The Consensus: Our Top 8 Albums/Projects of 2025
Our collective take on the year’s best.
Not many years manage to satisfy every corner of the music audience. From casual listeners to deep-cut junkies, backpackers, and genre purists alike. But 2025 did exactly that. With the sheer volume and range of music released across the landscape, I initially planned to publish my own standalone Top 10 projects of the year.
While building that list, though, I felt the pull to hear other perspectives. More than that, I wanted to collaborate with writers I genuinely admire — especially considering I’ve only been on Substack for a little under a year. So I reached out to three incredibly talented writers to discuss, debate, and ultimately build a collective list that better reflects the year in music as a whole.
Typically, lists like these are limited strictly to albums. This year felt different. Because of the overflow of wide-ranging music, we agreed to expand the scope to include EPs and mixtapes as well. In that same spirit, we decided not to rank the list from greatest to least, but instead to present the projects on equal footing — judged by quality, impact, and intention rather than strict order.
So with that in mind, enjoy what we came up with. And as always, tell us who you think we missed.
1. DESTIN CONRAD — LOVE ON DIGITAL
This project can be defined by one word: sultry.
Conrad was on a heater in 2025, releasing a strong jazz-inspired effort in Whimsy, as well. Where Destin Conrad separates themself from other artists is their dedication to atmosphere. The album is aptly titled Love On Digital, with a sense of intensity throughout, furthered by intoxicating composition and lyricism to match.
It would be right at home if released during the early 2000s era of R&B.
2. Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out
If there were a handbook on how to stage a culture-shifting return from hiatus, Clipse rewrote it this year. The album dropped in early July, but its presence lingered long after, felt across the rest of the calendar. The veterans delivered a rollout rooted in intention, filled with soundbites and insights that echoed Hip-Hop’s golden age. No hyperbole needed — they performed at the Vatican.
The genesis of this album was forged in controversy. Def Jam, their former label, attempted to censor or limit the project’s content. The pushback delayed the album and ultimately led to Clipse being bought out of their deal. What would typically signal an album being shelved indefinitely instead became a public display of artistic freedom and resolve. Roc Nation stepped in with a distribution deal, and Clipse were off to the races.
The project’s scope matches its ambition. Vocals from John Legend and Stevie Wonder sit alongside verses from Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, The Creator, Stove God Cooks, and Nas. Still, the heart of the album remains firmly with Pusha T and Malice. The Virginia natives offer a sharp, uncompromising cultural critique — asserting not just that others don’t rap, dress, or move like them, but that the gap in wealth, taste, and execution isn’t even worth comparison.
Most notably, the entire project is wrapped in Pharrell’s production. Calling it complete might sound cliché, but it genuinely holds up against any reasonable measure.
3. Olivia Dean — The Art of Loving
Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving is a masterclass in emotional clarity and vocal nuance. From the very first track, her voice commands attention—not through sheer power alone, but through a delicate balance of intimacy and strength. Dean’s lyrics explore love in its many shades: the thrill of new romance, the ache of heartbreak, and the quiet work of self-discovery. Each song feels like a personal conversation, drawing the listener into a space that’s at once confessional and universally relatable.
Production on the album is sleek. Subtle orchestration, layered harmonies, and soft electronic touches create a lush backdrop for Dean’s vocals to shine.
What makes The Art of Loving remarkable is Dean’s consistency in crafting songs that feel both intimate and expansive. She doesn’t just sing about love. She dissects it, celebrates it, and mourns it. The album cements her as an artist capable of bridging emotional honesty with musical sophistication. It leaves you feeling seen, heard, and undeniably moved.
4. Lisandro Cuxi — CUXI BOY
Lisandro Cuxi—born Lisandro Monteiro Furt in Portugal, raised in France, and of Cape Verdean descent—embodies a truly transnational musical identity. After moving to France at age nine and learning the language from scratch, Cuxi rose to prominence at just seventeen when he won The Voice France, later earning recognition as Young Francophone Revelation of the Year. His music reflects this layered background, seamlessly navigating R&B, pop, kizomba, konpa, afrobeats, and even rock. Singing in both French and Creole, Cuxi resists confinement to a single genre or cultural lane.
And his sound benefits from that rebellion.
This particular project stands out for its lush instrumentation, especially its frequent use of saxophone accents—an element that adds warmth, sensuality, and emotional depth. Tracks like “Sereia,” “DSL,” and “BBM” showcase his vocal agility and genre-fluid instincts, moving effortlessly between romantic intimacy and rhythmic drive. Lisandro Cuxi feels like a phenomenon whose fluency across sound, language, and culture positions him as a defining voice in contemporary music.
5. GIVĒON — BELOVED
GIVĒON has quietly crafted one of the best R&B catalogs of the last decade. BELOVED, his latest release may be the strongest entry of his discography yet, producing a near-flawless 14-track album.
In a generation that prides itself on reservation and performative indifference, GIVĒON bares all. The tracklist chronicles his various situationships, dalliances, and unrequited love. Although vulnerable throughout, his awareness shines, offering a reflection of his role in failed relationships.
6. Odeal - The Fall That Saved Us
Odeal’s The Fall That Saved Us is a journey through introspection and resilience. The album opens with atmospheric textures that immediately immerse the listener in a cinematic soundscape, blending ambient instrumentation. Each track is carefully layered, creating a sense of space and tension.
What stands out most about The Fall That Saved Us is its cohesion. The EP doesn’t feel like a collection of songs—it feels like a single story unfolding, each track a chapter in an emotional odyssey. By the time the closing track fades, the listener is left with a lingering sense of catharsis and reflection. Odeal proves himself not just as a musician, but as a storyteller who can craft a deeply immersive and emotionally resonant experience.
7. Sasha Keable — act right
Sasha Keable’s act right is seven tracks dripping in soul. Her sound draws heavily from 1970s soul and Motown traditions, with a stated reverence for artists like Donny Hathaway, whose emotional clarity and vocal sincerity echo throughout the project. The opening track “Feel Something,” exemplifies her sonic versatility, she raps and sings between a gospel choir hook. Her voice moves across registers to capture a nostalgic sound, reminiscent of classic R&B while maintaining distinct contemporary resonance. The stand out track “can’t stop,” exemplifies that balance. The choir returns between saxophone accents, a hip hop beat that ends with a Latin-influenced rhythm, and edgy trap lyrics carrying listeners through the eclectic sonic landscape. Her sound reflects her dynamic cultural background.
Born and raised in South London to a British father and a Colombian mother, Keable’s music reflects a diasporic sensibility that feels both grounded and expansive. Keable’s voice carries style with weight and warmth, balancing restraint with expressive power in a way that feels timeless. This album feels like a debut statement that carefully honors tradition.
While it’s tempting to compare Sasha to her contemporaries, she deserves to be heard on her own terms. Her sound demands it.
8. Wale — everything is a lot.
The summer was occupied by rap heavyweights like Clipse, JID, and Tyler, the Creator; As a result, Wale patiently waited until November for his turn.
Wale reminded those familiar and unfamiliar with his discography that he is to be regarded as one of the greatest lyricists of his or any generation. No resource was spared either, as he made phenomenal use of whatever budget he was allotted. The samples used for this tracklist were immaculate, with poignant bars detailing relationship woes, acceptance, and faith.
This patience did not disappoint, as he released one of the best albums of the year, bar none.
Honorable Mentions
As a group, we understood early on that not every project could sit above the rest of the field. Still, that didn’t mean certain releases went unnoticed. These Honorable Mentions recognize albums and projects that mattered, whether for their moment, impact, experimentation, or contribution to the year’s sound, even if they ultimately fell just outside the final list.
1. We Love a Concept:
JID — God Does Like Ugly
It almost feels reductive to speak about JID as if he still needs to be introduced. At this point, there aren’t many rappers who can out-rap — or even comfortably rap with the known ATLien. This album, God Does Like Ugly is another clear demonstration of that reality. From tone to flow, JID commands attention bar for bar, never sacrificing substance for technique.
The project plays like a Southern meditation, balancing religion and spirituality against the realities of the environment that shaped him. JID continues to rap with intention, grounding his skill in lived experience.
That said, there’s still another level available to him — if mainstream dominance is something he desires. His ability has long been beyond question. The next step isn’t about proving he can rap; it’s about scale, presence, and command. To be fully recognized alongside the very artists he’s often compared to, the leap will have to be less about skill and more about impact.
2. Fearless Evolution of a Great:
Andre 3000 — 7 Piano Sketches
7 Piano Sketches marks a striking and deliberate evolution in André 3000’s artistic journey. Known primarily for his groundbreaking work in hip-hop and rock and roll, André’s recent music has been a radical break from his past artistry. That can be hard for fans who crave André’s lyricism and flow. New Blue Sun was an entirely flute project, and with 7 Piano Sketches, André seems to be doubling down: Y’all gonna get these experimental instrumentations.
This project reframes music-making as an act of exploration rather than resolution. The concept of “sketching” sonically—presenting ideas in their raw, unfinished state—positions the creative process itself as the final product. Rather than offering polished compositions, André invites listeners into moments of experimentation, uncertainty, and intuition. So while his sound changes, his creative innovation remains cutting edge, exemplifying the bold evolution of a great.
7 Piano Sketches reflects tremendous artistic courage: the willingness to shed expectation, genre, and legacy in favor of curiosity and growth.
3. Heat Check:
Leon Thomas — PHOLKS EP
No one — and I mean no one — has been on a run quite like Leon Thomas. Riding the momentum of his 2024 release MUTT, he followed it with a deluxe edition on September 27, 2025. And even then, he didn’t slow down. With momentum fully on his side, Leon dropped an EP on October 23, 2025, extending a streak that’s felt uninterrupted for months.
The project is another showcase of the musical dexterity and groove he’s been consistently refining. It’s less about chasing moments and more about sustaining form. At this point, it feels like prime Mike Tyson: knockout after knockout.
The only real question left — and one I imagine other R&B artists are quietly asking themselves — is how long he can keep this pace.
4. Club Takeover:
Metro Boomin — A Futuristic Summa
Metro Boomin’s Futuristic Summa orchestrates a season of sound that’s all booming 808s, and hooks that stick like anthems in the summer heat. The album is a masterclass in mirroring the pulse of a city that is Atlanta itslef. Even if it doesn’t make your top-ten playlist, it dominates feeds, TikTok loops, and social streams, keeping everyone’s attention in real time.
It’s also worth noting that much of this unfolded while Metro was navigating legal matters that briefly disrupted the momentum of the summer. The situation sparked renewed scrutiny, including the resurfacing of old social media posts, and created a momentary pause in what otherwise felt like an unstoppable run. Ultimately, Metro was found not liable, allowing the moment to move forward.
5. Global Rise:
Xowie — ALLO (A Little Long Overdue) EP
South Africa’s songstress Xowié earns an honorable mention for an artist on a global rise. In March 2025, she was featured in Apple Music’s Up Next artist development program in South Africa. This puts her name among notable emerging artists by some of the top music editors around the world.
Her EP ALLO (A Little Long Overdue) is a powerful introduction to her dynamic sound. Texx and the City, a platform highlighting independent artists in South Africa describes her as such: “Hailing from KwaZulu-Natal, Xowié’s music is shaped by an eclectic mix of genres, from R&B to pop to reggae.” At just five tracks, her range is captured well. “Bittersweet” has a reggae-inspired beat giving the project a distinct Caribbean flavor. The standout track is “Nobody’s Fool,” which has a bit of trap, R&B energy in its feel and content. After listening, we can’t help but agree that Xowié might just be up next.
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