My first experience getting an idea of who 9xne is and the sound he represents was through the song Maijamba, which features Sm Dowp and Bagga. That was 2023. So brilliant is the song that my first impression leaned along the lines of 'this is the next big thing in the game'. I was enraptured. With an enthralling feel of hard-hitting verses conveyed by the three artists, I could not brush away the truism that here is something solid; something you can keep coming back to and telling all your friends about it (and that is because I first heard it through a friend).
But for some reason that I'm still yet to locate, I did not pay much attention to the entirety of his discography then, which was still thin. Interestingly, I kept myself confined to that one song (well, also because I'm biased towards Bagga and his verse on Maijamba ticks all the right boxes for me -- the power of collaboration my comrades). What I particularly observed from that release though was this new sound palette that 9xne was making us privy to, and perhaps that is what made me return to his music with renewed fervency two years later. From the flows, the lyrical content, the instrumentation, and overall ambience of his songs, 9xne is very much refreshing.
In November 2025, released an EP titled 'FRIDAY IV', and again, a friend made me listen to the project. What really blew me away on the first listen of the tracks Yes and Horror on that project was the sheer swirl of immaculate hip-hop instrumentation announcing his seriousness with this art form. I listened comprehensively to the EP, and from that point, that is when I began exploring the entirety of his catalogue. And now that I am fully acquainted with his sonic outlook, I cannot help myself but spread the gospel that you need to pay attention to this unique artist.
9xne represents the new school of Zimbabwean hip-hop, doing so with as much brilliance and incandescence as he can muster. He is unencumbered from some of the constraints that occasionally hold back some emerging artists in the rap scene (which is the penchant to do things conventionally all the time). He holds enough room for experimentation while remaining grounded to the fundamentals of what make his rap identity distinct. It is this creative dexterity that makes me increasingly fond of his music with each and every listen.
An immersive listening experience of his sound brings a salient aspect of his craft to the fore: he possesses a skillset that few can rival. A competent skillset I can confidently explicate as devotional; and that is devotion to rap as an apt art form to fully express oneself almost inscrutably. His rhythmically precise lines and the impeccable choice of instrumentation he chooses are self-explanatory and self-illuminating. The beats always greet the ear with a superior thrill.
One might however exhibit the sentiment that on some occasions, his elocution needs the listener to be extra-attentive (it definitely would help if rappers put out lyrics whenever they release). But that is somewhat rescued by how he always makes it a point to employ the mother tongue in the scope of his work. It makes his music less didactic. And it helps with maintaining the technical proficiency his music is synonymous with.
Thematically, he is unrestrained. He explores a plethora of themes that range from personal ambition, romantic affection, other interpersonal relations, self-confidence -- but most of the lyrical content is very inward-looking. In some instances, it's just him on some "me against the world" vibes. Which is typical for every rapper because you really have to conquer the world if you are to become noticeable. Chest-thumping confidence is a weapon that will never run in short supply in the arsenal of any rapper alive. There is nothing incendiary or bellicose with his lyricism; the self-expression though is pretty much enviable.
That notwithstanding, 9xne is one of those emerging rappers who has a convincing case to make (and it is befitting that I have to advocate for this case). Among his several EPs he has brough to life to date -- he doesn't have an album yet -- there is definitely something to be said about 'Odyssey EP' released in December 2024. It has more detail than all his other EPs which are always painfully short (but that is the point I guess). I view it as the elixir of his craft to date. It has some personal favourites -- Giro featuring Crooger, Circle, Chokwadi/9 WepaO, and Hope which features Michael Magz. 'Odyssey EP' is a statement of intent, and I feel it's an accurate portrayal of his cretaive maturity as a rapper. But most importantly, it leaves one yearning for more; this coming from a place of appreciating the capacity he has to reach the stars.
With 9xne, I strongly believe it is a simply a matter of time before the stars align. He is that rapper you may strongly consider adding to your playlist(s). What I find striking about his music is how he regards the studio as sacrosanct; his sound is crisp and magnetic. Such precision and vigour he exudes with his craft is what makes me always return to his music. That these elements festoon his discography is why I recommend him to you, dear reader.
You can check out his latest EP 3Skii here.
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