2025 Album of The Year

Musically, this year was magical. Artists provided career defining material and we were blessed to hear every second. Here are my 20 picks for the best albums of 2025. I added five honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions

Godfidence by Madd keys

Metaphors for sports and rap are always a hand-in-hand partnership. There's no way around the coach and quarterback comparison when examining the relationship between a rapper and his producer. There's no better thrill than a championship victory, which is often compared to an artist releasing an album that is crafted, edited, and mastered for months before its release. For Madd keys, these sports analogies are front and center as the rapper plays the proverbial quarterback to his viewers and longtime fans. Godfidence is just that, taking 14 tracks for Keys to swagger, boast, and humble-coach anyone within ear-shot his keys to life success.

To Be Continued by #WhoIsJovie

J. Cole once famously said something along the lines of Sometimes you have to flex and show folks that there are levels to this game. I, of course, am paraphrasing, but the sentiment remains the same; no matter how good you think you are, you’re not me. While rappers often try this tactic to remind people that their pen game is sharp, nobody executes this better than #WhoIsJovie, who once again, brings forth his iron fist to remind people that when he puts pen to paper, there’s rarely a soul willing to match him letter-for-letter.

Stardust by Danny Brown

Danny Brown is one of the rare anomalies in hip-hop. This emcee stuck true to his sound, story, and consistency, and despite not having the commercial success of his rapping classmates, has been a mainstay of respected artists since entering the scene in the late 2000s. While he occupies a tier list alongside the Tech N9nes of the world, where his core audience praises him through thick or thin, one visit to his discography will uncover a host of unique sounds that are not only important to the rap atmosphere but significant to what music could enhance, should they study his artistry. This is why his latest project, Stardust, could be regarded as one of the most underrated pieces of media for anyone not exploring the legend of Danny Brown.

Moisturizer by Wet Leg

Much like the soundtrack of a raunchy early 2000s comedy film, Moisturizer is as inappropriate as it is creative. Neither too indie for its own good nor too rock-heavy to become uninviting to new listeners, Wet Leg makes a project that is sharp-tongued, barbed with high energy, and uniquely one of the best albums this year.

I quit by Haim

The sisters return with their fourth studio album. Haim calls it quits and expresses Freedom from the burdens of anything that they believe held them back. What we receive is a project chalked with blaring guitars, their trademark layered vocals, crafty song structures, and songs that make themselves at home in your ear for days on end. This album allows you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride of their innovative compositions.

Now for your albums of the year…

20 - In A Blue Light by Kelela

It's been months since hearing the album released in February. However, having gone back, I can confidently say this album is one of the best live albums in the past few years. The project is part live album with full-studio quality, fully monumentous, and daringly ambitious. Dare I say "Waitin'" is one of the best live tracks.. ever?

19 - Songs We Wish We Wrote by Sammy Rae & The Friends

Yes, it's an album full of song covers, but they make each song performance their own. SR&TF have this beautiful formula not seen since the days of prime Lil Wayne, where every moment of a track becomes their own, snatching the original nucleus and building upon classic tracks for stunning music, setting a benchmark for what song covers should be.

18 - Don't Tap The Glass by Tyler The Creator

Hip-hop has a beautiful phenomenon where an artist, over a decade into their career, can hit a second stride, where every project feels impactful, crisp, and like a rebirth for the artist. For Tyler, The Creator, Don't Tap The Glass is a crowning follow-up to his 2024 album, Chromakopia, which many praised for his outright honesty. This project, instead of a reflective approach, brings the essence of hip-hop Summertime, chock-full of dance tracks and daytime drive anthems.

17 - Strutman Lane by Strutman Lane

Hearing Strutman Lane 's self-titled album for the first time felt the same as discovering donuts for the first time. I'm not sure if there's a better analogy. Imagine hearing music your whole life, only to come across a new band to discover music can, in fact, get better!

16 - Colorless You by Moon In June

Tranquility personified. Colorless You by Moon In June is a warm sip of tea in the dead of winter. An introduction to the band is nothing short of musical medicine, where success meets with talent. From their comforting intro to deep cuts like "Warm British Winter Song," it's highly recommended you play this album while cruising the highway. One listen to this project could, and most likely should, make you a lifelong fan.

15 - Couch Hanging by Florencia & The Feeling

Couch Hanging by Florencia & The Feeling, if nothing else, is the audio equivalent of discovering a new flavor to your favorite drink. Between the groovy basslines, the ability for every song to uncover ways of growth on a second-by-second basis, or the fact that no two tracks sound the same, this project is a late arrival, but if nothing else, it is one of the best albums of the year.

14 - Fancy That by Pink Panthress

The 2000s fashion queen shines brightly with her project Fancy That. From TikTok-ready singles like "Illegal" to her trademark voice cascading through songs like "Romeo," Pink Panthress reminds the world that she's more than an artist capable of making minute-long jingles.

13 - Love?... or Something Like It by Halle Baily

The songstress's return to the microphone is both beautiful and powerful, taking a traditional R&B approach, where radio-ready singles may be few and far between, what we received is an album highlighting the pure prowess of Halle at the peak of her powers. While it is debatable if she is better with or without her sister, this album is a stunning debut, clearly separating Halle from the rest of the R&B pack.

12 - The Meeting by Astels 

Falling in love with a project often happens organically. Perhaps it is a unique hook, the bridge of a song, the message conveyed in a hook, or the artist's vibe. We never know what makes a project special, but for The Meeting, Astels captures everything between as the French duo blends house elements with traditional pop to craft off-center bops like “Give Up On You.” Truly a special gem in a year beaming with unique albums.

11 - Vie by Doja Cat

Somehow, this album flew under the radar for most fans of Doja Cat. Shocking as it is, Vie should be praised among the best projects in her discography. It's the classic Doja formula: braggadocious, soothing singing, fantastic rapping, Doja introducing new fashion, matching the album's thematic presentation, and an iconic SZA feature! What's not to love?

10 - Scorpio by Madison McFerrin

Scorpio by Madison McFerrin is a beautiful vocal display by the songstress that highlights the rollercoaster of the trials of love, from seeing the worst version of yourself to understanding how a former lover may have been an unstable anchor to your life, Madison manages to take these talking points to grace us with an anthem that captures every spectrum of the relationship emotion through the 30+ minute project.

9 - Black Star by Amaarae

My first introduction to Amaare was through her stellar project Fountain Baby, where the light-voiced singer astounded the world with her ability to make getting money and fuckin bitches sound so beautiful. Black Star, while not entirely about the same subject matter, remains a stellar follow-up nonetheless.

8 - Eusexual Afterglow by FKA Twigs

FKA Twigs is a revolutionary artist in an era marked by great music at every turn. There's no one with her sound, her ear for music, or her superb writing. Afterglow, the follow-up to Eusexual, which was also released this year, offers catchy songs and more sonically pleasing tracks than its predecessor. FKA Twigs continues her hot streak of releasing projects that should be as celebrated as holidays.

7 - Pholks by Leon Thomas III

Having been a longtime fan of Leon Thomas since his days in August Rush, the evolution of Leon Thomas was never a how, but a matter of when. Pholks is a culmination of Thomas's steady growth as a performer and his willingness to make every moment a dynamic alarm of what music could truly become when every sound is implemented with love.

6 - Sincerely by Kali Uchis

Kali may be physically incapable of releasing a bad project, and Sincerely would be considered Exhibit A of this claim. Her voice, while always silky, borders on hypnotic throughout this album, and she takes full advantage, crafting a full-thematic project that's fun, sensual, and ear-catching. If you are missing this historic run by Kali Uchis, I highly recommend starting to listen to the songstress now.

5 - Big Money by Jon Batiste

Perhaps the best performer I have ever seen live, Jon Batiste's latest album, Big Money, is a soulful album filled with rich instrumentation, stellar guest appearances, and the occasional meaningful message that has come to define Batiste's sound. I, for one, can not stop listening to "Lean On My Love."

4 - Lonely Magic by Rebecca Sugar

As a lifelong Steven Universe fan, every Rebecca Sugar album feels celebratory, and Lonely Magic certainly gives us reason to buy balloons and light candles. This project is whimsical in the best way, offering an opportunity to romanticize life, even in moments where life doesn't feel the brightest; A Rebecca Sugar trademark.

3 - Lotus by Little Simz

In a world that continues to push the narrative that hip-hop is on a downslide, Little Simz releases Lotus, a direct counterargument to the false statement. Thought-provoking, raw, and honest, Little Simz crafts one of the best rap projects this year, while being one of the game's best pure lyricists without rapping for the sake of rapping.

2 - Cazimi by Dani Darling

If this is the final album by Dani Darling, then she certainly went out with a bang. Cazimi, if nothing else, is a testimony to how transparency is artistry. While the project is a short five-song EP, she manages to pack so much beauty in each track, ensuring that every song is a planet, every verse is a lifetime, and every instrument is a magical moment that makes life special. Cazimi is truly a generational project.

1 -Let God Sort Em Out by Clipse

It's simply impossible to deny Clipse's album of the year as the brother duo, following a nearly two-decade break, returns to create arguably their best material to date. While Pusha-T has always been considered one of the best artists in hip-hop, what's truly surprising about the album is that, in what can only be described as a successful wish from a magical genie, Malice returns as not only crisp but head-and-shoulders above the majority, if not all, of the rap game. Produced exclusively by longtime friend Pharrell, the duo feels refreshed and magnificent, giving us the best album of 2025.

Here’s a playlist of some of the songs from the albums mentioned.