Hennessy and the Cypher: How a Cognac Became Hip Hop’s Cultural Avatar in Nigeria

For more than half a century, Hennessy has been etched into the DNA of Hip Hop. From Tupac to Nas, Snoop to Drake, the world’s leading cognac brand has been name-checked in thousands of songs, not as a product placement but as a symbol — a marker of credibility, creativity, and aspiration. When Hennessy entered the Nigerian cultural space, it brought that legacy with it, but it also built something new: a living institution that has grown into one of Hip Hop’s most visible platforms on the continent — the Hennessy Cypher.

Launched under the Hennessy Artistry platform in 2009, the Cypher tapped into Hip Hop’s purest ritual — the freestyle battle — and reimagined it for a Nigerian audience. In doing so, Hennessy carved out a stage where rappers could sharpen their bars, stake their claims, and remind the wider industry that Hip Hop was alive and thriving even as Afrobeats dominated global charts.

Over time, the Hennessy Cypher evolved into a cultural touchstone. It became the annual checkpoint where fans debated flows, argued over verses, and discovered rising talent. For Nigerian Hip Hop, often starved of mainstream attention, the Cypher became iconic. Hennessy had become an avatar for the genre. 

The 2025 edition marks a new chapter. For the first time, the Cypher expands beyond Hip Hop’s borders, blending Afrobeats and Amapiano into its DNA while spotlighting a pan-African and diaspora lineup: Kabza De Small from South Africa, Kenya’s Femi One, UK’s Ms Banks, Ghana’s Joey B, Tanzania’s Jaivah, and Nigeria’s own Blaqbonez. By placing these voices side by side, Hennessy embodies the role of  a convener of culture-  a “master blender” of talent and vision.

The symbolism runs deep. This year’s Cypher unfolds inside the Hennessy House, a metaphorical mansion where each room represents a rhythm, a sound, a movement. Hip Hop doesn’t dominate the house; it shares space with Amapiano and Afrobeats, echoing Hennessy’s belief in co-existence over competition. By opening the doors to female MCs for the first time, the brand also underscores its commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices in African music.

In many ways, the Cypher mirrors Hennessy’s philosophy: Made for More. The blending of genres, geographies, and generations reflects an understanding that culture doesn’t stand still. And just as Hip Hop has carried Hennessy into the fabric of global sound, Hennessy has carried Hip Hop into the heart of Nigerian and African creativity.

The 2025 Pan-African Cypher: Artists and Impact

Hennessy Cypher 2025 brought together six artists whose individual stories and sounds reflect the new face of African music on the global stage. 

• Kabza De Small (South Africa): Globally crowned the King of Amapiano, Kabza De Small is a pioneering producer whose township-rooted grooves have found international acclaim, working with the likes of Drake and 21 Savage. His leadership as producer of the 2025 Cypher bridges the heartbeat of South African dance music with international prestige
• Femi One (Kenya): A fearless lyrical force, Femi One rose to continental fame with “Utawezana,” winning AFRIMA’s Best Female Rapper in 2022. As one of the first female—and the first East African—artist to take the Cypher stage, she expands the possibilities for women in African rap
• Ms Banks (UK/Nigeria/Uganda): Representing the fusion of diaspora identity and UK rap, Ms Banks brings global energy to the Cypher, having worked with Nicki Minaj and Cardi B and graced Glastonbury’s stage. She debuts as one of the series’ first female and diaspora talents
• Blaqbonez (Nigeria): Known for his genre-fluid fusion of hip-hop, Afrobeats, and pop, Blaqbonez’s sharp lyricism and acclaimed album “Emeka Must Shine” have landed him on international best-of lists. In the Cypher, he pushes Nigerian rap’s creative boundaries
• Jaivah (Tanzania): A rising star whose blend of Amapiano, Bongo Flava, and Afrobeats has turned tracks like “Soup” into pan-regional hits, Jaivah expands the Cypher’s sonic map with experimental East African flavor
• Joey B (Ghana): Bridging hip-hop, R&B, and Afrobeat, Joey B’s collaborations with Sarkodie and Mr Eazi, plus his multiple Ghana Music Awards, make him a cultural touchstone, uniting underground cool with mainstream appeal.[8][5]