Hip-hop in Zimbabwe has gotten a much slower start compared to its neighbor, South Africa, despite that there have been many Zimbabwean artists taking their own spin on the genre. REAP3R, a smaller artist based in Harare, began rapping in 2008 inspired by the hip-hop culture he was surrounded by. Since then, he has dropped 2 mixtapes and 3 EPs, along with his independent debut, The Boom Baptist which received a nomination at the 2021 Zim Hip Hop Awards in the Best Underground Category. He has also released many singles including his most recent release on January 18th, The Blessing (feat. Dollar Boi, Kxng Massey & VI The Law). The Blessing speaks to learning to appreciate life despite the many struggles one might face, especially as a Zimbabwean, a country notorious for its decline in development and economic growth after its prosperity in the 1980s.

REAP3R does not shy away from speaking about problems that have persisted in Zimbabwe, one of which being the economic problems faced by the hyperinflation of their currency. Hello Zimbabwe, a song off of The Boom Baptist, is a great example of this with the lyrics pushing for Zimbabweans to “grind rirsei, tichishanda everyday patisingakwane pay” or to keep grinding and working hard to make ends meet. Many communities in his country have been frustrated by the limited changes within its borders, especially as leaders like their president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, use intimidation tactics and political corruption to remain in power.

REAP3R also exemplifies another feature of Zimbabwean hip-hop in recent years, lyrics with a mixture of Shona and English (as opposed to just the colonizer language), allowing artists to embrace their Zimbabwean identity and distance themselves from American hip-hop. Along with rapping about his experiences within his community, REAP3R has also incorporated his Christian identity into his songs. Keep an eye out for any other 2024 releases from him since he is expected to put out his sophomore project within the year.