Back for a 10th straight year and a decade later, we at TheHipHopDemocrat once again despite being a mostly Hip-Hop based website, decided to include not only Hip-Hop, but a few of the other genres we cover a lot of, such as R&B and Soul, as part of our latest best albums of the year list. Counting down from 10 to one, we cover a bunch of the variety of different artists and albums we covered throughout the year and came up with the following for our best of 2025 album’s. A few honorable mentions were even thrown in as well. So without further ado here is TheHipHopDemocrat’s 10th Best Albums of the Year list.
10. Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out: Legendary Hip-Hop duo, Clipse’s very critically-acclaimed and highly-touted comeback album, Let God Sort Em Out. Is not only easily one of the best Hip-Hop album’s here in 2025, but one of the best across all of music this year. That is also some of the best work in the already great discography. Which sees both brothers of Pusha T and Malice over 13 tracks all produced by longtime friend and collaborator, Pharrell, going in with the bars and emceeing throughout like they have something to prove. Malice and Pharrell especially between their rhyming and production seeming like they really wanted to prove any doubters wrong about still having it on the mic and boards. The very beautifully emotional and poignantly powerful opening track, The Birds Don’t Sing. That is by far not only one of the most standout records on the album, but one of the best songs released across all of music this year. Also the perfect unexpected opener we would never expect from Clipse that really set the tone for the album and really hit home even more for me cause of me losing my own father a little over 5 1/2 years ago. As the beautifully emotional and poignantly powerful record finds both brothers rapping messages as an homage to their parents, who passed within a year of one another. Pusha T rapping directly to their mother, while Malice does to their father. Both sharing very beautifully emotional and poignant messages of love and grief to their parents they never got the chance to say before they passed. John Legend and Voices of Fire’s beautifully emotional and powerful soaring chorus in between the verses from the Clipse, really elevating the record too. That perfectly into the very talked about Kendrick Lamar featured, Chains & Whips. As well as such standout tracks as the Tyler, the Creator featured, P.O.V., previously released singles So Be It and Ace Trumpets. M.T.B.T.T.F., E.B.I.T.D.A., the Stove God featured, F.I.C.O., Pharrell-featured, So Far Ahead, Ab-Liva featured, Inglorious Bastards, and the title track/Chandeliers featuring Nas, among some of the other standout tracks on the album. A very impactful album that though not a classic is about as close as you can get to one with the insane amount of replay value it has had throughout the year and will continue to have. Which is why we have it not only as a top 4 Hip-Hop album released here in 2025, but one of the best albums released across all music here this year and ranked as our #10 album for Top Albums of the Year. The impact the album has had for the Clipse beyond Rap and Hip-Hop and just across all music shown in their five GRAMMYs nominations for the upcoming 68th Annual Grammy Awards. That includes nominations for Best Rap Album and the very coveted and highly-touted, Album of the Year.
9. Laufey – A Matter of Time: Grammy Award-winning artist, composer and multi-instrumentalist, Laufey, has had quite the 2025. Releasing her critically-acclaimed and GRAMMY-nominated latest album, A Matter of Time. As well as consistently selling out her record-breaking A Matter of Time arena tour. This classically timeless sounding record has so many standout records throughout 15 tracks. Whether it be opening record, Clockwork, that sounds like it is perfect for Christmas and/or the Holiday season to the standout, Lover Girl and very emotionally strings driven-Snow White and even, beautifully emotional guitar-driven heartbreak anthem, Castle in Hollywood to the absolutely beautiful piano and strings-driven, Carousel, hauntingly eerie, yet beautiful and somewhat powerful single, Silver Lining, beautifully sweet classically composed Christmas and/or Snow White-feeling interlude, Cuckoo Ballet (Interlude), beautifully jaw dropping heavenly, Forget-Me-Not, which she sings in part of her native Icelandic. The sure to be heartbroken anthem, Tough Luck, that really lets Laufey show off her beautifully heavenly vocals and goes perfectly with the live instruments and the absolutely beautiful magnetically dreamy powerful, A Cautionary Tale, is not only the best record on the album, but one of the best records you will ever hear. Which really lets Laufey show off her beautifully heavenly sweet vocals and slowly builds up to her powerfully singing about a lover she had hurt her and give her agony after giving them so much of her. That she feels they will later regret in letting her go. The very performatively electric and majestic, Mr. Ecletic, yet another highlight that is another record that sounds somewhat Christmassy or perfect for the Winter months. That also has Clairo on background vocals. The beautifully haunting and somewhat eerie, Sabotage, yet another highlight. The album closing with the beautifully majestic and charmingly classical, Seems Like Old Times. That really allows Laufey to truly stay true to her very at her core classical and jazz roots she was trained in. An album that does also let Laufey explore somewhat a little other genres such as Pop and Country, while still staying mostly true to her classical and jazz roots and still has a lot of very jazzy and classical live production throughout the album we have come to expect from her. It is an album that while just short of being another classic masterpiece album from Laufey. Is still one of the best albums released here in 2025 and can be played almost whenever, but is also perfect theme music for a lot of the Christmas, holidays season and Winter months. Which is why we have it ranked as our 9th best album across music here this year and it was appropriately nominated for a GRAMMYs award for the upcoming 68th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
8. Mobb Deep – Infinite: Legendary and iconic Hip-Hop group, Mobb Deep’s first album in 11 years, Infinite. That is also their first album since the tragic passing of group member, Prodigy, in June 2017 is one that over 15 tracks is all produced by Havoc and longtime friend, as well as collaborator, The Alchemist. Which fuses new verses from Havoc with never before released posthumous raps from Prodigy as well. That really allows Havoc and Al to be able to perfectly fit so many of Prodigy’s verses without compromising anything and making it sound like an actual Mobb Deep album. With so many standout tracks ranging from Against The World to Gunfire, the killer Clipse collaboration, Look At Me, The M. The O. The B. The B. featuring longtime affiliate Big Noyd, the Nas & Jorja Smith featured, Down For You, Taj Mahal, My Era, the also Nas featuring, Pour The Henny, the Raekwon & Ghostface Killah featured, Clear Black Nights. As well as the also Nas featured and H.E.R. featured, Love The Way (Down For You Pt2) and We The Real Thing. It is an album that really is both Havoc and Prodigy at some of their best ever both production and emceeing wise of their career. Which though just short of being a classic album, is about as close as you can be to one and why it’s also among Mobb Deep’s best work in their already great discography. That ranks as a top 3 Hip-Hop album released here in 2025 and No. 8 in our top albums of the year that is a Top 10 album across all music this year.
7. Lady Wray – Cover Girl: Lady Wray has some of the most soulfully magical, majestic and beautiful vocals you will ever hear in the history of music. The soulfully raw soul and huge gospel power she has in them something she learned from her time singing in her hometown church choir growing up. Something she has really reclaimed in a lot of her more recent music and you can especially her a lot on her very soulfully joyous and beautifully triumphant latest timeless masterpiece album, Cover Girl. That is all produced by longtime collaborator, Leon Michels, whom she has worked with for a decade. The new 11 track album finding Lady Wray able to really able to have that revived blissful and joyful feel in her music. As Michels production also allows her to have contemporary R&B and classic soul with cheeky flashes of disco flair that shows the many influences Lady Wray had growing up to many different genres of music as a child in both the 80’s and early 90’s. Whether it be 90’s Hip-Hop and R&B to 60’s and 70’s inspired soul and disco. As well as touches of gospel from her time growing up as a little girl in her hometown church choir. The very soulfully upbeat piano-driven opening track, My Best Step, where Lady Wray so beautifully sings in harmony with Leon Michels production. Really allowing for her to show off her soulfully magical, majestic and beautiful vocals and soulfully raw gospel vocals. As she affirms her commitment to loving herself and giving both her and her husband her best step forward in love with one another. Throughout all the ups and downs too. Lady Wray’s awareness of her love, self-care and commitment to all aspects of her life. That range from her career to her marriage and motherhood. She touches on throughout the album. Which you hear on such records as the opening track to the very smooth and beautifully funky upbeat guitar-driven Gospel-infused standout, Be A Witness. To the beautifully magical and majestic, Where Could I Be that blends so well with Michels production to the soulfully joyful and triumphant real feel-good anthem of, Hard Times. The beautifully groovy lover’s anthem, Best For Us, the stripped-down absolutely beautiful & powerful heartfelt ballad title track, the silky smooth funky and upbeat, You’re Gonna Win to the very reggae-infused, What It Means. Showing the true versatility of Lady Wray touching on so many genres and musical influences throughout the album so beautifully and seamlessly perfect too. The album closing with the very soulfully beautiful and heavenly, Calm. That really allows Lady Wray to show off her soulfully raw and huge gospel powered vocals so beautifully over the very soulfully beautiful and heavenly keys from Leon Michels production. Which is the perfect closer to such a timeless masterpiece album from Lady Wray. That is not only one of the top R&B/Soul album’s released here in 2025, but really across all of music. That with it coming in at #7 on our top albums of the year list. Shows what another great year it was across all of music. With this album likely being ranked higher or even as the best album of the year in most other years.
6. Jon Connor – Food for the Soul: While a lot of people have talked about the great run and almost resurgence that Ransom has had since 2020. In almost entering another prime or even Nas as well. Another name that should be brought up even more in that same vein is former Aftermath Entertainment and one-time Dr. Dre protege, Jon Connor. Who since 2020 and his departure from Aftermath in 2019 has put out such great masterpiece or near masterpiece albums such as SOS, SOS II: The Road To Legendary and last year’s cinematic classic masterpiece album, III. That you can add his latest critically-acclaimed soulful masterpiece album, Food for the Soul, he released in January to the list of and as not only one of the top two Hip-Hop album’s of 2025, but one of the best released across all of music this year. Connor’s follow-up to III, yet another album that over 18 tracks plays almost like a movie from beginning to end. Where he kicks things off with the soulfully majestic opening track, Intro/We’re Gonna Be Okay that has Jon Connor giving his lyrically best rapping and he even says on the outro to the track how, “This album is about his love for people and the human experience. As different as we are. We are more alike than we think. Things you are going through ain’t just specific to you and how you handled it. We all go through similar ups and downs. So I hope this is food for your soul. And I just really felt like rapping y’all.” Which you can hear the latter in the soulfully head nodding next track, 413 PT. 1. In such lines as, “This the type of talk that belong on the big screen. I’ve been crisp clean since wearing Phat Pharm at 16. Learn about my temperament, go to war with Pennywise. I’m killing it. Clown ass n***as, I’m on some different shit. This Michigan. This ain’t for the weak or the sensitive. Lions and tigers, all you see when you visit here. Come on. Yes, they know that this must be. Something special, so gather around because it’s my seat. I never let you down and never will. Your favorite artist after this got less appeal. It look like they dying on they shield.” The soulfully beautiful I’m Tryin/Nikell for the Soul (Interlude) featuring Cainaen McGhee and Nikell Johnson, yet another highlight that then perfectly segues from the Nikell for the Soul (Interlude) that Nikell Johnson so beautifully sings right into the standout Dylan Kusch-produced single, Everyday. Which finds Jon Connor and Daylyt over the very thumping eerie drums and piano keys production rapping about all the ignorant devilish things most rapper’s rap about from gangs to murdering each other. That a lot of them probably wish they didn’t. Perfectly segueing into, Evolution of Amazing that features a very standout guest spot from, JAG, who is rapping like the rent is due. Jon Connor constantly bringing the best out of his guest features. As Jada Ali and Stalley deliver really great ones on the very next track, Red Velvet. The soulfully drums and horns driven-New Day/Food for the Soul (Interlude) to the very feel-good and spiritually inspiring Dylan Kuechel-produced single, The Vibes featuring Dizzy Wright, Taj and The Sister Tour. Plus the soulfully beautiful and enlightening, They Wonder, the soulfully many jewels dropping, Over & Over, the Termanology featured lyrical murderous track, Double Murda and soulful piano keys and chants production based very uplifting Kelly Price collaboration, Blind Eye View. In which Jon Connor raps such positively and encouraging lyrics as, “Look I am trying to make it out. Make it out I can’t sleep. Trying to make it out. Make it out in one piece. Trying to make it happen. But what the teacher don’t teach. Trying to stay alive with what the preacher don’t teach.” Also among some of the more standout tracks from the album. The very soulful great Dylan Kusch & Smitti Boi-produced, So Much Pressure/Nights (Interlude) featuring Nikell Johnson yet another very strong standout track from the album. As well as the soulfully keys driven, The Great Design/Key Elements of Love. The album closing out with, Outro. Where there’s a message on the intro before Jon Connor raps about the message about the things us as humans and a people should really pay attention to even more and he gives his own “food for thought.” That then transitioning at the end of the track and album closing with a message from the man of, “Sooner or later cause they own this fvcking place. It is a big club and you ain’t in it. You and I are not in the big club. By the way it is the same big club they use to beat you over the head with all day long. And they tell you what to believe. All day long beating you over the head and they mean it. Telling you what to believe. What to think and what to buy. The table is tilted folks. The game is rigged and nobody seems to notice. Nobody seems to care. Good honest, hardworking people. White collar, blue collar, it doesn’t matter what shirt you have on. Good honest, hardworking people continue. These are people of modest means continue to elect these rich cocksuckers, who don’t give a fvck about them. They don’t give a fvck about you. They don’t give a fvck about you! They don’t care about you. At all. At all. At all.” The perfect way to end such a classic masterpiece Hip-Hop album that also has such great food for thought and the soul. That everyone should hear and really hid message from. An album that yet again has Jon Connor showing what not only a great emcee and lyricist’s he is, but an artist and emcee who always gives such great food for thought and messages in his music as well. To once again deliver not only a top two Hip-Hop album of the year, but a top 6 album across all of music here in 2025.
5. Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon – Come As You Are: The perfect blend of R&B/Soul and jazz. Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon’s highly-anticipated and critically-acclaimed collaboration album, Come As You Are, that they released back in June. Is an album that is deeply rooted in the two very talented artists South Los Angeles roots and has a sense of community from both the church and cities they grew up in. Which we see in the duality of music on the album. As Dixon likes to put it. It captures the “spirit, the soul, the streets, the musicianship” of their upbringing, in South Central L.A. and Watts. Whether it be Dixon’s daughter, Isley-Rose Dixon’s brief cameo on the Robert Glasper featured, Isley’s Hymn to Rapsody on WeMaj and Ogi on, Follow Me. To the contributions from the likes of Glasper on piano, Craig Brockman on keys, Trevor Lawrence Jr. and Hendrix on drums. Plus Keyon Harrold on trumpet on a couple of tracks. They show what great community is built throughout these 13 tracks. That also starts with the stellar almost uncredited JasonMartin guest feature to kick off the album on opening track, Only Real Ones Survive. That then perfectly segues into Kenyon Dixon’s stellar singing on that same track, as well as a couple of great sax solos in between from Martin. Before then transitioning into the very crazy stellar vocal performance from Dixon over the very groovy out of this world production from Martin on, 211 to the very soulfully jazzy great, Love Yourself. That once again has Dixon given such a beautiful smooth great vocals performance. The Rapsody featured standout, WeMaj is one of the album’s most perfectly blended tracks that shows how both Dixon and Martin can not only so seamlessly blend several genres throughout the album without compromise, but even on one track. That fuses influences of Hip-Hop, Soul and jazz so seamlessly. With Dixon’s almost more so rapping like devotion to romantic devotion to kickoff the track. That is perfectly balanced by Rapsody’s own stellar guest verse in between Dixon’s singing on that same track for the chorus. The classical jazz standard of, “Body and Soul,” being executed on the appropriately titled, Body & Soul. Where Terrace Martin also so brilliantly towards the end of the track gives such a stellar performance on the vocoder. The very addicting YG featured, Tyrese, also finding Kenyon Dixon rapping instead of singing, but him & Terrace Martin still make work. The soulfully beautiful, Ogi duet, Follow Me, having her with her soulfully rich vocals give the perfect contrasting texture to Dixon’s. As they both trade lines and harmonizing to create a rich layering of vocals. That despite being so short still ends up being one of the better tracks on the album too. OUCH with its very injected dose of pure jazz soul from renowned trumpeter, Keyon Harrold’s giving the track a moody, brassy layer, perhaps a stirring solo or background textures that harken back to the bluesy roots of R&B. The live trumpet reminding the listener of the album’s commitment to organic musicianship, bridging the classic jazz club vibe with modern production. By far one of the album’s at the very least top 3 tracks, if not the best track on the album, Circle of Love, meanwhile finds Dixon so beautifully singing about the circle of love over the very beautiful jazz infused production from both Terrace Martin and Robert Glasper with the latter on piano. With Martin on drums, keys and saxophone. Including a very stellar and standout sax solo from Terrace on the last minute of the track. That then perfectly segueing into the title and penultimate standout track. A very exceptional grown and sexy record that finds Kenyon Dixon giving such a standout vocals performance before also stellar R&B/Soul singer and vocalists, Arin Ray comes in about midway through to elevate an already great record. The album then closing with the very organic feeling and Winans-sampling, Not Like That. That has Martin invoking the talkbox sample so brilliantly a performance of Mr. Talkbox’s, The Question Is. Both Martin and Dixon invoking to close the album that perfect balance of both church and “street” they grew up on. As the perfect way to close such a masterpiece album that infuses so many genre influences from jazz to Hip-Hop, R&B and Soul. That is the perfect example too of genre-compelling on one album done right without any compromise. A true to the core heartfelt tribute and ode by both Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon to their upbringing in South L.A. and the church and city “streets” that raised them. Resulting in not only one of the top R&B album’s of the year released here in 2025, but a top 5 album released across all of music this year.
4. Charlie Bereal – Walk With the Father: Grammy-Award winning producer, singer and songwriter, as well as guitar player and multi-instrumentalist, Charlie Bereal, is out to prove why he is among the most soulfully soul-stirring voices in not only R&B/Soul, but all of music right now. On his critically-acclaimed Death Row Records debut album, Walk With the Father. Which he does throughout 13 soulfully smooth soul-stirring tracks. Starting with the very guitar-driven and hopeful opening record, Hope, about his dedication to the Lord. That then so seamlessly transitions into Bereal’s very beautifully amazing tribute to the late great Curtis Mayfield, Some People. His almost own version of Mayfield’s classic record, Power to the People. The very soulfully soul-stirring piano-driven and self-produced, Never Gonna Take Away My Love, having Charlie Bereal so soul-stirringly sing with his impassioned harmonizing about his love and dedication he has to his lover. That is also influenced by soul greats, The Delfonics. While The Stylistics influenced soulfully smooth, The Greatest featuring Snoop Dogg finds Charlie Bereal giving a very soulfully smooth soul-stirring performance about a woman he is pouring all his soul and love out for. That dedication to one lover something he sings so greatly about over the twinkling chants and keys production on the soulfully-stirring standout, My Only One. While the title track finds Bereal over the rolling drums and triumphant lingering guitar plucks backdrop giving a soulfully smooth soul-stirring performance about all he had to go through to make it in L.A. to try to achieve fame. His performance also showing the huge influence such 70’s R&B/Soul icons as Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye had on him and his very soulfully soul-stirring voice/vocals. While the very upbeat and funky JMo and The Greats-produced and featured, Energy, goes in a more funky soulful rock direction that shows Bereal’s great versatility as an artist that isn’t just tied to only old-school Soul with a somewhat modern day twist. The soulfully twinkling production on the very standout, Wherever You Are, meanwhile finding Charlie so impassionedly and soul-stirringly pouring his heart out to a woman he will forever cherish, love and never let go. Things going back in a very funk infused direction for what is arguably one of the album’s top 4 or 5 tracks, Dont Want To Get Up. Things going back to the very soulfully smooth direction on the very soulfully smooth soul-stirring, Toxic Love, that has Bereal singing so soul-stirringly about a toxic love he knows he shouldn’t be engaging with and questions why he does have such a toxic love with this woman. The standout penultimate track, Keep It Pushing, one where Charlie Bereal urges everyone who is going through something to push through it cause you only have one life to live. That also features a standout guitar solo from Charlie at the end too. Before perfectly transitioning into the very soulfully funky closer, Come Go With Me. A very encouraging record about being free that features several great saxophone solos in between Charlie Bereal really encouraging in such great harmonization about others to be free. That sounds somewhat Prince-influenced and is the perfect closer to end such a soulfully beautiful masterpiece album. That is easily not only one of the top 3 R&B/Soul album’s released here in 2025, but a top 4 album across all music for the year.
3. Jenevieve – CRYSALIS: Very beautifully talented upcoming R&B/Soul singer and songwriter, Jenevieve, showed there’s no sophomore slump on her highly-anticipated and critically-acclaimed sophomore album, CRYSALIS. She released back in August. The 14-track effort that she created alongside executive producer and songwriter Elijah Gabor, capturing her evolution both musically and personally over the past several years since her last project, Rendezvous EP. Shows why Jenevieve is not only one of R&B/Soul, but one of music’s brightest upcoming young stars. The very soulfully gorgeous and refreshingly upbeat drums on the opening title track really allowing her to show off her signature dreamy and beautifully heavenly addictive vocals. As she sings about a love she is trying to get rid of cause she knows it is not good for her and “Never enough” as she sings on part of the chorus. Questioning, “Where do we go?” About the relationship/love and is the perfect track to kickoff the album to show what a truly great treat of an album you are in store for over the next 13 tracks. That then perfectly segueing into the very smooth and uniquely great standout, Flight Risk. In which Jenevieve really shows off her unique voice and flow. The beautifully dreamy and mesmerizing single, Haiku. That finds Jenevieve in her signature dreamy and beautifully heavenly vocals singing so effortlessly about a love she really likes. Finds her gliding over the groovy backdrop in such a warm and breezy tone while offering a warmth and somewhat retro cool sound that everyone can relate to for one of not only the album’s most standout tracks, but one of the best tracks of her short, yet already great discography. Another highlight being the hypnotically dreamy single, Head Over Heels. That samples Tom Browne’s classic record, Charisma. As Jenevieve over the very hypnotically dreamy chants and other instruments backdrop with her signature dreamy and beautifully heavenly vocals sings so effortlessly about a love she is so head over heels for and the dizzying highs of falling for that person. The beat even switching up nearly midway through the record, as she sings the reasons why she is head over heels in love. The groovy feel-good retro dance like loving energy and feel to the groovy Elijah Gabor-produced backdrop standout, Hvn High. Yet another record that highlights Jenevieve’s signature dreamy and beautifully heavenly addictive vocals she glides with such ease over for this very standout groovy feel-good retro dance-like jam. That then perfectly segueing into the soulfully groovy honey-drenched jam, Naive, about a naive former lover who wouldn’t quite let her go. The very emotionally piano-driven and nostalgic, Enter The Void. By far not only one of the top three tracks on the album, but a nostalgic almost fever dream that is one of the most beautifully emotional and nostalgic records you will likely ever hear. That truly shows what a talented voice, songwriter and artist that Jenevieve really is. Damage Control that is co-produced by Pale Jay and Earl Saga yet another highlight that then perfectly transitions into one of the top 5 tracks on the album in the groovy drums heavy, Nocturne. As we get to the latter backend of the album, Jenevieve delivering the very groovy drums-heavy party starter jam, appropriately titled, Partycrasher. The very soulfully sunny, Iron Lung (Breathe In), that has a beat switch about midway through yet another highlight. The very groovy penultimate track, Faded Love. A very honey-drenched groovy jam where Jenevieve shows off her signature dreamy and beautifully heavenly addictive vocals as she glides so freely over the groovy drums of the Elijah Gabor production. While singing so freely about a faded love on this very addictively groovy record. The album then closing out with the very groovy guitar-driven jam, Beam Me Up. Where Jenevieve so addictively with her signature dreamy and beautifully heavenly addictive vocals sings so effortlessly about a love she doesn’t want to let go, but know she needs to beam her up for something better. As she sings on part of the chorus. Easily one of the best closing tracks of an album you will ever hear and the perfect performance from Jenevieve to end this timeless masterpiece album on such a high note. That really shows what a cohesively great body of work and great replay value this album has. That makes it not only one of the top 2 R&B/Soul album’s released here in 2025, but a top 3 album released across all of music this year.
2. Nas & DJ Premier – Light-Years: Nas & DJ Premier’s long-awaited and highly-anticipated collaboration album, Light-Years, is more than worth the wait. As over 15 tracks two of Hip-Hop’s most lauded icons and longtime collaborators show even after both being in this thing we call, “Hip-Hop.” For a little over three decades. Neither have lost a step and take it back to the core of Hip-Hop with dope rhymes and beats. As well as great scratching and break beats. Kicking things off with the very luxurious upbeat piano-driven opener, My Life Is Real, Nas with his signature intricate rhyme scheme and strong messaging shows he hasn’t lost a step lyrically at all and just as great, if not better than ever before. As he spits such standout bars as, “Already classic before you heard it, the spoiler was all my feature verses. I lined it up kinda perfect and then I hurled it. Rhymes in my minds like pearls and oysters. Boss of bosses, Morpheus on my bullshit. The illest style right here ’til I got white hair. Gettin’ foul type stares, we ahead light years. We come out, the shift starts. So let the fifth spark. Turn the light switch off, drive a block, switch cars. Toss the face mask and gloves, damn, I just caught a buzz. Pulled another hit on a beat, guess who the victim was? Guess who get reconfigured? The whole industry does.” That then perfectly segues into the very funky, old-school Hip-Hop head-nodding standout, GiT Ready. Where Nas shows how much he has grown as a iconic businessman and entrepreneur since his early days as a drug dealer and hustler growing up in the Queensbridge projects. Showing and comparing how much he has grown not only as an emcee, but smart businessman in the over three decades since he released his groundbreaking landmark classic debut album, Illmatic. Nas & Preemo gets nostalgic and complete their highly-lauded trilogy with the third installment of their classic, NY State of Mind, series and Nas gets sociopolitical with several rewindable bars for the cleverly Billy Joel sampled record. Such as, “Steel toe, construct walk, Nike shorts at night at court. Stress’ll cut your life short, I’m from egg rolls and duck sauce. Where the feds rolled on Dutch Schultz, City Island, and Sei Less. Plenty talent, the kids stay blessed, gamble and make bets. Throw on some DMX, his words, they live in all of us. Some get deported, some die young, but it’s all a rush. On part two, I left you with two of my friends. And now our goals is that our sons don’t end in juvenile pens. Rikers should be closed, MDC to Beacon. Wear ice if you real, or they’ll rob you and pawn your piece in. If you was locked down for a while, it’s a different place now. They buildin’ hotels where it once was a Devil’s playground.” Welcome To The Underground stands as another very standout track as Nas over the very upbeat funky guitar Western-like production goes straight up spitting and flowing like those tracks that be giving you the stank face when hearing them. As he details his upbringing’s in the early years of Rap/Hip-Hop to now. The Ice Cube sample of his classic line from N.W.A.’s classic groundbreaking track, Fvck tha Police, the perfect touch to elevate the track even more. By far one of the best tracks on not only the album, but of the year being the very chillingly dark, yet smooth, Madmen, that has the perfect scratch hook from Wu-Tang Clan legends GZA and Inspectah Deck. As Nas so smoothly and effortlessly over Premier’s signature scratches raps about his fellow rap icons, his own writing process and how those in Hip-Hop/Rap, who came before him are celebrated. The timeless cassette noise groove to Pause Tapes, that features Nas signature storytelling about how he himself used to make beats, many of which were the blueprint for his early raps. By far the best track on the album and it being over an actual pause tape making it that more authentic. That then segues seamlessly into another very standout track, Writers. That sees Nas over a very jazzy and bouncy hypnotic Preemo production paying homage to one of the original 4 core elements of Hip-Hop, graffiti. Sons (Young Kings) being yet another highlight that is a very personal record Nas dedicated to his son, Knight Jones. A spiritual successor to his classic and very personal, Daughters, record from his critically-acclaimed 2012 album, Life is Good. That was dedicated to his daughter, Destiny. Nas over the very heavenly piano-driven production from DJ Premier showing on, Sons (Young Kings) why he is arguably the greatest storyteller of all-time. A heartwarmingly feel-good record that really shows off Nas very profound storytelling prowess. DJ Premier showing his elder statesmanship too by cleverly flipping Steve Miller Band’s classic, Fly Like An Eagle, into a very smooth upbeat breakbeat banger with, It’s Time. In which Nas spits such standout bars as, “Ayo, time flows through me. How many rhyme flows and lines can I recite with my eyes closed? Yo, let’s shoot this movie, smoothly, listen to me. Let’s take it to the past long before the new me. I seen it when it first got tricky, dippin’ through the city. Whippin’ new cars to the herb spots for the sticky. I was the one by the tree in the GS3 with Biggie. Next thing you know, where the time go? It’s gone quickly. Spin down the street back where I used to be. Stompin’ grounds, just touched down in QB.” Nas really going off even more on the very cinematically smooth haunting standout, Nasty Esco Nasir. In which he so cleverly raps from each of his historic rap personas. The very standout, My Story Your Story, a very long-awaited collaboration again from Nas & AZ. That like on Nas first album, Illmatic, stands as the lone feature and also shows the undeniably great chemistry that Nas & AZ still have together. The back-and-forth from both emcees showing what fun they had recording the track together and why are long overdue for a collaboration album from Nas & AZ. Bouquet (To The Ladies) meanwhile finds Nas giving love and homage to a majority of the ladies in Hip-Hop from Rap/Hip-Hop’s early beginnings to now. By far my favorite track and arguably the best track on the album though is the very relatable, Junkie. In which Nas raps about his and most of us addiction to Hip-Hop and rap as an art form and lifestyle. The very elite head nodding boom-bap closer, 3rd Childhood, that is a sequel to Nas & DJ Premier’s classic collabo, 2nd Childhood, from Nas classic, Stillmatic, album. Where Nas raps about how Hip-Hop is all about really staying true to yourself. Another very quotable heavy track that is the perfect way to end such a timeless masterpiece album from Nas & DJ Premier. The cohesiveness, great concepts and really great replay value what makes this not only the best Hip-Hop album of 2025, but a top 2 or 3 album across all music this year. That will eventually be recognized years down the road as another great addition in both Nas & DJ Premier’s extensive storied catalogs.
1. UMI – people stories: Ascending R&B star, UMI, released her highly-anticipated and critically-acclaimed debut Epic Records album, people stories, back in August. The 15 tracks effort that is all produced and also co-executive produced by V-Ron. Some of her most personal work to date. That has her sharing stories she has been told by fans, friends or loved ones over the years. The very smooth guitar-driven, SOMETIMES, where UMI sings about what people search for in themselves that also features talks from UMI with her therapist. The perfect way to kick things off on such a right note. That then perfectly segueing into the standout very energetic, WHAT NOW. Where UMI sings so freely about getting with her former partner. As she sings the freeing lyrics of, “Retrace all the memories, I’m a broken record. You’re not my fantasy, you’re a goddamn fire. Burnin’ inside of me.” As well as the pre-chorus of, “Tellin’ me lies, like you tellin’ me a story. Not afraid to toss away our history. It’s a shame, it’s a shame, it’s a shame. But I got no one else to blame.” Into the chorus of, “So, what now? Now that it’s, now that it’s above us? What now? I got lost in the thought of us somehow. What now? Innocent hearts lost in a fire. What, what now? Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah. Ah-ah-ah-ah, what now? What now?” That then perfectly segueing into the very groovy & fun acoustic guitar-driven, GROCERY STORE, before going into the very fun acoustic guitar-driven standout, THE UNIVERSE. That is a really fun hypnotic jam that is one of those ascending records that just takes you to another universe when you hear it. ITS BEEN A WHILE a very smooth standout where UMI is able to show off her breezily beautiful mellow and enchanting vocals while singing about a former lover and/or relationship it has been a while since she saw. RAIN RAIN, meanwhile yet another acoustic guitar-driven standout where UMI sings about all the emotions a relationship gives you that feels like rain cause you want it to go away. UMI’s therapist once again having words of wisdom at the end of the track. That perfectly segueing into one of the album’s most standout tracks, PINK CAMO.
