For years, the Hennessy Cypher has served as an annual rite of passage—a prestigious, raw showcase of lyrical prowess from the titans of African hip-hop. It has consistently provided a snapshot of the genre’s cutting edge. But for its latest iteration, the rulebook has been creatively torn apart. The Hennessy Cypher 2025 has arrived not just as a continuation, but as a bold evolution, reflecting a continent whose musical pulse is more fluid, collaborative, and inclusive than ever before.
The Tea: A New, Inclusive Formula
The most significant shift, and the real tea of this year’s edition, lies in two groundbreaking changes. Firstly, the cypher has expanded its sonic palette, moving beyond its purely hip-hop roots to create a seamless fusion of Amapiano, Afrobeats, and rap. This is a savvy and necessary acknowledgement of the modern African soundscape, where genre lines are increasingly blurred.
Secondly, and most importantly, this year’s edition makes history by featuring female artists for the first time. The inclusion of Kenya’s Femi One and the UK’s Ms Banks is a powerful, long-overdue correction that finally gives two of the scene’s sharpest MCs their rightful place on this influential stage.
The Supergroup: A Pan-African Power Play
The lineup itself reads like a perfectly curated pan-African supergroup, with each artist acting as an ambassador for their respective sound. The “King of Amapiano,” Kabza De Small, lays the foundational beat, grounding the entire cypher in the irresistible rhythm of the log drum. Nigeria’s Blaqbonez and Ghana’s Joey B bring the signature hip-hop and Afrobeats flair the cypher is known for, while Tanzania’s Jaivah injects the smooth melodies of Bongo Flava.
Holding their own amongst these titans are the formidable Femi One, representing East Africa’s vibrant rap scene, and British-Ugandan powerhouse Ms Banks, whose commanding presence connects the continent to the diaspora. Filmed in a Cape Town “Hennessy House” where each room symbolises a different genre, the visual concept of “co-existence over competition” is brilliantly realised.
Public Opinion: A Resounding Approval
The reaction online from the public has been overwhelmingly positive. Fans have celebrated not just the stellar lineup, but the cypher’s evolution. The decision to fuse genres and, crucially, to include women, has been praised as a move that shows the brand is genuinely listening to the culture. It feels less like a marketing campaign and more like an authentic reflection of African music’s collaborative and increasingly inclusive spirit.
A Toast to the Future
By breaking its own conventions, the Hennessy Cypher 2025 has delivered its most relevant and exciting edition yet. It’s a testament to a culture that refuses to be boxed in, and a powerful toast to a future that is collaborative, genre-bending, and finally, giving women their flowers. This isn’t just a cypher; it’s a blueprint for the sound of now.
