UnKut HipHop Awards 2025 Gala Venue

The UnKut HipHop Awards 2025 has officially unveiled its full list of nominees, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated nights in East African music culture. The gala night will take place on December 4th at the Red Room, Adlife Plaza in Kilimani , a venue rich with nostalgia for UnKut fans, having hosted the celebrated 2019 edition.

Speaking on the choice of venue, UnKut CEO Ruby V noted the symbolic return to a space that witnessed both the growth of the brand and the evolving soundscape of African hip-hop. “We’ve both grown : the scene and the platform. The Red Room represents that full-circle moment,” she said.This year’s theme, “Africa’s Hip Hop Lives Here,” captures the renewed energy across the continent’s rap culture, a reaffirmation that hip-hop in Africa is not only thriving but diversifying in sound, form, and influence.

Breakthrough Category: A Wave of Fresh Talent

The Breakthrough Artist of the Year category has drawn attention for its strength and diversity. From Mombasa’s Emkay64 to 4MrFrankWhite, the lineup reflects the new generation riding the streaming and DIY production wave. The panelist Ashley Mwari described this as one of the hardest categories to narrow down due to the sheer volume of new acts making waves regionally and online.

Lyricism as the Pulse of Conscious Rap

This year’s Lyricist of the Year category showcases the poetic and political consciousness driving Kenyan hip-hop. Elsy Wameyo makes history as the first-ever female nominee in this category following her acclaimed 2024 album and a string of socially attuned singles.

Meanwhile, Asum Garvey’s collaboration with Dr Reign delves into selfhood and protest in the wake of Kenya’s 2024–2025 youth-led demonstrations. Elisha Elai’s Kijana ya Randiga balances wit and commentary, while Mau From Nowhere and Scar Mkadinali continue to explore the tension between survival, absurdity, and artistry.

Groups, Albums, and Collective Power

Group synergy remains a defining strength of the Kenyan scene. Wakadinali, buoyed by the success of Victims of Madness 2.0, lead the Group of the Year category with tracks like Tamashani and Maproso becoming anthems. Buruklyn Boyz, Double Trouble, ThirtyFourBrick, and Bud Guyz round out the lineup, representing the diversity of urban drill and underground collectives across the country.

Cross-Genre Collaborations and Industry Expansion

A new category ; Hip Hop and R&B Collabo of the Year, reflects the industry’s widening creative alliances. Featuring artists such as Brandy Maina, Nikita Kering’, Njerae and Zeman this section celebrates the seamless dialogue between two of Africa’s most influential genres.

Voting Now Open

 Public voting officially opened on November 10th and will run until November 28th. Fans can vote freely and as many times as they wish via the official UnKut HipHop Awards social media pages, where a direct link to the voting platform has been provided.

Voting Link:

Full List of Nominees – UnKut HipHop Awards 2025

 Female Artist of the Year

  •  Groovy Jo
  • Silverstone Barz
  • Elsy Wameyo
  • Vallerie Muthoni
  • Femi One

Male Artist of the Year 

  • Octopizzo
  • Toxic Lyrikali
  • Khaligraph Jones
  • Masterpiece King
  • Breeder LW

Breakthrough Artist of the Year 

  • Emkay64
  • 4MrFrankWhite
  • Genes1s
  • Saisa Ndabi
  • Lowki the Great

Alternative Artist of the Year 

  • Octopizzo
  • Mau From Nowhere
  • Nu Fvnk
  • King Kerby
  • Ziller Bas

Lyricist of the Year 

  • Mau From Nowhere
  • Asum Garvey
  • Elisha Elai
  • Elsy Wameyo
  • Scar Mkadinali

Group of the Year 

  • Wakadinali
  • ThirtyFourBrick
  • Buruklyn Boyz
  • Double Trouble
  • Bud Guyz

Graffiti Artist of the Year 

  • Mutua Arts
  • BSQ Crew
  • Wisetwo
  • Artumaini
  • Swift9

Producer of the Year 

  • Ares 66
  • Luigi
  • Oddzz Music
  • Beat Kidd
  • Clue Ashaivisha Track

Video Director of the Year 

  • Omoke
  • Antyvirus AV
  • Black Jurist
  • Ben 47
  • Badman Bright

Song of the Year 

  • Chinje – Toxic Lyrikali
  • Tamashani – Wakadinali
  • Khali Cartel 5 – Khaligraph Jones
  • Kenyan Rap – Buruklyn Boyz
  • Dopamine – Nyashinski

Collabo of the Year 

  • Denge Dingo – Domani, Sewersydaa, Toxic Lyrikali, 4MrFrankWhite
  • Packe – Mauru Gwash x Toxic Lyrikali
  • Explain It – Silverstone Barz x Scar Mkadinali
  • Jitu – Nyashinski x Khaligraph Jones
  • Guza Umbwa – Masterpiece x Domani

Hip Hop & R&B Collabo of the Year 

  • Mapenzi – Bridget Blue, Toxic Lyrikali
  • Hot Sauce – Zeman, Dyana Cods, Silverstone Barz
  • Sema – Femi One, Brandy Maina, Njerae
  • Tonight Remix – Nikita Kering & Lilmaina
  • Find Me – King Kaka, Scar Mkadinali, Njerae

Album of the Year 

  • Escobar – Masterpiece King
  • Taigwa Goma – 4MrFrankWhite
  • Victims of Madness 0 – Wakadinali
  • Burnout Workaholics – LuNo Da ViNci, Renaissance Man, Boeylee
  • PRESSURE – Mau From Nowhere, hihi

EP/Mixtape of the Year 

  • No Guidance – ThirtyFourBrick
  • Mad Clan – Mad Clan
  • Misunderstood – Bud Guyz
  • The Book of Jones (1st Chapter) – Khaligraph Jones
  • Who Said I’m Civilized – Alex Msafiri

Video of the Year 

  • Kadi – Octopizzo
  • Mwenda Wazimu – Domani Munga Jovie Jovv
  • Wameyo – Elsy Wameyo
  • Thrifted – King Kerby
  • Left, Right (Shake It Off) – Boutross

DJ of the Year 

  • KevTheDJ
  • DJ Proma
  • Slick
  • DJ Dela
  • DJ Mawinch

Radio Show of the Year 

  • The Cypher – Capital FM
  • Hip Hop Republik – Ghetto Radio
  • Gift of Gab Hip Hop Show – Elijah Moz on Pawa Radio

Breaker of the Year 

  • Mzushi Africa
  • Onkwani
  • B Boy Drift
  • Acy Kara
  • Legitz Movement & Arts Foundation

Fashion Brand of the Year 

  • Seasaw
  • Nairobi Nnoize
  • Duse
  • Pe$os
  • Solo Nairobi

Alternative Media Brand of the Year 

  • Iko Nini
  • Zone 69 Magazine
  • Micshariki Africa
  • Cleaning The Airwaves (CTA)
  • John Mosh Muchiri

Content Creator of the Year 

  • Tush Ian
  • Barak Jacuzzi
  • Shaq the Yungin
  • Comedian Mwirigi
  • Music Mojojojo

Changemaker of the Year 

  • Octopizzo Foundation
  • Willy Oeba
  • Nairobi Freestyle Movement
  • Developing Myself (The S3cr3t)
  • Legitz Movement & Arts Foundation

East African Artist of the Year 

  • MC Yallah
  • Angell Mutoni
  • Mex Cortez
  • Ish Kevin
  • Fridah Amani

Note:

  • Event Date & Venue: December 4, 2025, Red Room, Adlife Plaza,
  • Theme: “Africa’s Hip Hop Lives”
  • Voting: Open from November 10–28 on all UnKut social media
  • Elsy Wameyo makes history as the first female Lyricist of the Year
  • Inclusion of the new “Hip Hop & R&B Collabo” category broadens creative
  • East African reach solidified with nominations from Rwanda, Tanzania, and
  • The Awards return to a historic venue symbolizing growth and

2025 Theme It is “Africa’s Hiphop Lives Here” showing a deliberate decision of the awards to return to its basics.

Stay tuned to Micshariki Africa to find out who won what and kindly also don't forget to vote for us!