#PulseBiography: Rapper Octopizzo Biography Family/ Education/ Business/ Wife/ Girlfriend/ Kids/ Awards/Foundation

In November 2020, Rapper Henry Ohanga alias Octopizzo made a new milestone in his music career after making it to the 2021 Grammy Awards consideration list.

The Grammy Awards Academy proposed Octopizzo to be nominated in the; Record of the year Category for his song Another day, Best Melodic Rap for Kamikaze and Another Day, as well as Best Rap Performance Category for Che Che and Wakiritho ft Sailors. However, the Number Nane Finest did not make it to the Final Nominations List, as the Gala for the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards was held in and around the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles on March 14, 2021.

In 2012 and 2015, Octo was crowned as the Best Male Artiste and Best Hip hop artiste at the Coastal Nzumari Awards respectively.

Apart from his Music, Octopizzo also made debut as an actor on Shuga Season 2 that airs on MTV.

Octopizzo Octopizzo makes it to Grammy Awards Consideration List Pulse Live Kenya

Octopizzo defied the odds stacked against him to become an icon of success and hope for several young kids in the country and in the world.

In 2019, Octopizzo graduated from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA) upon completion of a course in leadership, organizing and action. In September 2018, he also graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was pursuing a course in social impact strategy.

Octopizzo’s Profile

Full Names: Henry Ohanga

Popular as: Octopizzo

Gender: Male

Occupation / Profession: Hip-Hop Artiste

Nationality: Kenyan

Race / Ethnicity: African

Octopizzo Biography

Early Life

Henry Ohanga popularly known as Octopizzo was born in Kibera, the largest slum in Nairobi, Kenya. He is the first Born in a family of four. He lost both his parents while he was still young Boy and he has always confessed how amazing his parents were and how much he misses them.

Octopizzo's father died when he was fourteen, and his mother a year later.

In 2016, Octo donned an outfit that he was gifted by his father in his song #Butere.

“My Dad Rocked it when I was 7yrs Old, I treasured it & saved it for over 20 years so that I could rock it in Respect to Him; This ain’t Nigeria dress code, this is my culture I saved it and am gonna pass it down to my Sons.”

Also Read: Biography: Kikuyu Singer Samidoh Muchoki

Rapper Octopizzo Rapper Octopizzo graduates from Harvard Pulse Live Kenya

Education

Octopizzo also known as Number Nane Finest attended Mashimoni Primary school, where he sat for his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams.

He later joined St. Gloria Secondary School in Kibera where he attained his KCPE Certificate. Later on, he was able to St. Mary’s Changamwe College in Mombasa were he did his basic computer soft studies, before coming back to Nairobi to take a course of an electrician, he worked in a juakali based garage for 3yrs before join music full time.

In 2019, Octopizzo graduated from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA) upon completion of a course in leadership, organizing and action.

In September 2018, he also graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was pursuing a course in social impact strategy.

Octopizzo with other graduates.Rapper Octopizzo graduates from University of Pennsylvania ece-auto-gen

Inspiration

Octopizzo, was inspired to join the Rapper Game by the likes of Jay Z, Nas, Biggie, 2Pac and many more.

Music Career

Octopizzo’s passion for Music goes way back to his High School days. He won various freestyle competitions in Kenya, including G Pange Hip Hop Challenge, Hip Hop Halisi Freestyle Challenge, and Usanii Kona Hip Hop Challenge.

Before venturing into serious music.

Performance

He has performed in number of major events all across the world; Shambala Festival in UK, Spoken World In Berlin,Sauti za Busara Festival in Zanzibar, Kenyan Night in Dubai, Reepabhan festival Hamburg, Coca cola world cup tour, Safaricom Live just to mention a few.

Foundation

Apart from music, Octopizzo is also the C.E.O of Chocolate City (Kibera) Tours and Founder and Executive Director at Octopizzo Foundation. He is also the founder of the Refugee Art program dubbed “Artist for Refugee” with UNHRC, Ambassador for Awareness on violence against women and girls.

Through his Foundation, Octo has been able to meet, Former US President Barack Obama, ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga, President Uhuru Kenyatta, former US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec among other notable figures.

Octo has always had a keen interest in the matters affecting the refugees and has been recognized multiple times on the same. He founded his Foundation in 2015.

In 2015, he ranked 16th globally as one of the top voices on refugee matters.

Octopizzo with Back Obama Octopizzo with Back Obama Pulse Live Kenya

Acting

Octopizzo acted in Shuga season 2 that airs on MTV.

He was also chosen to participate in the Guinness MADE OF BLACK campaign(Advert).

He also did the Infinix Note 8 Advert.

Albums

He has so far released four Albums namely; Chocolate City, LDPC Refugeenius and Jungle Fever.

He has in the past partnered with UNHCR in a project called Artist for Refugees which showcased the artistic nature of the refugees in various camps.

Business

Apart from music, Octo is an entrepreneur having his own established fashion line called YGB (Young Gifted and Black) wear having a broad range of clothing including hoodies, t-shirts and snap backs.

Marriage/Family

Octopizzo is a married man (Mzungu wife) and he has three kids; Zara, Stacy and Fredy Flaco.

Rapper Octopizzo (Instagram) Rapper Octopizzo (Instagram) Pulse Live Kenya

Awards

Octo was nominated as Best Male Artist of the year during the 2012 Coastal Nzumari Awards, which he Won.

In 2015, he was crowned as the Best Hip hop artiste at the Coastal Nzumari Awards.

In November 2020, Rapper Henry Ohanga alias Octopizzo made a new milestone in his music career after making it to the 2021 Grammy Awards consideration list.

The Grammy Awards Academy proposed Octopizzo to be nominated in the; Record of the year Category for his song Another day, Best Melodic Rap for Kamikaze and Another Day, as well as Best Rap Performance Category for Che Che and Wakiritho ft Sailors. However, the Number Nane Finest did not make it to the Final Nominations List, as the Gala for the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards was held in and around the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles on March 14, 2021.

YouTube Channel

Octopizzo joined YouTube back on April 13, 2012 and so far his channel has over 38,293,455 views and counting. He has 200K Subscribers so far.

The first song to be uploaded on the Channel was Vowels on May 23, 2012.