2025 was a year characterized by its abundance of music. From legendary rap duo Clipse dropping their first album in over 15 years to critical acclaim, to breakthrough artists such as Olivia Dean taking the world by storm with their melodies, 2025 was truly a gift to all music lovers.
January alone set the tone for the year, with world-renowned artists Bad Bunny and The Weeknd dropping their most recent albums. Benito’s “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” in particular took the world by storm, with party anthems such as “NUEVAYoL” and “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” being beautifully contrasted with emotional love letters to Puerto Rico, “TURiSTA” and “DtMF” being the standouts.
The Weeknd also showed out, dropping his final album under the moniker. A 22-track album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” served as a culmination of The Weeknd’s most recent album trilogy, which began with the multi-platinum album “After Hours.” Exploring themes of drug use and hedonism, the Weeknd reflects on the image he’s portrayed throughout his career and attempts to reconcile that image with the man he’s become. Blending his signature alternative R&B style with a distinct 80s sound, “Hurry Up Tomorrow” is perhaps his most mature work.
Drake and Partynextdoor were the standouts in February, with the duo dropping their collab album, “$ome $exy $ongs for U,” on Valentine’s Day. The braggadocious album delves into themes of money and relationships, with both artists speaking about their late-night desires, fabulous wealth, and bachelor lifestyle.
The colder months weren’t alone in having great music, with the summer months being set to the sounds of Olivia Dean and Sabrina Carpenter’s new albums, “The Art of Loving” and “Manchild,” respectively.
Rounding out the year, artists such as Daniel Ceasar, Taylor Swift, and Cardi B dropped new projects to widespread acclaim. Daniel Caesar’s “Son of Spergy” in particular was a standout, with Caesar’s album rollout taking him across the country, randomly performing at pop-up concerts.
With Grammy nominations already out, 2025’s album of the year will soon be crowned, but regardless of that result, one thing is certain: 2025 was a musical year.
