32 Favorite Albums of 2025

Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, Rochelle Jordan & More

Dec 05, 2025

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This is one of those moments I look forward to every year. For 10 years now, I’ve chronicled my favorite music from the past 12 months by pulling together a list of the albums I loved most. These are the projects I carried with me at different points throughout the year.

Especially these days, we’re bombarded with more music than it’s possible to listen to, so I recognize that there are albums missing from this list that you’d have on yours or that you consider the best. I hope you’ll share them because I love hearing what other people are into. But please note that these are my favorite albums, not an objective list of the best projects released in 2025—although they’re the albums that were most meaningful for me.

This year, I wanted to do a better job of tracking all the new releases I listened to in preparation for this list. I kept a Google Sheet throughout the year and marked any projects I wanted to pay special attention to. As of today, I’ve listened to more than 180 albums and EPs in total. There’s so much music I enjoyed and lots I wish I got to spend more time with. You can see the full collection here.

Keeping in line with last year’s list and to make sure I could cap it off somewhere, I ranked my 32 favorite albums of 2025. There was a lot left on the cutting room floor, so please hit me up if there’s a project you really loved. I likely listened and enjoyed it too. This was such a fun music year, and so much of it inspired my writing over the past few months.

Without further ado, here’s the complete ranking:

32. Chance the Rapper – STAR LINE

After the disappointment of Chance the Rapper’s debut studio album, The Big Day, it looked like the Chicago lyricist might have finally crashed and burned. This was especially sad because Chance’s music soundtracked most of my college years, but I saw him creep back to life with his Gallery releases between 2022-24. Albeit a different rapper and at a different stage of life than he was when he put out his critically acclaimed mixtapes, Acid Rap and Coloring Book, Chance proved that he’s still got it with STAR LINE. For a 32-year-old rapper who now more closely resembles a veteran in the game, STAR LINE is the perfect comeback. A reminder that growth is still possible if we remember where we come from.

31. Addison Rae — Addison

Addison Rae’s self-titled debut album is exactly what Charli xcx, an early music collaborator, saw in her all along. The project is inspired; it’s well-crafted. Addison stays in her pocket and doesn’t try to be something she’s not. Plus, you can tell she has a talented team around her helping to bring out her best. With tracks like “Headphones On” and “Diet Pepsi,” Addison delivers a legitimate pop album and one that served as a perfect start to the summer. I had my doubts coming in, but now, I believe.

30. Kaicrewsade – Joint4u!

Kaicrewsade is one of the most exciting acts coming out of a stacked Chicago hip-hop lineage. Following in the footsteps of some of my favorites, including Chance the Rapper, Saba, and Noname, the talented 22-year-old is pairing his poetic delivery with jazz instrumentation. Last year, I really enjoyed his debut album, Yvette. His latest project, Joint4u!, builds on the momentum and proves that Kaicrewsade is just getting started. This time, he has some additional star power with features from Pink Siifu and another Chicago legend, Jamila Woods. Listen to this album on a long walk. I promise it’ll feel like you’re in a feature film.

29. THEY. — LOVE.JONES

I’ve known of the songwriter-producer duo THEY. since 2017 when they released “Dante’s Creek,” a song that plays off the Dawson’s Creek theme. I haven’t kept up with them much since, but I really enjoyed LOVE.JONES after listening to it on a flight. For the next couple weeks after, I couldn’t turn off “Drive Thru.” It’s one of my favorite songs of the year, and it’s joined by some other 90s R&B-inspired hits, including “Straight Up” and “Rotation.” At 10 songs with a total runtime of 26 minutes, LOVE.JONES is an easy listen and perfect for a nighttime drive.

28. Elmiene — Heat The Streets

Elmiene has one of the purest voices in music today, especially within R&B. In 2023, his song “Mad At Fire” was one of my favorites of the year. Elmiene’s 2025 mixtape, Heat The Streets, lives up to its name, delivering a healthy dose of warmth that I’m in desperate need of as we begin dipping into a cold winter. From the moment you press play, it’s clear that Elmiene is all the way locked in. The intro track “Useless (Without You)” is one of my favorite songs released this year. A student of the game, Elmiene reaches for inspiration from Musiq Soulchild and Stevie Wonder throughout the tape.

27. Wednesday — Bleeds

Wednesday, the rock band from Asheville, North Carolina, is one of my favorite discoveries of 2025—a year where I listened to lots of artists for the first time. When I began seeing their name pop up online, I thought they were related to the Wednesday Addams Netflix series. Folks were raving about this album, and I’m happy I made time for it because it’s wonderful. As I began pulling the threads of who they are, I learned about the romance and eventual breakup between lead singer Karly Hartzman and guitarist MJ Lenderman that inspired “The Way Love Goes.” Hartzman wrote beautifully about the song for Vulture. But it would do the music a disservice just to focus on the relationship between two of their members. In a year where my love for rock music flourished, Bleeds stands out and is arguably the best rock album of the year. I can’t wait to see them live in March.

26. Navy Blue — The Sword & The Soaring

Koku texted the group chat and announced, “This Navy Blue album is probably one of the most beautiful albums I’ve heard this year.” I trust the homie’s judgment, so I immediately tapped in—and he’s right. While I’m familiar with Sage Elsesser from Odd Future, I had never listened to any of his music. However, The Sword & The Soaring was the perfect introduction. A tribute to the late rapper and Elsesser’s friend, Ka, Navy Blue’s eighth record is “patient, grounded, completely unhurried,” as noted by

Harry Brown

for

Shatter the Standards

. Elsesser’s words to his father on “If Only…” elevated this album to one of my favorites. These words are now gospel for me: “I love the whole you, I love the whole me.”

25. Jenevieve — CRYSALIS

Jenevieve is another artist whose music I stumbled upon this year. Still covered in clippings from my haircut earlier that morning, I decided I would make my inevitable shower all the more worth it by pulling weeds behind our house. Working through my recent saves, I landed on CRYSALIS and stood dumbfounded through the intro. This state of surprise continued as I listened through the rest of the album. I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed it. Tightly crafted with R&B tunes that felt familiar and like nothing I had ever heard before, I rushed to replay it so I could dive back into Jenevieve’s world. It was magical even if it included tedious work and acute back pain.

24. HAIM — I quit

Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon calls HAIM his “favorite American band.” It’s hard not to agree. I first learned about the rock-pop trio with their debut album, Days Are Gone, in 2013. I finally got a chance to see them live in 2022 and caught them twice that year—once at Cincinnati’s Andrew J Brady Music Center and another time at Kid Cudi’s Moon Man’s Landing music festival in Cleveland. While I quit isn’t my favorite album from their catalog, the Haim sisters rattled off a generational run of hit singles leading up to the album. They showed me why their music will always be a mainstay for me with “Love You Right,” which is one of my favorite songs of the year. It’s nearly impossible to top a classic album like Women In Music Pt. III, but I’m glad they didn’t lose themselves in the pursuit.

23. Daniel Caesar — Son Of Spergy

I speed-walked to the bathroom. In my tinkering with the makeshift lock on the door, I fell short of my goal of peeing before Son Of Spergy began. Koku and I were embarking on the listening party for Daniel Caesar’s new album at Rich Street Records. As the choir ushered in “Rain Down” featuring Sampha, I regretted my affinity for cleanliness, wishing their waterfall vocals could wash my hands anew. Finally making my way out, I stood alongside Koku as we basked in the beauty permeating every song. Without the tracklist in front of us, we guessed features and perked up at the singles we knew. My favorite moment was guessing the falsetto at the end of “Sins of the Father” was James Blake only to be even more pleased when I learned it was Bon Iver.

22. Geese — Getting Killed

Elizabeth and I got seated on the lawn at KEMBA Live! Lawn seating is probably my least favorite form of concert seating because I’m 30 now and there’s no such thing as getting comfortable while sitting on the floor. Between waiting for Vampire Weekend to come on and debating if I wanted a treat, I thought to myself, ‘This opener isn’t half bad.’ I saw their merch when we came in. Geese. No clue who they are, but the shirt’s cool. Fast forward to the fall, and Geese is all over my feeds. I read this long ass GQ story and learn that the young rock band everyone’s obsessed with worked with Kenneth Blume (aka Kenny Beats) on their new album, Getting Killed. You’re telling me this is the same band I saw open for Vampire Weekend? Couldn’t be. Listening to the album was like listening to Geese for the first time—and in many ways, it was me finally hearing them. Cameron Winter’s voice is distinct, the lyrics are weird, and one of the best compliments I can give is that AI could never make this. Also, “Islands of Men” is one of the best songs of the year.

21. Earl Sweatshirt — Live Laugh Love

Earl Sweatshirt raps like he’s going to run out of words to say. But just when you think he’s about to fall off the rails, he keeps it steady with another string of clever wordplay. When I first learned about Earl back in 2010 and squirmed my way through the “EARL” music video, I couldn’t have imagined a world where he’s chanting, “I released it,” like he does on “Heavy Metal aka ejecto seato!” Earl is 31 now—the same age as me. He has his wife and two children, and he’s looking to preserve his life rather than risk it. Even with the cliché album title, Live Laugh Love reaches for the tried and true—or as Toni Morrison puts it, the “worthwhile.” She notes, “A good cliché can never be overwritten; it’s still mysterious.” This album is Earl embracing that mystery.

20. Destin Conrad — LOVE ON DIGITAL

JT calls Destin Conrad “Kehlani’s cousin.” They’re not real cousins, but for me and my people, anyone can be a cousin as long as the love is there. Conrad might as well be one of my cousins after how much time I spent listening to “THE LAST TIME” this year. Conrad’s collaboration with Teezo Touchdown is among my top-three favorite songs of 2025. Kehlani also shows up on LOVE ON DIGITAL along with other features from the likes of serpentwithfeet and Lil Nas X. The album is packed with infectious tunes and is bound to make you want to find the nearest club and throw a little ass. I would, but my knees hurt. Y’all know how it goes.

19. Madison McFerrin — SCORPIO

Madison McFerrin’s voice can be heard in the background of Saba’s “head.rap,” which was my favorite song released last year. When I saw

Carmelia

touting McFerrin’s latest album, SCORPIO, I made sure to reserve time for it. I remember it dropped the same week as Lorde’s Virgin, and there were points during that Friday after listening to both where I thought McFerrin might have the more compelling project. Joke’s on me because I love that Lorde album more than I expected, but SCORPIO is really special. “The flavor of the music is like a smoky mezcal,” Carmelia noted in her review. “It’s confident, potent, and carries a commanding fire that makes the spicy lyrics believable.” Well, that explains why I’m sweating.

18. Eem Triplin — Melody Of A Memory

Eem Triplin is a new discovery this year. I can’t remember how I found Melody Of A Memory, but I’m sure it has something to do with the album artwork. Truly one of my favorite covers of the year. Without knowing anything about him, I could tell from listening to “DUYA” that Eem is a student of Tyler, The Creator. Growing up with Tyler’s music, it’s wild to me that there are artists coming up now who look to him in the same way Tyler looked to Pharrell. I’m sure that was trippy for the people who were there for The Neptunes’ run in the early 2000s and then saw glimpses of their production in Tyler’s music. It just means we’re growing older, but I felt validated when I sent this album to my 23-year-old direct report, and it’s all he wanted to listen to after us and the homie Ahmed saw Moonlight in IMAX. Guess I’m not unc and/or chopped after all.

17. Justin Bieber — SWAG II

We weren’t expecting SWAG, and I definitely didn’t anticipate a follow-up album two months later—especially after we went four years without a new Justin Bieber project. The second coming of SWAG is even longer than the original, weighing in at 23 new releases. As someone who is morally opposed to long albums, I was skeptical. But as a Justin Bieber apologist, the fandom won out. These Michael Jackson impressions are catchy as hell, and the music feels like an extension of the creative freedom Bieber exhibited on the first project. “Church bells and throwing rice things” on “BETTER MAN” is forever imprinted on my brain. But I wish I could forget him mansplaining Genesis. Doesn’t the Bible already do enough of that?

16. Mavis Staples — Sad And Beautiful World

Mavis Staples’ career is long and the lineage of artists she has inspired is even longer. I’m still relatively new to Staples’ work, but her heartfelt cover of Frank Ocean’s “Godspeed” inspired me to write this essay I’m deeply proud of. The album this cover belongs to, Sad And Beautiful World, is made up almost entirely of other people’s songs, but Staples, 86, lends a knowing to these words by way of time and experience. While she has no children of her own, performances like her cover of Kevin Morby’s “Beautiful Strangers” and the aforementioned “Godspeed” feel like wise words from a loving grandma. And who doesn’t need to be reminded, as noted by Lalah Delia, that your grandmother’s love is still surrounding you? It’s also good to remember this album features contributions from Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Katie Crutchfield, MJ Lenderman, Justin Vernon, and more.

15. redveil — sankofa

This one snuck in right at the end, but I had to include redveil’s latest. It’s terrific. I’ve been calling it the “Gen Z To Pimp a Butterfly,” which doesn’t feel too far-off seeing as redveil chose the Kendrick Lamar album as his Pitchfork “Perfect 10.” I’ve been inspired by the 21-year-old rapper since he spoke up for Palestine at Camp Flog Gnaw. I wrote about the moment here. Making a home for himself in Los Angeles, sankofa finds redveil adjusting to this next stage in his career. On “pray 4 me,” he raps, “The sunset prettier than it ever really get back home, but I can’t enjoy it.” Peeking above the fray, redveil delivers a vulnerable album with jazz riffs that shake the spirit and stir the soul.

14. Hayley Williams — Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party

I knew of Hayley Williams’ power before I ever immersed myself in the work of her and her friends. I remember hearing Paramore’s “Decode” for the first time back in high school and being struck by how commanding the lead singer’s voice was. A few years ago, I made a more intentional effort to familiarize myself with Paramore’s catalog, which only gave me a greater appreciation for Williams, the artist and the human. Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party, her third solo album, is a 20-song sonic adventure. Of these tracks, “True Believer” has haunted me the most. After I wrote about it in a recent essay, Williams commended my words and expressed her appreciation. She even shared the piece, introducing it to a wider audience. I’ve been floating ever since.

13. Saba & No ID — From The Private Collection of Saba and No ID

My most listened-to song last year was “head.rap,” the lead single from Saba and No ID’s collaborative album. I wrote about it here. Coming into 2025, this album was my most anticipated project of the year. Saba and No ID didn’t disappoint. After a stellar three-album run where his fanbase has grown tremendously, Saba comes into this record looking to set the story straight. “Although I live a wild dream, I am not God.” This resembles Kendrick Lamar’s words on Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers: “I am not your savior.” By establishing clear expectations from the beginning, Saba frees himself to be imperfect. And even amidst the flaws, he hears God ask, “Don’t you know you enough?” It’s this assurance that inspires a deeply grounded effort from the Chicago rapper—one I’m grateful we get to enjoy.

12. Saya Gray — SAYA

This is one of the first albums I fell in love with this year. I’m new to Saya Gray’s music, but SAYA made me an immediate fan. The pedal steel guitar, acoustic strums, and electric guitar breakdowns on “..THUS IS WHY (I DON’T SPRING 4 LOVE)” make for a bafflingly perfect intro. This experimentation continues throughout the album and positions Gray, who seemingly takes notes from Bon Iver and BANKS, as one of the most exciting innovators in music today. Even with these touchstones, you can tell Gray takes pride in creating original art and seeing which boundaries she can push to their breaking point.

11. Turnstile — NEVER ENOUGH

Lorde and Turnstile played in Columbus the same night. I chose Lorde. While it was one of my favorite shows in a while, I still regret not seeing Turnstile. On top of Blood Orange opening for them, Turnstile’s bassist Franz Lyons is originally from Columbus. Being at his hometown show would’ve been sick. But learning about Lyons’ roots in Ohio and the band’s origin in Baltimore’s hardcore scene has only made me love them more. It’s almost like they were perfectly handcrafted for me. Even in terms of the music itself, there are so many bits and pieces I love. The melodies are catchy, and it bangs when it needs to. Also, Brendan Yates’ voice is so fun to sing along with. There’s a NEVER ENOUGH visual album worth watching too. I love how they’re trying stuff and giving their art its best shot all while seemingly being normal, caring people. It’s cool to see.

10. Rochelle Jordan — Through The Wall

I shared this album with my mom. That’s not me saying Rochelle Jordan is washed; more so, it’s that Jordan invokes a sound I can imagine my mom and her friends listening to at the club back in her Morgan State days. I’m familiar with Jordan primarily from collaborations with KAYTRANADA, but I didn’t realize how long she’s been at it. Jordan seems to have a clear sense of self that she speaks to wonderfully in her Paste Magazine interview with one of my favorite Ohio writers, Matt Mitchell. “There’s no Grammy or accolade that can replace the time that I’ve spent developing myself as an artist and trusting in my vision,” shared Jordan. “Moving forward, that’s what I’m celebrating.” And I’m right here celebrating Through The Wall as one of the most impressive dance releases in recent years.

09. Nami — WARM

JT has been one of my musical guides since we met back in college, so when he said WARM is probably his top album this year, I knew I had to tap in. And of course, it’s exactly what I needed. I had never heard of Nami, but he’s on Monte Booker’s new album and has a songwriting credit on SWAG II. I had a phase in high school where I thought I should’ve been alive in the 80s. I got obsessed with music from that era, and it turns out I’m still that kid. Nami pulls all those strings. “Suzette” is literally him impersonating Michael Jackson’s ad libs just like I would in my bedroom listening to his Essentials collection. While I can name different reference points throughout the record, Nami still reaches toward the future. It feels fresh while providing glimmers of a former time. You get the live vocals and instrumentation of Dijon’s Absolutely while the harmonies are reminiscent of Boyz II Men—all with the throughline of Nami’s earnest desire. Warmth incarnate.

08. ROSALÍA — LUX

It was clear from the “Berghain” music video that ROSALÍA is not messing around. She doesn’t want to just make a great album; she wants to be one of the greatest artists of our time. Scratch that. Of all time. LUX is a spectacle; an art piece; something to behold. I keep finding myself holding it up to the light and inspecting how the sun shines off it. I notice something new every time. Just as beautiful as the last. I had to catch my breath after my first time listening. I have asthma, so maybe this isn’t as much of a compliment as I want it to be. But the music is truly breathtaking. Awe-inspiring. I love that ROSALÍA dared to make this album, and I can’t wait to see what it inspires in other artists. You can’t hear LUX and not be changed.

07. Bad Bunny — DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS

The first major release of the year and arguably the best. Bad Bunny is colossal. A global behemoth. At a time when the world’s biggest artists often walk the line, avoiding any and every opportunity to offend, Bad Bunny invites us home to Puerto Rico and tells the truth of where he’s from—a truth that flies in the face of American imperialism and colonization. He talks about the displacement of his people and a homeland that’s rapidly changing while him and his beloveds try to cling to whatever scraps they can. The album’s title a regretful confession (“I Should’ve Taken More Photos”) but also a declaration that Puerto Rico won’t be disappeared without a fight. It takes realizing what you’ve lost to know what you don’t want to lose more of. No matter where you’re from, this is the reality of so many of our homes. In this project’s specificity, a distinctly Puerto Rican album, Bad Bunny builds a shelter where all of us have our own rooms as long as our greatest desires are love and liberation.

06. Tyler, The Creator — DON’T TAP THE GLASS

DON’T TAP THE GLASS came out of nowhere. I was scrolling one night, and the next thing I see is Tyler holding a new record. It dropped the following Monday, and what we got is Tyler, still on his CHROMAKOPIA Tour, opening the dance floor and inviting us all to join. Tyler, who came out to a rousing ovation at Kendrick Lamar’s Pop Out show, shared how Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers inspired his radical honesty on CHROMAKOPIA. Evident in Tyler dropping his own verse to Lamar’s “hey now,” it’s clear that GNX put a battery in his back. The album emboldened Tyler’s LA pride and incited him to make sure it comes through as clear as possible in his music. You can hear Tyler’s upbringing on songs like “Sucka Free” and “Don’t Tap That Glass / Tweakin’.” Outside of the LA influence, this album celebrates Black music across the United States with touchstones in Atlanta crunk and Jersey club. All of this makes for a project that’s easy to groove to and best enjoyed on repeat.

05. Clipse — Let God Sort Em Out

Clipse is back. I revised an older essay and wrote about their return earlier this year. Pusha T and Malice are up there with OutKast as one of my all-time favorite rap duos. After 16 years since their last project, Let God Sort Em Out burst through the doors with a vengeance—and with perspective, a gift often granted by time. While we’ve come to expect villainy from Pusha T, a well-documented menace, it was easy to lose sight of Malice after he went solo. But foolish are those who despise wisdom and instruction. Malice emerges from the shadows like he never stopped working. That’s because he never did. Malice is sharper than ever, overpowering everyone who steps his way—even his brother. And Push knows it; he revels in it. And that’s why no one is happier about Clipse’s return than the one who’s stayed in the limelight. Now, he’s indestructible.

04. Lorde — Virgin

September 23rd was supposed to be Christ’s return. I saw Lorde instead. So I guess, kinda the same thing. I was taught the Rapture as the lifting of our bodies toward heaven, but no one mentioned “Broken Glass” playing while it’s happening. “This is real,” our “prettier Jesus” declared before the masses. And it’s that physicality, bodies touching, sweat in the air, that’s at the heart of Virgin. Lorde uses words like “raw,” “rugged,” and “gore” to describe her first album in four years. Raised on high after two breakthrough albums, Pure Heroine and Melodrama, Lorde became “man (of the year)” and showed us exactly who she is. Not a deity to be worshipped but a member of the body—real bodies fully in their humanness. And in this communion, we’re set free. Free indeed.

03. Justin Bieber — SWAG

Justin Bieber attempts freedom on SWAG. As someone who has claimed a seat at the table for nearly every JB release, I’ve become very familiar with the boxes he’s often forced into—sometimes of his own volition. Frictionless R&B pop records became his calling card. Not as in smooth, but as in inhumane. Robotic. His first two post-marriage albums, Changes and Justice, reeked of this lifelessness. But SWAG comes to us, four years after his last release, as a surprise and a pulse. When Bon Iver craved revival on his 2022 U.S. tour, he called on Dijon and Mk.gee. Bieber did the same. And while they brought their signature sounds, maybe their most important contribution is giving Bieber the space to follow a moment. To break the mold. To be human again.

02. Dijon — Baby

The moment is beginning to catch up with Dijon, which means he’s likely already on to the next thing. In one of my favorite essays I wrote this year, I examine Dijon’s relationship to time. The Maryland native reaches for vanguards like D’Angelo and Radiohead. That’s his definition of mastery and where he wants to be; it’s why he takes his time. But in the time he takes, Dijon starts from a place of messing everything up. He doesn’t want perfection. I don’t think that’s what he sees in his idols; he sees feeling. Baby is Dijon chasing that feeling. Letting emotion pour through every element. Following the moment wherever it may lead—and in turn, establishing new moments and creative standards that artists will chase for years to come.

01. Bon Iver — SABLE, fABLE

I showed my cards when I wrote this essay declaring SABLE, fABLE as my favorite album of the year back in October. But it was undeniably clear that Bon Iver had a chokehold on me in 2025. I didn’t need my Wrapped to confirm that my top songs were all from this album. I thought about and discussed SABLE, fABLE more than any other project this year. From album clubs to group chats, I couldn’t escape Bon Iver’s happiest album yet. I also couldn’t escape Justin Vernon. For the first time in his career, the Bon Iver frontman decided to poke his head out of the sand and do the full promotional tour. It’s bittersweet because this is likely Bon Iver’s last breath but at least we get a victory lap. One covered in “lush vibrance,” as used by Vernon to describe this project. As a longtime fan of Bon Iver, I’m basking in it all.