favorites in rap of 2025
Dali Ain't Dead - Zelooperz
Live Laugh Love - Earl Sweatshirt
Rebel - EsDeeKid
Let God Sort 'Em Out - Clipse
This album singlehandedly put Zelooperz as a top 5 artist in my Spotify Wrapped. It's production is sharp and doesn't let Zelooperz box himself in. Songs like "NDA", "Play W Your Pride", and "Fuck Cigarettes" flaunt his lyrical ability while allowing him to dive into deep cut, nostalgia-filled bars. In past projects, Zelooperz lack of consistency remained a major critique, in Dali Ain't Dead, Zelooperz uses this as a strength, staying ten toes down on keeping the listener on their toes at every point of the album.
Earl Sweatshirt is... happy? Seriously, this may have been the greatest artist development of the year. He consistently remains in his signature roll-over-the-beat style, all while living, laughing and loving his life. Early has only gained wisdom with age, and in this age a family, a kid and a life much different than his Odd Future days. It really touches your heart strings. "Gamma (need the <3)" and "TOURMALINE" are instant pick-me-ups, and its great to see the easy-to-root-for sweatshirt at a stage in his life where all he can do is Live Laugh Love.
UK music has been on a tear this decade: Pinkpantheress, Dua Lipa and Olivia Dean — and that's just in pop. Esdeekid is a name that can't be left out of UK's dominance, and Rebel shows exactly why. His bass-heavy sound allows for his boast-filled lyrics to stand out. He uses his apparent accent to create never-before-heard rhyme schemes unavailable to his American counterparts. His blend UK drill and cloud rap makes for a sound that can't be replicated. "Prague" takes a Yung Lean beat, and combines it with lyrical staples of UK drill: flexing making it out of his upbringing, swaggering over his jewelry and making drugs seem cool. Earlier this year, it was confirmed he was not Timothy Chalamet, and, while disappointing for some, Esdeekid is cooler.
Alfredo 2 - Freddie Gibbs
How do you top a nearly perfect album? Release another one. Freddie Gibbs's consistency throughout his project is historic, and Alfredo 2 is no different. The Alchemist production across tracks is as easy to listen to as ever, and Gibbs stays on top of the beats to compliment. One area Alfredo 2 tops its predecessor is its features; Anderson .Paak, Larry June and JID all bring their own to this, creating an immersive album that won't get stale. "1995", "Mar-a-Lago", "Lemon Pepper Steppers" and "Ensalada" all quickly became Gibbs essentials for me — and these are just the first four tracks of the album. It carries this energy throughout, cementing it as one of my albums of the year.
You can't talk about 2025 rap without mention the Clipse reunion. The sixteen year hiatus created an all-time-high hype for the Pusha T and Malice superduo — and they delivered. With Pharell production, the Virginia Beach trifecta really couldn't miss. Pusha T brought his sinister sounding sonics while Malice matched his bars in a genre he thrives in. Pharell's production is punchy as eever, and compliments the two coke rapper's with the wide range of influences he works in. When the weakest part of their album is a shoddy Tyler, the Creator verse, they've created something special, truly worth the sixteen year wait.