The award show, which celebrates and showcases the best of Zimbabwean Hip-Hop, saw Holy Ten emerge as the night’s biggest winner, walking away with three awards.
By Emmanuel Okoro
The winners of the prestigious 2023 Zim Hip-Hop Awards were recently announced at the 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale, Harare. The award show, which celebrates and showcases the best of Zimbabwean Hip-Hop, saw Holy Ten emerge as the night’s biggest winner, walking away with three awards.
Holy Ten secured the Best Male, Best Hip-Hop Hustle, and the People’s Choice award, solidifying his position as one of the leading figures in the Zimbabwean Hip-Hop scene. Following closely behind, Voltz JT made a significant impact, securing two awards. He was honoured with the Positive Social Impact award and also triumphed in the Video of the Year/Best Director category.
(Read also – Nuchie Meek Takes Top Honours at the 2023 MTN Liberia Music Awards)
Other notable winners include Young Gemini, who won the Best Female award, Noluntu J, who took home the Best Live Act award, and Mlue Jay, who clinched the Best Diaspora award.
In a special moment, Munetsi was honoured with a Life Achievement award for his longstanding impact and influence on the Zimbabwean Hip-Hop scene.
See the full nominees and winners list below:
Best Female
- Young Gemini – Winner
- Noluntu J
- Brucella
- Millz Million
- Banshee
- Natasha Muz
Best Male
- Holy Ten – Winner
- Bling4
- R Peels
- Bagga
- SaintFloew
- MlueJay
- Kayflow
Best Hip Hop Group
- Dough Major, Dingo Duke – Winner
- OCD (Icey Ekxne x Slyme Foxx)
- Malcom Mufunde, Yaad Universe
- Holy Ten x Michael Magz
Best Brand Supporting Hip Hop
- Club Danger – Winner
- 3rd World Chronicles
- Infinity Records ZW
- Stars29
- Voice of Zim Hip Hop
Best Album
- Treasure – Malcom Mufunde and Synik – Winner
- Less Talk More Action – Mlue Jay
- Rangu Jira – Virus ZW
- From Sheebenia with Love – Dough Major and Dingo Duke
- A Boy and a Blanket – VI The Law
- StoryTellers of the Culture – ZAZISE
- Public Enemy – R Peels
- When It’s All Said and Done – Boy Tricky
- Ndonzi Beatx – The Shebeen Gospel
Best Promoter
- Selector Base – Winner
- Chucknosis – Feasta Feasta
- Voice of Zim Hip Hop
- Magamba Network
- Woods Pub & Grill
- Milan Family Restaurant
Best Diaspora
- Mlue Jay – Winner
- Synik
- Chief Chino
- Draze
- TheLastLetter
- Neville Sigauke
Best Producer
- Nasper Incoming – Winner
- Nagbeatz
- Boy Tricky
- VinceGoodBeats
- Progisthename
- VI The Law
Best Newcomer
- Kayflow – Winner
- Bling4
- VirusZW
- Bagga
- OCD
- Dingo Duke
- Brucella
Best Radio DJ
- Sqattar – Capitalk
- DJ Mambo – UZ Radio
- Lady K & Pd The Ghost – Zi FM
- DJ Mox – StarFM
Best Club DJ
- DJ Iroq
- DJ Tk Beats
- DJ Klique
- DJ Ostalo
Best Gospel Act
- Leon MwanaWaJose – Winner
- REAP3R
- Chief Capone
- Church Boy
- Jason Gwanzura
Best Underground
- VI The Law – Winner
- Ndonzi Beatx
- KLON
- Seven Cadre
- Malcom Mufunde
- Benefit Tanaka
- Wes The Rapper
- Tidech
Best Alternative
- Bagga – Winner
- JoyRukanza
- Saint Fleow
- Banshee
Planet Dodger Oline Media Award
- The263Post – Winner
- The Curator
- Yaad Universe Network
- Cordless Plug ZW
- Zimsphere
- Greedy South
- Bulawayo Arts News Online
Best Journalist
- Yaad Universe – Winner
- Tafadzwa Madzika
- Takudzwa Chiwanza
- Takudzwa ‘Manando’
- Mkhokheli Zibengwa
Song of the Year
- Bling4 ft. Voltz JT – “Shiri Ngainaiwe” – Winner
- Holy Ten – “Delilah”
- Kayflow – “Ramba Waka Dzvanya”
- Bagga – “Nyarara”
- OCD – “Amaihwe”
- Brucella – “KING”
Video of the Year/Best Director
- Voltz JT – “Same Drawer neGown”
- Boy Tricky – “Zvekudaro”
- Chief Capone – “Get the Paper”
- VI the Law – “Magitare”
- Bagga – “Nyarara”
- Tasha – “King of Harare”
- Kayflow – “Ramba Wakadzvanya”
- R Peels – “Gold”
- Bling 4 – “Shiri Ngainaiwe”
Best Live Act
- Noluntu J – Winner
- Mlue Jay
- Brintz
- Dough Major
- Dingo Duke
Best Hip Hop Hustle
- Holy Ten – Winner
- Voltz JT
- Bagga
- Saintfloew
- R.Peels
Best Hip Hop Verse/Sweet 16
- Malcom Mufunde – “The Culture” – Winner
- Soko Matemai – “VOTY”
- RayKaz – “Chosen v2”
- Synik – “Good Old Days”
- Kayflow – “Hitlab Cypher”
- Bling4 – “iHulumende”
- Tidech – “Black”
- Brintz – “Let Them Know”
- Tasha – “King of Harare”
Best Hip Hop Personality
- R Peels – Winner
- HolyTen
- Voltz JT
- OCD
- Bagga
- Young Gemini
- Brintz
- Controlla
- Bling4
- Saintfloew
People’s Choice
- Holy Ten – Winner
- Mlue Jay
- Bagga
- Saintfloew
- R Peels
- Voltz JT
- Kayflow
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Munetsi
Positive Social Impact Award
- Voltz JT – Winner
- Mlue Jay
- Chief Capone
- Banshee
- Leon MwanaWaJose