When assembling this list of my favorite music of 2025, I initially listed 162 projects. Albums, EPs, beat tapes, etc. Every year, it’s incredibly difficult to narrow it down to 50. And just like my movie list and my book list, I’m sure I forgot a few, I’m sure I didn’t give some the proper attention they deserve, and I’m sure there are another two dozen essentials that I didn’t get around to checking out. You know how it is.
Like last year (and the year before), I didn’t include any write-ups or outside links, but this list below is a fine mixture of instrumental albums, hip-hop records, phonk, lofi, folk, jazz, bossa nova, and much more.
There were also a lot of strong projects I helped out with behind the scenes this year. I wanted to include so many of them in my top 50, but if I went down that route, the list would have been strictly 50 projects I helped out with, so if you fall into that category, know that I’m grateful, and probably listening to your music as I type this. You know who you are.
kerri
DON'T PANIC
GuiB
Parade
ROHO
Muscle Memory
Black Taffy
Out Moon
duendita
a strong desire to survive
Kiran Kai
Ariel Blue
Jack Davies
A Gust of Wind Knocks Off My Hat
Willyynova
The Sense God Gave a Goat
Tibet Asante
Soul of Solomon
monte booker
noise (meaning)
Black Milk & Fat Ray
Food From the Gods
40 Winks
SPIRITS
Dirty Art Club
The Silver Suite
A Spyglass to One's Face (w/ yungmorpheus)
Kennebec
The Water Wheel
Gabe 'Nandez & Preservation
Sortilege
Habe
Far From Everywhere
SkipOnDaBeat
RUN
Goopsteppa
Ponderosa
wizards get together EP
Poldoore
Chroma Dream
Trellion
The Man Who Couldn't Die
Joe Nora
Shapeshift
Day Ago EP
Obijuan
NEW BLOOD
WATCH POT DON'T BOIL
UNTIL THE SKY BREAK (w/ Camoflauge Monk)
Resavoir & Matt Gold
Horizon
Valee
WHERE WERE WE (w/ MVW)
EGONOMICS (w/ Harry Fraud)
Chester Watson
Psychic Warfare Department
stargazer, vol. 1 EP
mirage EP (w/ Elaquent)
DMVU
Paper Dolls EP
Porcelain Pillows EP
Thandii
FREE UP
Halo
Pink Siifu
BLACK'!ANTIQUE
Ol' Burger Beats
74: Out of Time (Reimagined)
74: Out of Time (Reimagined) (Instrumentals)
Orchid Mantis
Rain Tape
close to you
Possession Pact
in Airports
little blue
just because EP (w/ Enluv)
make believe (w/ Allem Iversom)
safe EP
MIKE
Pinball II (w/ Tony Seltzer)
Showbiz!
Alice Phoebe Lou
Oblivion
coldbrew
here today, gone tomorrow
Lullatone
Music for My Friends
Afternoon Bike Ride
Running With Scissors
Michaelangelo
ESCAMA (w/ CRIMEAPPLE & Primo Profit)
Pay Thru the Nose (w/ Monday Night)
Puma Blue
antichamber
extchamber
Blockhead
It's Only a Midlife Crisis if Your Life is Mid
Adrian Younge
Something About April III
Samantha & Adrian (w/ Samantha Schmutz)
Green Piccolo
witchcraft (w/ Ryan Celsius Sounds)
Phloppy Disk Phonk, Vol. 2
The Notorious 98 Roadtrip
Daniel Son
The Estes Method (w/ Ghost Notes)
Brown Body Bags (w/ Body Bag Ben)
Shuffle with the Left (w/ DJ Moya)
Baggage Claims (w/ Futurewave)
Tae Beast
3 De Luxe
Boztown
Puzzle (w/ Demolhicher)
Regulars Only
Tel Quel (w/ ommood)
End Less EP
LA LOM
Live at Thalia Hall
Ann Annie
El Prado
Blackboxx
Rituals EP
Feverkin
Half Moon Commune EP
Open Palm EP
Soft Soul EP
EsDeeKid
Rebel
La Cantina
Shared Waves
Echoes of One
Where the Light Fade (w/ Spectateur)
Milkweed
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