2025 was .... something. Nevertheless, you can always count on music. Keeping up with the annual tradition of compiling our personal lists for our top albums/projects of the year. Check out our favorites from 2025 after the jump!
Fresh
Soundcloud- DJ FreshYourHighness
Twitter- @__KidFresco
5) G Herbo- Lil Herb
Never really been a big Herbo fan, but this album here definitely showed the growth in his music.
4) Don Trip and Starlito - Step Brothers 4 Life
Was a little tough to put this so low, but overall still a great album. Starts off great, but gets a little dull in the middle. However, they pick back up at the end. Album would've been higher on the list had they cut out a couple of songs.
3) Westside Gunn - Heels Have Eyes 2
Was a tough decision deciding between this one & Vol.3, but this ultimately edges out due to a couple of songs. Also had he not dropped another project this year, this would've been number 2 on my list.
2) Westside Gunn - 12
This has to be my favorite Westside Gunn album. Been listening to it non stop since its release. Westside had some great production on this album as well! Only 1 skip track on the whole album. Had not a certain album dropped, this would've been number 1 for sure.
1) Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out
You already knew!!! Album of the year easily!! Haven't had a Clipse album in 6 years & to get an album like this was so refreshing! Sounded like nothing that was being released. Exceeded my expectations of what I thought their reunion album would sound like. From the production, the rollout, the visuals & especially the lyricism!!! They both gave heavy hard hitting bars, but Malice is MVP this year!
Honorable Mentions:
Tyler, the Creator - DON'T TAP THE GLASS
Mobb Deep - Infinite
JID - God Does Like Ugly
Cardi B - Am I The Drama
Freddie Gibbs- Alfredo 2
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Chochina
@ChochinaZoet
There was so much good music that came out this year, which made it hard to narrow it down to 5, but I was determined to get it completed and I did. See my list below...
5. Larry June, 2 Chainz and The Alchemist - Life is Beautiful
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These two together on this project is a breath of fresh air and turns this production into an easy listening exercise. You can almost hear the waves lapping in the background of “I Been” as the synths take control or feel yourself drifting away to the serene vocal sample on the opener “Munyon Canyon” .
4. Xzibit - Kingmaker
Several OG’s released projects this year to continue to solidify their place in the game and let people know they’re still here and can hang with the best of them. Kingmaker was no exception and reads more of a sign that X wanted to share his knowledge of the good the bad and the ugly and the ups and downs he’s faced throughout his life and career rather than getting called royalty or sitting on a throne and being part of some hierarchy. It’s the best he’s sounded production wise in over 2 decades and yet he hasn’t lost a step with the pen and the guests hold their own weight.
3. Snoop Dogg - Iz It A Crime
Uncle Snoop didn’t disappoint with his resurrection of Death Row and Iz It A Crime comes out the gate swinging. He flexes a bouncy spring loaded flow on the title track that samples Sade beautifully. Sophisticated Cripping feels like the West Coast version of Rick Ross’ Deeper Than Rap.
2. Mobb Deep - Infinite
This much anticipated album didn’t disappoint at all. I wasn’t sure if the feels would be there without P but this project contains reconstructed songs that impressively retain the two rappers chemistry and recaptures their glory days. This is a banger from start to finish. M.O.B.B. D.E.E.P stays on repeat!
1. Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out
LGSEO is an extremely intentional album with features that will appease the three corners of Clipse fandom: For the diehards, Ab-Liva is on here “playing in the snow like Rudolph.” For the East Coast drug rap aficionados, Griselda’s Stove God Cooks drops in for a sleepy hook on “F.I.C.O.” Repping the Neptunes classicists is Tyler the Creator to match Push and Malice’s shit talk on P.O.V.
Just like the old days, the brothers bond over their cruel jokes, lavish motivation raps, and descriptions of the drug trade vivid enough to appear in a late-era Richard Price novel.
Honorable Mention:
KenTheMan - Kinda Famous
Ken is gonna always talk her shit and she didn’t disappoint with Kinda Famous. Ken is the new generation female version Pimp C. Her flow is impeccable and her shit talking puts her in the ring holding her own with the best of them. This project is a banger from start to finish.
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Chop
Soundcloud- DJ Chop da Butcha
(no specific order)
De La Soul - Cabin In The Sky
Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out
JID - God Does Like Ugly
Nas & Dj Premier - Light Years
No ID & Saba - From the Private Collection of Saba and No ID
Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele 2
Mobb Deep - Infinite
Tyler, the Creator- DON'T TAP THE GLASS
Che Noir & 7xvethegenius- Desired Crowns
Slick Rick - Victory
Freddie Gibbs & Alchemist - Alfredo 2
Conway the Machine- You Can’t Kill God With Bullets
Wale- Everything Is A Lot
Larry June, 2 Chainz and The Alchemist - Life is Beautiful
Utopian Knights - Deity
Nightcrawlers - Moon Patrol
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Dolcezza
10. The Weeknd- Hurry up Tomorrow
It takes a special type of artist to sample Thriller and actually do it justice, you hear me? The Weeknd did a stadium tour for this album and rightfully so. This album sonically should be heard in that setting.
'I can feel it...'
9. Redveil- Sankofa
'I'm keeping all my words brief and sparse...'
A late release in the year, but well deserved of this slot. Sankofa has a neo-soul, jazzy, introspect type of aura. Redveil brings a certain energy over these records that's just... a perfect fit. Very good project.
8. Conway - You Can't Kill God With Bullets
Hands down Con's best project. Social Media took shots year in and out saying his releases sound the same blah blah blah. This album is a response of "Bet". He's always been nice on the mic, but the vulnerability of this album is funneled through a different approach- a polished craft. Production selection, mmhmm.. that too. 'Album a heater with no big name features on mine'.
He was absolutely right.
7. Jeezy- Still Snowin'
Starting your album off with Rock Creek Park was a choice. A GREAT choice. I don't think anyone was expecting this type of vibe from the Snoman. The samples. The order. The BOOGIE. Jeezy switches up his flow like water to cater to them all.
6. Don Trip and Starlito- Step Brothers 4 Life
'The devil left a post-it note for me and said to give em hell.'
If there was ever a visual representation of rapping like the rent is due, this album would. bethe example. Gaht damn. Some of your favs should take note. I wish I could relive the moment I heard this album for the first time. Royal Rumble alone needs a banner hung in the rafters.
LLPiff.
5. Playboi Carti- I Am Music
For those new here... I've been listening to Carti since Awful days. You had to be there and if you were around me then, it made total sense. Anywho...
The hate WLR received was so undeserving. I wore that album out. Carti dropped 4 tracks and there was hope. HoodByAir consumed my ears and just like that... he disappeared (again).
5 years is a long time music wise. We finally got a release and yes indeed, it was definitely worth the wait. The features are a plus. A cohesive tracklist is very important. Good job, Jordan.
I Am Music is a banger.
4. Flwr Chyld- InsydeOut
If anyone was to ask me to describe 'love' with only sound, my answer would be this album.
Start to finish. Throw it on shuffle if you're feeling spicy.
My 'East&West' benders deserve a post of its own. Outerbody.
3. Premo Rice- Bad Muhf*cka
The description is in the title. That's exactly what this album is.
A fine construct. If you THAT mf, as a mf like myself, you'll understand. This is for us.
Star status baby.
Sidebar- Some of Premo's best rappin here.
2. Westside Gunn- 12 & Heels Have Eyes (Trilogy)
Let's get one thing clear...
fxck these...... and that's just being sincere.
I would be doing a disservice if I did not include ALL of WSG's major releases this year. QUALITY and CULTURE. Ignore the fact that I've played them collectively a gazillion times. Ignore that. You think of one standout track it's from one, think of another.. it's from the other one. Demna Left Balenci, Einstein Kitchen, East Miami, Grey St, Amira Kitchen, Gus Smacker, Boswell, Health Science, Unkle Howdy, Mandela, Egypt, Free Roleys.... FREE ROLEYS!? Seriously, I could go on and on. These projects have inexplicably gotten me through my best and worst days of this tumultuous year of higher highs and lower lows. 'My heart got dizzy...'
Incomparable bodies of work against each other for a laundry list of reasons.
West if you ever read this...
Thank you.
1. Clipse- Let God Sort Em Out
'So far ahead...'
Incredible. The lyrical ability on any given track was always notable. There was no doubt that both Malice and Push were up there with the best. 'No division. Still snow magicians...'
Sometimes you gotta show ppl. Sometimes you gotta remind em. To be rapping of this caliber nearly 20 years later is exactly why they are who they think they are... and... who they say they are. Pharrell offering his primetime beats for this project was the icing on the cake. This here album deserves.. all the awards, all the accolades.
Sidebar: Check out the concert post here.
Honorable Mentions (no order):
Yaddiya- Hoya$
'New gallery. New kitchen. New appliances.'
I went to the pop up shop/art gallery celebration for Hoya$ earlier this year. It was a album release celebration too, lowkey, but I couldn't fully divulge into the music until I got back to my truck. What a pleasant surprise. Ok Yaddiya!? I see you. This project was solid.
P.S... Bricky is that one.
Benny the Butcher- Summertime Butch 2
After 'Jasmine's', I generally skip to the second half of the album. That's where the gems are. Lyricism present of course, but it features Butch branching out again from his usual production.
It fits him.
A classic R&B sound.
Back to the roots of... yearning.
Tyler, the Creator- DON'T TAP THE GLASS
The goal of 'made for body movement' was reached. This album was fun and showcased his layers of versatility as a producer. Stop playing wit me and Mommanem... I felt those personally.
Boldy James & Your Boy Posca- Magnolia Leflore
'You better wake up and apologize'. The instrumental version is equally as sweet. Boldy releases projects every other month. Rhymes for days. Every now and again, there's a special one. Magnolia Leflore earned its place on that list.
Appreciate you tuning in. All praise that we've closed out another year.
2026...
Let's go!
Related Post: Our Picks: Top Albums of 2024
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