Hennessy Celebrates 50 Years of Hip-Hop With A Spectacular Event Featuring Limited-Bottle Nas Collaboration

Last Friday, Hennessy launched its Very Special Limited Edition bottle collaboration with Hip-Hop icon Nas in South Africa in commemoration of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary.

Hosted by TV presenter and cultural figure Siyabonga Ngwekazi, aka Scoop Makhathini, the marque event celebrating 50 years of Hip-Hop took place at the South African Hip Hop Museum in Newtown, Johannesburg on Friday. 

Performances by South African Hip-Hop royalty from both the new and old school; A-Reece, Stogie T, DJ Ready D, Amu, Moozlie, and Uncle Party Time entertained guests throughout the night. 

Amu’s set shook the room as it had the older gods reliving their Le Club days. Amunishn’s set was exclusively 90s Hip-Hop and let’s just say the OGs were like kids in a candy store, rapping along to every single song. 

DJ Ready D’s set was a display of his technical skills on the wheels of the steel, while Moozlie, Stogie T and A-Reece had everyone rapping along to their hits.  

Hennessy connected some of these SA Hip-Hop greats for a conversation around the past, present, and future of Hip-Hop facilitated by Scoop. They also spoke candidly about the state of South African Hip-Hop and celebrated Hennessy’s rich history with Hip-Hop both locally and internationally. The discussion can be viewed on SlikourOnLife and GQ South Africa later this week. 

The limited edition bottle features a bold design that mixes elements of Hip-Hop aesthetic with Hennessy's iconic branding - an impactful juxtaposition of timeless tradition and disarming unconventional certainty. Handwritten notes from a love letter to Hip-Hop written by Nas are offset by vibrant orange accents (the recording artist's favourite colour), resulting in a disruptive, seemingly spontaneous visual collage anchored by a powerful black-and-white portrait of Nas.

Speaking on the collaboration Nas said, “It's an honour to collaborate with Hennessy to commemorate this moment for the art form. Hip-Hop has always had a special connection with Hennessy, and I’m excited to celebrate the culture's 50th anniversary with a brand and product that pays tribute to its history and impact."

"Hennessy has always had a strong connection with the music industry, particularly Hip-Hop," said Laurent Boillot, Hennessy's CEO. "Hennessy is truly the original spirit of Hip-Hop, which the culture embraced as a badge of success and good taste. We, as a brand, are particularly honoured by this recognition. We leaned into this and continuously supported the culture. To celebrate this heritage, we couldn't have a better partner than Nas."

Hennessy and Nas’ relationship dates back to 2013, and Hennessy and Hip-Hop have a long affinity that dates back decades. Hennessy, which was one of the first brands to be embraced and inherited by the culture, remains one of the most lyrically referenced alcohol brands in Hip-Hop, with mentions in more than 2,500 songs.  

Since its inception in 1973 in The Bronx, New York, Hip-Hop has evolved into a global cultural phenomenon that has created icons and united people across continents through its five elements: Emceeing, Deejaying, Break Dancing, Graffiti, and Beatboxing. South Africa has one of the most exciting Hip-Hop scenes in the world and it’s estimated to be 40 years old. 

Celebrations will continue at Africa’s largest Hip-Hop festival, Back To The City, of which Hennessy is the title partner. The 17th annual Back To The City festival will take place on the 7^th of October at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown. The festival is known for celebrating all elements of Hip-Hop and boasts an extensive line-up of both established and emerging South African acts and one surprise international act. 

Join Hennessy in raising a toast to Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary and honoring its legacy by following on social media (@Hennessy on Facebook and Instagram) and using the hashtags #HennessyHipHop50 and #HennessyxNas. 

For more information and updates on our collaboration with Nas, visit https://www.hennessy.com/en-int/collaborations/hennessy-vs-x-nas 

Below are some snaps from the event: