Video Awards telecast, and his covers have received stamps of approval from artists like Kehlani and P. Daddy himself.
After the success of “Chisikana”, Hillzy branched out to found his own imprint, Masinh Productions – a portmanteau of Massive In House Productions and a play on words of the word’s Shona slang homonym (ma-scene).
In 2022, Hillzy and Masinh Productions partnered with Point Black Entertainment to further his career and release his upcoming EP – “In The Building”.
Hillzy’s talent and hard work have not gone unnoticed, as he has won several awards and accolades. He won the Best Diaspora Award at the Zimbabwean Hip Hop Awards in 2017 and was named Freshman of The Year by Hype Magazine. He also won Best R&B Soul at the ZIMA Awards in 2021.
Hillzy’s music has resonated with audiences across the world, and his lyrics are often introspective and personal, touching on themes such as love, loss, and mental health. He has become an advocate for mental health awareness and has spoken openly about his own struggles with depression and anxiety.
Despite his success, Hillzy remains grounded and connected to his fans. He is known for his down-to-earth personality and frequently engages with his followers on social media. He has also used his platform to support and collaborate with other rising artists, helping to uplift the Zimbabwean music industry as a whole.
Hillzy’s latest project, the In The Building EP, is highly anticipated by fans and industry insiders alike.
Hillzy’s partnership with Point Black Entertainment is expected to take his career to the next level, with plans for international collaborations and performances in the works. His dedication to his craft and his fans, combined with his undeniable talent, make Hillzy a force to be reckoned with in the music industry.
In an interview with the Zimbabwean Herald, Hillzy said, “I just want to make music that people can relate to and that makes them feel something. If I can do that, then I’m happy.” With the release of In The Building and his ongoing commitment to his fans and his craft, it seems that Hillzy is well on his way to achieving that goal.
In conclusion, Hillzy’s rise to fame is a testament to his talent, hard work, and perseverance. He has become a trailblazer for Zimbabwean music, carving out a unique sound that blends hip hop and R&B with his own personal style. With his new EP and partnership with Point Black Entertainment, Hillzy is poised to take the music world by storm and cement his place as one of Zimbabwe’s most exciting and promising musical talents.
