It’s been a hectic 2025 over here in Soul In Stereo studios. Between the usual rants, rankings and reviews on this site, maintaining the growth of our YouTube channel, finally getting into the Tik Tok game, and, oh yeah, releasing my first best-selling book, it’s been tough to keep up with the seemingly endless hip-hop and R&B releases that drop every week.
While I’ve certainly reviewed a ton over the past 11 months, there are more than a few that slipped through my fingers but deserve your ears. So before you start cranking out those “best of” lists next month, let’s catch up on 12 noteworthy releases that you may have missed but should be on your playlists.
Mobb Deep, Infinite
I’ll talk about the Alchemist in a minute, but I think we have to salute Nas and Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It series for using their own brand of Black magic to resurrect so many careers In 2025. Few have made me happier than the improbable return of Mobb Deep. Production from Alchemist and Havoc, along with unreleased vocals from the late, great Queensbridge kingpin Prodigy, create an album that, at times, rivals some of the best work from rap’s most Infamous duo. Most impressively is how seamlessly P’s verses are incorporated next to Havoc’s – this feels more like a lost album recorded in 1999 than a posthumous record stitched together decades later. If you told me last year that Mobb Deep would have one of the best albums of 2025, I’d say you were insane. But QB’s Finest truly are immortal.
Chance the Rapper, Star Line
2025 has given us many improbable comebacks, but among the most surprising – and fulfilling – has been the return of Chance the Rapper. Six years ago he seemed poised to be rap’s next big star, before backlash from his major-label debut seemingly derailed him for good (sidenote: The album wasn’t THAT bad, but that’s a convo for another day). Half a decade later, Chance refocused and regrouped with Star Line, a deeply personal record that dives deep into both fatherhood and faith. He returns to the hip-hop and gospel-tinged sounds that raised his profile way back then, but adds a more mature outlook on life. His themes of identity, for instance, resonate strongly in today’s political climate. While I wouldn’t say Star Line introduces us to a “new” Chance, it’s certainly a wiser Chance, one who is finally ready to capitalize on all that potential.
Hit Boy & The Alchemist, Goldfish
Yes, two of the best producers of the year just put out one of the best rap albums of the year. There’s literally nothing Hit-Boy and Alchemist can’t do. Goldfish obviously has stellar production – with those two titans behind the board, you should expect nothing less – but it’s the storytelling and lyricism that will likely exceed your expectations. In a year filled with hidden gems, Goldfish refuses to be outshined.
JID, God Does Like Ugly
JID might just be hip-hop Twitter’s favorite rapper, and that’s saying a lot for an app that usually can’t agree on what day of the week it is. That seemingly universal love isn’t unfounded – JID is a MONSTER and seems to be gaining momentum with every release. On his fourth album, named after a turn of phrase from his grandmother, JID explores life’s imperfections and his quest for resilience, fueled by his trademark machine-gun flow. Production is strong, but even stronger is JID’s hunger, who attacks each verse as a man with nothing to lose, and everything to gain. That infectious energy has made JID one of the rap’s most reliable new faces – a fact everyone can agree on.
Nick Grant, I Took It Personal
When Nick Grant dropped Dreamin’ Out Loud in 2018, I proclaimed him as among the next set of contenders who could vie for rap’s throne in the 2020s. While a few of his subsequent releases derailed that momentum, I think Nick’s finally back on track with I Took It Personal. Foregoing some of the more experimental tracks from recent LPs, Nick leans into jazzy and boom-bap themes on this record, and it’s a much better fit for his style. He has also refined his focus, forgoing mainstream appeal to hone in on lyrical consistency. The shift suits him well, and Nick seems ready to ascend to the next level.
Westside Gunn, Heels Have Eyes 2
There are three things Westside Gunn loves – obscure wrestling references, random adlibs (AYE YO) and dropping 17 projects a year. Thanks to his overactive release schedule, it’s easy for Westside’s LPs/EPs/mixtapes/whatevers to run together over the course of 12 months, but his Heels Have Eyes series has really risen to the occasion. Heels Have Eyes 2 is the best of 2025’s bunch, filled with the gritty bars, insane non-sequesters and soulful production that made him a star. Westside certainly doesn’t reinvent the wheel here – it’s the usual debauchery you know and love – but his sequencing, production, and even his focus, seems tighter than ever. I’d rank Heels Have Eyes 2 among his best releases, and if you’re familiar with his gigantic catalog, you know that covers a LOT of ground.
Partyof2, Amerika’s Next Top Party
I love it when a plan comes together. Formerly members of a trio, rapper-producers SWIM and Jadagrace have activated their powers Wonder Twin style to form Partyof2, an eclectic blend of nearly every genre of Black music you can think of. Amerika’s Next Top Party can be weird and off-kilter, but it’s also a blast and absolutely brilliant. One minute, they’re assaulting your speakers with fiery rap bars built for diss records, the next you’re being serenaded with the smoothest melodies this side of a 90s R&B mixtape. It’s an unpredictable listening experience, and that’s what makes it so intriguing. Partyof2 has a style that’s all their own, but their talent makes even the most bizarre concepts work. They really are the life of the party.
Boy Soda, Soulstar
Australian singer-songwriter has been making the rounds since the pre-pandemic days, but 2025 might finally be his year to soar. Soulstar’s strength is its live instrumentation; it often sets a warm, inviting atmosphere for Boy Soda’s endearing storytelling, which swings from obsessive love to crippling grief. He wears his emotions on his sleeve, making every song a dive into his psyche. In a genre that too often treasures toughness over vulnerability, Boy Soda is a throwback to an era that values real emotion.
Doja Cat, Vie
Say what you will about Doja Cat (and after that Outkast tribute performance, lord knows I’ve said a lot…) but I’ll commend her for one thing – she’s never been afraid to reinvent herself. While I’ve been dying for Doja to return to the R&B-laden sound she perfected on her stellar Hot Pink album, she’s been careful not to revisit that well too often. But on Vie, we get glimpses of what made that former release so great, with a new twist. Vie takes Doja’s sound to the synth-soaked era of the 80s, where funky basslines and smooth grooves feel both retro and vibrant. Vie is her most fun release in years, and proof that she’s at her best when she keeps us guessing.
Leela James, 2BHonest
There’s just something about Leela James’ vocals – distinct, robust, vulnerable, yet totally unique. No one on the planet sounds like Leela, and that’s what makes every project stand out. 2BHonest may only be six tracks long, but each song packs a wallop, boasting her trademark brand of classic soul and modern R&B. True to its name, each song boasts a realness that makes it so easy to connect its themes. Leela’s magnificent vocals will bring you back for more every time.
Rochelle Jordan, Through the Wall
I hate saying “I told you so…” actually, y’all know I LOVE saying that. And since way back in 2011 with the release of her ROJO mixtape, I’ve been telling y’all that Rochelle Jordan has the chops to transform R&B. 2021’s Play With the Changes gave us deep house music before Drake and Beyonce decided to get your backs off the wall, and now Through the Wall looks to cement her as a modern day dance queen. Jordan is utterly confident as she bombards us with the most stylish and infectious club cuts you’ll hear all year, accented with strong, reflective writing. It’s impossible to sit still while listening to her music, but there’s always moments of introspection to give each cut a deeper meaning. Rochelle is not a follower – she sees musical trends before they arrive and carves her own path. Catch up and keep moving.
Olivia Dean, The Art of Loving
Long before “Man I Need” was all over your Tik Tok feed, Olivia Dean was an international star. Now that she’s getting long-overdue love stateside, more and more are being introduced to her brilliant brand of soul-pop, and I’m here for it. Sometimes retro, sometimes modern, always intriguing, The Art of Loving is a beautiful mix of deep lyricism that effortlessly plays off its soulful production. It’s a stirring exploration of love, from its power to its imperfections. Best kept secret no more, her love lessons are on display for the world to see.
Are there any other underrated records I may have missed? Share your favorites below and we’ll talk about them!
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