On Friday (August 29), Hennessy drooped the Hennessy Cypher 2025 – a powerful pan-African collab that brings together six of Africa’s biggest musical talents into one genre-bending track.
First launched in Nigeria in 2011, the Hennessy Cypher is an annual showcase of African hip-hop, and it’s become known for spotlighting the continent’s most disruptive voices. Each year, artists deliver original verses over a shared beat, filmed as a visually dynamic music video; past participants include M.anifest, Sarkodie, Maglera Doe Boy, Ladipoe, Octopizzo, Zlatan, and Didi B.
This year’s cypher continues that trend with a supergroup of musicians who’ve been at the forefront of Africa’s widespread musical and cultural influence both across the continent and the diaspora, in a unique fusion of amapiano, hip-hop and Afrobeats – and this edition features female artists for the first time in the history of the project.
The 2025 lineup of performers includes South African heavyweight amapiano producer Kabza De Small; Kenyan rapper Femi One, British-Ugandan rapper and singer-songwriter Ms Banks; Nigerian hip-hop fusion star Blaqbonez; Tanzanian Bongo Flava star Jaivah, and Ghanaian Afrobeats star Joey B.
Filmed in Cape Town, the video for the 2025 Cypher took place in what the cognac maison has dubbed the “Hennessy House,” a metaphorical mansion where each room represents a different genre, rhythm and cultural movement. It’s a symbolic creative concept that promotes co-existence over competition, creating a space where hip-hop, amapiano and Afrobeats can live side by side, and each of the stars were styled and dressed by African designers, further showcasing local creativity.
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“At its core, the Hennessy Cypher is about creativity and passion for music,” says Vincent Montalescot, Hennessy’s global Chief Marketing Officer. “It is a true collective play, uniting artists who are disrupting genres and shaping culture, across Africa and beyond. As a master blender of talent and vision, Hennessy continues its long-standing relationship with Africa and reaffirms its commitment to championing African creativity on a global stage.”
For over 50 years, Hennessy has been woven into the DNA of hip-hop. From Tupac to Snoop, Nas to Drake, the brand has been name-checked in over 4,000 songs, making Hennessy the most mentioned spirit brand in music history. Each year, the Hennessy Cypher brings together a curated lineup of artists who are shaping the future of sound, offering them a space to express, collaborate and represent their unique identities on a global stage.
Experience the 2025 Hennessy Cypher on YouTube and streaming platforms here.
