Hillzy is a Zimbabweam Talented Singer, Rapper, and Record Producer
Real Name: Hilary Ngaakudzwe Chipunza
Hillzy’s real name is Hilary Ngaakudzwe Chipunza.
Age: Born on May 10, 1994
Hillzy was born on May 10, 1994.
Education: Pursuit of Knowledge
In 2013, Hillzy left Zimbabwe to pursue a BSc in Computer Science and Computer Engineering at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
Career as a Musician
In 2018, Hillzy released a project titled “Overdue (The Love Mixtape).” He is also known for producing beats under the alias Mr Masinh. Hillzy’s musical journey led him to collaborate with the talented producer Beatsmith:
“I heard of Beatsmith when I was still in high school, but we hadn’t met because I was also making beats under Mr Masinh. I call myself Mr Masinh when I make beats. So people were like, ‘You should collaborate with this kid called Beatsmith.’ Years later, I’m in my final year, Beatsmith is a first-year student at UCT, and I’m like, ‘So I’ve heard that you make beats. Do you want to work on something?’ He gave me a beat. I wrote to it, and ever since, nothing has been the same.”
emPawa Initiative: A Turning Point
Hillzy took part in Mr Eazi’s emPawa competition, and even though he didn’t make it to the top 10 finalists, his song “You Are Enough” left a lasting impression on Mr Eazi. He personally invited Hillzy to the masterclass and offered to fund a music video for the song. Following this, Hillzy’s talent gained the attention of renowned Zimbabwean producer and engineer, Dakari. Impressed by Hillzy’s abilities, Dakari signed him to his Cider Music label. Together, they created the highly acclaimed and commercially successful “Chisikana EP.” This project featured collaborations with Sha Sha, Gemma Griffiths, and Garry Mapanzure.
Riding high on the success of “Chisikana,” Hillzy founded his own label, Masinh Productions. The name cleverly combines “Massive In House Productions” and plays with the Shona slang homonym (ma-scene).
In 2022, Hillzy and Masinh Productions joined forces with Point Black Entertainment to elevate his career and launch his forthcoming EP, titled “In The Building.”
Discography
Mixtapes
- “The University Take Over Reloaded (T.U.T.O.R)”
- “Overdue (The Love Mixtape)” (2018)
EPs
- “Chisikana” (2020)
- “In the Building” (2022)
Awards and Recognitions
Hillzy has earned significant recognition for his collaboration with Garry Mapanzure on the song “TV Room,” which won the prestigious All Africa Music Award (AFRIMA) in Nigeria for Best Artist, Duo, or Group in African R&B & Soul. This achievement places him alongside renowned artists such as Davido, Tellaman, and Sarz.
Additional awards and honors include:
- Best Diaspora – Zim Hip Hop Awards – 2017
- Freshman of The Year | Hype Magazine – 2017
- Best Duo or Group in R&B – AFRIMA Awards – 2019
- R&B Song of the Year – StarFM Awards – 2019
- Best Diaspora Changamire Awards – 2019
- Best R&B – StarFM Awards – 2020
- Best R&B Soul – ZIMA Awards – 2021
