On his new track, "Your Body is Mine," Johannesburg artist Nico Hunnidz collaborates with producer Ryini Beats, taking you on a sultry, rhythm-soaked journey that seamlessly merges alternative hip-hop with storytelling rooted in African heritage. A lush, emotionally charged offering that oozes confidence, openness, and creative authenticity. Straight out of South Africa's lively Zone 6, Nico Hunnidz, born Moagi Phanuel Mahlare, can't help but be the one rapping when the microphone is turned on. On this track, he simply leans into his melodic and lyrical duality, showcasing both the singer he's rooted in and the adventurous, loud hip-hop persona he's become.
For a child who started singing in a junior choir at age eight, Nico now holds a studio like someone who has grown with their sound, and in 2026, he'll be sharing two full decades of growth. Something is refreshing about "Your Body is Mine," and that is this unapologetic focus on intimacy, connection, and desire, but tempered with style, tact, and a cultural groove that feels proudly African. Ryini Beats provides a dreamy and relatively seductive instrumental bed marked by percussive details and a hypnotic rhythm that serves to accentuate Nico's storytelling. The track sounds like a private conversation gone public, and that's the beauty of it. It's real, raw, and relatable.
Nico fans are well aware that he draws inspiration from across the spectrum, from the silky ballads of Lionel Richie and Adele to the gritty bars of Rick Ross and Snoop Dogg. That duality shines here. There's a melodic softness that harks back to his early-arrival influences and a lyrical sharpness that suggests he's fully embraced his own identity as a rapper who's not afraid to dive in, dip in, tiptoe in sensuality with mosaicked elegance. What resonates with Nicolas Hunnidz is a commitment to storytelling straight from the heart and the hood. His music frequently explores themes of love, faith, and social complexity, and while this track focuses on romantic obsession, it's rooted in the yearning to connect, to be seen, and to belong. On "Your Body is Mine," Nico Hunnidz and Ryini Beats not only craft a love song but also bridge cultures, generations, and genres. For fans of alternative hip-hop and soul, this one's a must-listen.
Discover Nico Hunnidz on Instagram