Call for entries: Hennessy VS Class hip hop contest in Nigeria

The contest is open to undiscovered hip hop artists in search of a platform to advance their careers. Auditions for Hennessy VS Class 2020 will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To participate, interested individuals need to upload a 45-second audition video on Instagram of them rapping on an instrumental track that can be accessed here.

The post must be accompanied by the hashtag #HennessyVSClass2020.

Previous winners of the competition include Vader and Holy Field. Last season, rapper Laud Reyes became the first female Hennessy Artistry VS Class winner, taking home a cash prize, an opportunity to record two singles with an A-list producer of her choice and a 12-month mentorship programme with Vector Tha Viper.

Veteran rappers MI Abaga and Vector Tha Viper, both of whom appear in the 2020 Hennessy cypher, have been announced as the judges of the competition.

The deadline for submissions is 24 January.

For more information, subscribe to the Hennessy Nigeria YouTube channel.

About Hennessy VS Class

Hennessy VS Class forms part of the annual Hennessy Artistry programme, a flagship campaign by the French Cognac brand started in 2009 to promote hip hop culture in the country. Aside from the VS Class, Hennessy Artistry also comprises cyphers, Artistry Club tours and the Hennessy Artistry concert, whose headline acts this year included Davido, Patoranking and Falz. In September 2020, Hennessy began airing The Conversation, a three-part docuseries on the evolution of Nigerian hip hop.