Hennessy has unveiled the latest edition of its long-running Cypher series, marking the first time in the event’s 15-year history that two Francophone African artists feature on the same track. Six rappers from across the continent and the United Kingdom have collaborated on the project, which was produced by Nigerian hitmaker Sarz.
The lineup includes Cameroon’s Tenor, who becomes the first artist from his country to appear in the Cypher, alongside Côte d’Ivoire’s Suspect 95, South Africa’s Yanga Chief, Ghana’s Kwesi Arthur, Kenya’s Fena Gitu and British-Nigerian rapper Enny. The single and accompanying video were released this August.
Sarz, widely credited with shaping the sound of contemporary African music, oversaw production. The video was directed by Juan Visser of Human Studio in Johannesburg and styled by Bee Diamondhead.
“Just as distinct eaux-de-vie are brought together to create something exceptional, this year’s Cypher unites six remarkable voices from across Africa and the United Kingdom,” said Aimee Kellen, Moët Hennessy’s MEA Regional Marketing Director. “It is a privilege to create a space where these artists can meet, collaborate and make something that could only exist through their collective talent.”
The Cypher series forms part of Hennessy’s decades-long relationship with hip-hop culture. The brand is referenced in more than 58,000 songs, making it the most-mentioned spirit in music history. Each edition has sought to spotlight artists shaping contemporary culture while connecting their work with global audiences.
Tenor arrives with a reputation built on blending rap, Afrobeats and storytelling across Francophone Africa. Suspect 95 is known for sharp lyricism and social commentary that have made him a leading voice in West African rap. Yanga Chief has earned acclaim for championing local identity through his songwriting, while Kwesi Arthur has gained international recognition for fusing hip-hop, Afrobeats and personal narrative. Fena Gitu has spent more than a decade shaping East Africa’s music landscape as a singer, songwriter and cultural pioneer. Enny, based in South London, has drawn widespread praise for thoughtful lyricism and socially conscious storytelling on projects such as “We Go Again” and the breakout single “Peng Black Girls.”
The collaboration underscores a growing trend of cross-regional exchange within African hip-hop, where distinct linguistic and stylistic traditions are increasingly intersecting on major platforms. By anchoring the project in production from Sarz — a figure synonymous with the genre’s sonic evolution — the Cypher positions itself as both a celebration of hip-hop’s foundations and a pointer toward its next chapter on the continent.
