TAWANDA CHARI
HARARE – The Zimbabwe Hip Hop Awards (ZHHAs) marked a historic milestone as they celebrated their 15th anniversary at Zimbali Gardens in Greendale, Harare, on 12 December 2025. As the first hip hop awards platform in Africa, the ZHHAs once again affirmed their role as custodians of culture, consistency, and community. Keeping the genre alive and visible despite some challenges and structural limitations within the creative industry.
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| Sane Wav |
At the centre of this longevity is Adrian 'Beefy' Harrison and his team, whose relentless work ethic continues to sustain a platform that many artists have grown through. Credit must also go to the awards’ partners and sponsors, whose support ensures that Zimbabwean hip hop still has something tangible to aspire toward and celebrate at the end of a long, demanding year.
The biggest winners of the night
• Bling4 took home Best Male Artist and Song of the Year
• Yadis was crowned Best Female Artist
• RayKaz won Album of the Year
• Runna Rulez claimed the People’s Choice Award
Other notable winners included Sane Wav, who walked away with Best Hip Hop Personality and Best Newcomer, while Bhema Bhema won Best Collaboration, and Mugaratia was named Best Alternative Artist.
Album of the Year: A necessary conversation
Album of the Year went to Those Around Me Tape by RayKaz, and the win was deserved. By most critical standards, it was the strongest hip hop album of 2025. Notably, RayKaz arguably delivered the best hip hop album in 2024 as well, reinforcing his growing reputation as one of the culture’s most deliberate voices. That said, Voltz JT and KBrizzy were also worthy contenders in a competitive field.
Predictably, discourse followed.
Whenever a less commercially popular project wins a major category, debate becomes inevitable. Hip hop is unique in this regard. There is not only competition among artists to be crowned the best emcee, but also competition among fans to validate their tastes, allegiances, and definitions of greatness.
Popularity matters. Cultural reach matters. But they are not the only metrics.
When judging a hip hop album, especially at awards level, other elements carry significant weight:
- Production quality
- Replay value
- Lyricism and writing depth
- Cadence and vocal control
- Delivery and performance
- Beat selection
- Cultural relevance and impact
- Narrative progression
- Cohesion and sequencing
- Musicality beyond singles
These factors are critically foundational to hip hop culture. A project can be popular without excelling in these areas, and that distinction is important. Popular does not automatically mean superior when it comes to craft.
Why hip hop has stricter criteria than other genres
Hip hop is one of the few genres where technical skill, storytelling, and authenticity are non-negotiable.
Unlike pop or dance genres – where mood, accessibility, or viral appeal may outweigh depth – hip hop is built on competition. Albums and verses are scrutinised not just for how they feel, but for how well they are constructed.
This is why categories like Album of the Year and Verse of the Year often generate the most debate.
Music is inherently subjective. What an industry voting body may consider “best” in terms of lyricism, innovation, and structure may not align with public opinion, where success is often measured through streams, crowd response, and visibility.
However, for hip hop awards to retain legitimacy, they must remain credible within hip hop communities themselves. If technical excellence, writing discipline, and artistic intent are ignored in favour of numbers alone, the awards risk becoming popularity polls rather than cultural benchmarks.
That balance between art and audience is delicate, but necessary.
Other competitive categories
Outside of Album of the Year, most categories were less contentious.
There was a strong case for Runna Rulez to win Best Male Artist, as well as for Sane Wav to take Song of the Year. Either outcome would have been defensible. Personally, I had Sane Wav as my pick for Best Male Artist as well.
Still, the final results largely reflected a fair spread across impact, consistency, and contribution.
Stunner’s moment
Veteran artist Stunner, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, sparked conversation with a passionate rant.
While he arguably went too far in delivery, some of his points were valid—particularly regarding artists needing to show up for the very platforms that celebrate the genres they represent. Attendance matters. Visibility matters. Respecting the ecosystem matters.
Unfortunately, the message lost focus as emotions took over, and what could have been a powerful call for accountability became overshadowed by excess.
15th Zim Hip Hop Awards: Full Winners List
Best Male
- Bagga
- Bling4 (Winner)
- Sane Wave
- Runna Rulez
- Voltz JT
Best Female
- Noluntu J
- Yadis (Winner)
- Millz Million
- Swazy
- Bhanshee
Best Collaboration
- Voltz JT ft Sane Wave – Cannabis
- Micky Black ft Holy Ten, Jake Miles, Banks – Bhema Bhema (Winner)
- Bling4 ft Runna Rulez – Boyz Rangu
- Scripmula ft Runna Rulez, Holy Ten – Bhururuka
- Yadis ft Hooksmith – Kepele
Best Hip Hop Group
- Luminous & Curtis Dee Rovar
- Briza & Klyve Beats
- MulaNation (Winner)
- A99
- Benefit Tanaka & Phoenix Beats
Best Producer
- Nag Beats
- Calvinmadeit
- Klyve Beats (Winner)
- The Curator
- Caleb Beats
- Its Don’t Worry
Best Newcomer
- Hooksmith
- Yadis
- Briza
- Sane Wav (Winner)
- Micky Black
- Trap Dee
Best Brand Supporting Hip Hop
- A99
- Bulawayo Connect
- Sukhavad Apparel
- 3rd World Entertainment (Winner)
- Voice of Zim Hip Hop
Best Album
- Kwela Initiative
- Runna Rulez – Skunyu
- RayKaz – Those Around Me (Winner)
- Bling4 – Hosanna
- Benefit Tanaka & Phoenix Beats – Pana Mwinga
Best Promoter
- Brintz and Farai
- Shebeen Festival (Winner)
- Bulawayo Connect
- That Boy Cader
- 3rd World Entertainment
Best Diaspora
- Tidech
- Dimitri & The Scarecrow
- Mlue Jay
- Mr Nyamz (Winner)
- Mas Genesis
- Don Dada
Best Gospel Act
- Bhanshee
- Swazy
- Reap3r
- Churchboi Gee
- Teqmula
- 216 Whiskey
- Calvinmadeit (Winner)
- Jason Gwanzura
Best Underground
- Benefit Tanaka (Winner)
- Gambit Illmind
- Leodale
- Gilmore
- Tidech
- That Boy Cader
Best Alternative
- Wes
- Mugaratia (Winner)
- 216 Whiskey
- Bhanshee
- Paintafresco
Planet Dodger Online Media
- Riddims and Raps (Winner)
- PD – Kulture Kontrol
- Mumhanzi Media
- Cloutbase
- EarGround
- ZimSphere
Best Journalist
- EarGround
- PD The Ghost
- Tawanda Chari (Winner)
- Takudzwa Manando
- Malcom Mufunde
Song of the Year
- Sane Wav – Bhimu
- Bling4 ft Runna Rulez – Boys Rangu (Winner)
- Mr Nyamz – Mutupo
- Micky Black – Bhema Bhema
- Young Gemini – Dhe Nhanha Dhe
Video of the Year & Video Director
- Sane Wav – Madzimai
- Mr Nyamz – Mutupo
- Bagga – Zvandinonamatira (Winner)
- ScripMula – Bhururuka
- Noluntu J – Skelem
- Briss Mbada – I Wish
Best Live Act
- Bling4
- Bagga
- Paintafresco
- Noluntu J (Winner)
- Sane Wav
Best Hip Hop Hustle
- Mr Nyamz
- Voltz JT (Winner)
- Bling4
- Bagga
- Sane Wav
- That Boy Cader
Best Hip Hop Verse (Sweet 16)
- Yadis – Sunday Morning Cartoons
- RayKaz – Rays Insomnia
- Paintafresco – Don't Know (Winner)
- Hooksmith – Kepele
- Malcom Mufunde – Harare
Hip Hop Personality of the Year
- Sane Wav (Winner)
- R Peels
- Donne Jovi
- Briza
- Bling4
- Bagga
- Kurry Suave
People’s Choice
- Runna Rulez (Winner)
- Voltz JT
- Sane Wav
- Bling4
- Bagga
- Mr Nyamz
Lifetime Achievement
- Stunner
Positive Social Impact Award
- Kwela Initiative
- Jason Gwanzura
- Mike Cibeh
- Bhanshee (Winner)
- Voltz JT
Spoken Word (Poetry)
- Ammartian
- Kuda Rice (Winner)
- Bhanshee
- Sholare
- Dimitri and The Scarecrow
Best Club DJ
- DJ RSK (Winner)
Honorary Award
- Babongile Sikhonjwa
Conclusion
15 years in, the Zim Hip Hop Awards remain a crucial pillar of the culture. Imperfect, debated, and sometimes uncomfortable but indispensable. It's a genre defined by dialogue and often, dissent. That tension is not a flaw; it is part of the tradition. It's what's needed. Hip hop still has to live long after the trophies are handed out.
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