***THE BEST OF 2025 (So Far)*** - My Favorite Rap Music From the First Half of A COMPLETELY INSANE Year
2025 has proven to be another year of unpredictable, diverse hip-hop music that offers something for everyone, ranging from aesthetics designed to distract you from thinking too hard about anything, to audio expressionism that will have you thinking about absolutely everything happening in the world around you.
As shocked as I am that we are already approaching the mid-point of the year, a quick reflection on what we have seen and heard between January and June clearly indicates that...A LOT has happened. With much of the world feeling like everything is up in flames (sadly in too many cases, that can be taken literally), much of the art we have seen in 2025 echoes a society inundated by images of war, genocide, corruption, an uptick in threats to minority communities, assault on gender identity, a casual comfort in expressing ignorant and sexist views through large-scale means, fractured economic systems with a dangerous lack of protective infrastructure, mostly empty rap battles between coasts that all parties would be better off without (ahem)...and too many other existential threats to cover here. In summary, there's seemingly no end for topics to cover in rap music today.
So whatever music you're listening to right now, I just hope it is bringing you joy, or at the very least, serving a series of tiny reminders that there is still a lot to love about this world, and the people in it. I'm going to try to do my part by sharing some of the music that I have loved in 2025 thus far, and if you end up loving anything from this list that you had not previously heard, let me know. 🙏
*In no particular order*...
***FAVORITE ALBUMS/EPs/MIXTAPES/PROJECTS***:
(The) Forever Dream by Fly Anakin
Murder During Drug Traffic by Boldy James & RichGains
Crook$ & Ca$tles by Ahk Sair
Dear Psilocybin by ZelooperZ & Real Bad Man
Shawty Got Ball Head Pu**y Like Tupac So I Got High And Kilt It Wit Keefe D by smiles & SMO
That's Brilliant! by Bfb Da Packman
Supreme Magnetic by ERROL HOLDEN
be a better friend by Jay Cinema & chasay
Black Man! by Teller Bank$ & Wino Willy
MERRY&RUE by Imani Nichele
Pinball II by MIKE & Tony Seltzer
Food From the Gods by Black Milk & Fat Ray
From The Private Collection of Saba and No ID by Saba & No I.D.
check for me by Jaysanityy
At Ease. by IDK Young J. & PTY
Trainspotting by Rome Streetz & Conductor Williams
SHIT AIN'T SWEET by JUNE!
The Good The Bad The Dollar Menu by Ray Vaughn
PATHFINDERS by PATHFINDERS (blackchai & Illohim)
The Wonderful World Of Squadda B by Squadda B
Life Is Beautiful by Larry June, 2 Chainz, and The Alchemist
Seeker of Knowledge by CHoW
Old Chicago Stadium by Video Dave
M Block (Deluxe) by BabyFxce E
Evergreen Plaza by Previous Industries
OUTSTANDING UNDERSTANDING by R.A.P. Ferreira
FOR MY KID'S KIDS by Jameel Na'im X
ILL Dirty Rufus by Rufus Sims & Master Ill
ZOO LIFE by BabyChiefDoit
Forty by Blu & August Fanon
WINNERTIME 2.0 by Papo2oo4 & Subjxct 5
The Beautiful Malaise by Tony Bontana & Psychedelic Ensemble.
Deja Bloo by Bloo Azul & Spanish Ran
When The Iron Is Hot by ovrkast.
I Want Nothin' by Kipp Stone
Remember to Breathe by Landon Wordswell & Es-k
RENT PAID by LaRussell & Hit-Boy
UNDEFEATED EP by Icewear Vezzo
I Did More with Less (V1) by A$AP Twelvyy
Salsa Verde by Tom Caruana
Demon Slayer 2 by Lord OLO & Televangel
THUG ZINE issue 003: Against Entropy by bromethugzine (SWAMP THUG & BROMETHAZINE)
Other Blues by Parallel Thought & Defcee
I Live, I Die, I Live Again by Chuckyy
Dis For The Project (Side A) by Dough Networkz
Atlanta Night Life by YN Jay
The Outcome (Deluxe) by Black Soprano Family & ILL Tone Beats
shabbvangogh by Mike Shabb
Pooch On Da Loose! by 4pooch
Conversion of Light EP by Alikho Igama
A Space Between Time by BigDaddyChop & Heir James
The Michelin Man by Cookin Soul & ANKHLEJOHN
BLEU MAGIC by DeevoDaGenius, Kil The Artist, BLUEHILLBILL
Welfare Island by KnowitAll & bop phrases
RocAmerikkka 3 by Flee Lord & eto
The Vault Collective by SupremeCreme
EASE VS EVERYBODY by LITEEASE
4WTRO2 by Zone1eriic & hariroc
Stadium Lo Champions by Raz Fresco & Futurewave
Hero's Journey by Sleep Sinatra
Life Of A Zootieee by El Snappo
City Shimmers by Don Densley, Jay Cinema, LQQPMASTER
Cold [Deluxe Edition] by Kenn Starr & Kev Brown
BLACK KNOT by 99 Neighbors, Maari, Wahid, ANTI
Tag Program (Talented & Gifted) by Lil Gray
A Lost Language Found by Lukah & Statik Selektah
LORDLOVESTERROR by Cut Beetlez, THEFOODLORD, Lord Karu Villain
***WHAT ELSE STAYS IN HEAVY ROTATION*** :
*In no particular order*...
"Cuhmunity Freestyle" - Meet The Whoops feat. AD
"Flip Cup" - Nakama. feat. Rap Man Gavin & kiluhmanjaro
"Fashion Model" - Skrilla feat. Jorjiana
"REALEST OF YOUR BOYZ" - Tree
"Hit the Brakes" - Fat Trel & KP SKYWALKA
"Never Need" - Anycia, GloRilla & KARRAHBOOO
"COMPANYFLOW" - urhra & Riley Lamarre feat. Lungs/Lonesword, 98preem & blackchai
"Crowned Skull" - QThree & Groundskeeper feat. Cavalier
"Gang Gang" - Chef Boy, Rosencrans HopOut, Ys, Hitta J3 & PHOPH8IGHT
"$ & Power" - Benny feat. Skylar Blatt
"1:1[FKDUP.BEZEL]" - Pink Siifu feat. Conquest Tony Phillips, bbymutha & Eltheist
"Black Dynamite" - 2 Eleven feat. Jay Rock
"Blood Bath" - Fox BD feat. YTB FATT & Chuckyy
"Money On Money" - Young Thug & Future
“MFWAH” - DeevoDaGenius feat. ElCamino & Estee Nack
"READ THE ROOM - LulJustin feat. Zone1eriic
"Nesquik" - Napoleon Da Legend & Giallo Point
"Refurbished" - Jamal J. SWIZZ B88GIE, Saint Key
"My Dharma" - Lex Boogie from the Bronx & Senz Beats
"Prepping Pizza" - Spank Nitti James & Hit-Boy
"The Rose Bowl" - The High & Mighty feat. Your Old Droog & The Alchemist
"Armani Section" - Roc Marciano & DJ Premier
"Silver" - Quincy Hunch feat. Sol ChYld & Onyx
"Mr. & Mrs. Smith" - Milc & spinitch feat. Wynne
"Landgrab" - Mavi feat. Earl Sweatshirt
"Stunner" - blank thought feat. IDK Young J. & QuestionATL
"P Bitch" - Myaap & Nedarb feat. Pablo Skywalkin
"Live At the Chinese Buffet" - Infinity Knives & Brian Ennals
"BMJR 3" - Jameel Na'im X
"City is Mine" - Godfather of Harlem & Swizz Beatz feat. Larry June, Conway the Machine & Sauce Walka
"BOBYAHEAD2DIS" - YL & Subjxct 5
"GBP" - Central Cee feat. 21 Savage
"Destiny Rose" - Che Noir & Superior
"Crueler Walls" - PremRock feat. Nappy Nina, YUNGMORPHEUS
“True Lies” - Curren$y & Harry Fraud feat. Babyface Ray, Styles P, 03 Greedo
"Ask About Me" - ChoppaBaby & Fatt Macc feat. lil double 0
"Ultra Ill Magnetic Street" - Thirstin Howl III feat. Young Hump
"Gallons" - That Mexican OT & Sauce Walka feat. Lil Jairmy, Sosamann, DRODi & Mg Lil Bubba
"NEVER TRUST A BITCH THA- *EXPLODES*" - $ilkMoney
“Ouch” - DDG, Kyle Richh & NLE Choppa
“3167” - Lil Hawa feat. YsnUth
"Koolin" - Percaso feat. Luh Tyler
"Freight" - GetRichZay feat. 1504 MUTEBABY
"Went Off" - Doseone & Steel Tipped Dove feat. Open Mike Eagle
"Grain Of Sand" - Fresh Daily & Parental feat. Debonair P
"ERRDAY" - kingdoughmane.
"YN" - PlaqueBoyMax feat. Sexyy Red, BabyChiefDoit, LAZER DIM 700 & Baby Kia
"Weed Gentrification" - GOODNEWSBAS feat. Cavalier
“Pulse Points” - Henny L.O. , ewonee, Mirtaw, Illa Styles, Nickelus F & GRT SCTT
"TOXIC" - Playboi Carti feat. Skepta
"It Factor" - Boldy James & Real Bad Man feat. EL-P
"Automatic Weapons" - Lil Bread feat. LAZER DIM 700
“Aye Rage” - Benji Blue Bills & BNYX, YourRage
“PROLONGED” - Davidthetragic feat. Allen Thomas
"Handle Bars" - T.F & Khrysis feat. Flee Lord & Smoke DZA
“Another Day, Another Dolla” - Lil Tony Official feat. Nino Paid
“Infinite Pockets” - Homeboy Sandman & Brand The Builder
“No Sense” - DjSlimebxll feat. Slimesito
"Imported Hashish" - Bigg Sluggathor feat. UGLYFRANK
"Last Laugh" - Jericho Jackson (Elzhi & Khrysis) feat. Domo Genesis & Oh No
“PERFECT WORLD” - Lloyd Banks
“No Sleep” - Rubberband OG, BABY MEL, Fatt Macc, Big Moochie Grape, ABGR Lil Cory & Trenacote Shawty
“EASTER ISLAND” - Wiles Martyr
"Double D's" - Baby Osamaa
“Old School” - 2DATRAP, Dj Gren8de, Slime Dollaz
Choppa FattMac - Ask About Me
“I Look Like” - Big Boss Vette
"God Body Brothers" - Dizzy Wright, D Smoke, Oswin Benjamin, AJ McQueen & Kxvi
"South Still Speaking" - Lukah & Statik Selektah feat. Killer Mike
"High Speed Clouds" -NCY Milky Band & Quelle Chris
"Facelift" - DEAD PERRY feat. Estee Nack, Raz Fresco & Daniel Son
"Uncle Bernie" - Reese Youngn feat. Bfb Da Packman
"Brand New" - The Underachievers (Issa Gold, AKTHESAVIOR)
"scales" - Lord Apex feat. Louis Culture
"Forever My Moment" - Tee Grizzley
"Rent Due" - Jay Exodus feat. Mick Jenkins
"Glockaveli" - Key Glock
"Dungin" - PROPAGANDA feat. Stik Figa, Dj Sena P
"Merch His Ahh" - Nutso Thugn feat. LAZER DIM 700
"GARGOYLE" - Obijuan, Mike Shabb
"End Of The Day" - Xzibit feat. Tre Capital, Domo Genesis & Ade Bekoe
"Monta Ellis" - Ghais Guevara feat. Yoko McThuggin
"Look Like Cocaine" - Bravo The Bagchaser feat. X4
"Flying Saucers" - your best friend jippy feat. Vodka
"Room Of June" - Vic Spencer & Bucky Luger
"WEIGHTED SHOES" - Perry Maysun feat. Isaiah Poet
"Basquiat Painted Transylvania" - Fatboi Sharif & Driveby feat. LUNGS
"Get Fired" - Pablo Skywalkin
"Keep Calling" - Mani Coolin
"Cops & Robbers" - Oran Juice Ii feat. JustTy
"Sucka Free, Pt. 2" - Premo Rice
"The Magic iZ Y.O.U." - Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire
"ventriliquist" - whereisfox feat. Outside House
"K E L L F I R E" - Wiz Kelly & Chillon Davis feat. VEGA7
"Options" - Sule, Tye Cooper & Black Soprano Family feat. The Hoodies
If 2025 ended today we would still be looking at a great year for rap music. It's hard for me to imagine too many future releases being stronger than my favorite records of the year so far, but only time will tell. Stay tuned...
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