In honor of the end of the year, we wanted to make a compilation of our favorite releases of 2025! This list is based on our opinions and we made this to showcase some of our favorite pieces of work from this year! The majority of the releases are albums but we also included a few other pieces of work as special mentions at the end.
MARCH:
Kinda Famous ~ KenTheMan
KenTheMan has become one of our newest favorite rappers this year, and this album is partially to credit! From the first listen, we knew this was an absolute hit! KenTheMan has the exact confidence and power in her flow to truly take over the game. We have been listening to this release all year and it still never gets old.
APRIL:
Why Not More? ~ Coco Jones
This album was highly anticipated by us because we are huge Coco Jones fans! With a deluxe version totaling twenty-two songs, she truly did not disappoint with this release. We think this album has really stood out within the world of R&B this year. Coco Jones delivered a piece of work that explores love and intimacy while showcasing her skillful vocal range and raw talent.
JULY:
Grady Baby ~ Anycia
This contemporary trap album has solidified Anycia’s place as an up and coming rapper in the female rap game. The album is easy to digest. It is short and simple with many catchy tracks and quotable lyrics. She threw in some fun and fresh features to add some vocal variety to a handful of songs. There’s a solid amount of upbeat, hype music with a few more mellow beats and minimalist style sprinkled in there.
AUGUST:
Escape Room ~ Teyana Taylor
Teyana Taylor’s comeback to R&B has me questioning why she ever thought she should leave the game. This album is a complete piece of art as she tells a story throughout every song. The narrations from several notable Black women in Hollywood made the album feel extra special and sentimental, especially because she included the voices from so many of my favorites!
SEPTEMBER:
Am I The Drama? ~ Cardi B
We have to admit that we both agree this is truly one of the best albums this year! Neither of us would say we identify as part of the Bardi Gang but this album definitely had us second guessing. Cardi B proved that if there is one thing she is, it’s an album girl!!! Cardi B had a six year release hiatus where she could perfect her craft and create a project that would make female rap history. Other artists may have folded under that pressure and listener expectations but Cardi B thrived nonetheless releasing what was arguably the leading female rap album of the year.
Check out DJ Bella’s album review here!
OCTOBER:
Who Did The Body? ~ Monaleo
This album is one of our favorite pieces of work by Monaleo! It shows exactly how much talent and versatility she has. Her bars are so creative and descriptive. Her storytelling abilities make each song feel real and vivid. Throughout the album, Monaleo is authentic and even emotional at times. To me, it is proof of how genuine she is as an artist. Ever since this album was released, we have been loving Monaleo even more and the internet agrees. There has been so much support for her album album and we love to see her get the fame she deserves!
Check out DJ Serena’s album review here!
NOVEMBER:
Finally Over It ~ Summer Walker
We are absolutely in love with this album! Summer Walker had us waiting for what felt like forever for the final piece of her Over It Trilogy. Now that it’s here, we can confidently say it was worth the wait. The album is a perfect mix of all of the best parts of Summer Walker’s music. It is definitely one of her best releases, with a plethora of collaborations, song variation, and length. There is a fair share of sappier, lover girl ballads as well as boss bitch breakup songs.
Check out DJ Serena’s album review here!
Special Mentions:
Now it’s time for some Special Mentions!! These are some other releases from 2025 we just couldn’t leave out!
Love Is A Kingdom ~ Tems
Each piece of work by Tems feels like a special, unique, piece of her puzzle. This release was smooth, cohesive, and connected throughout every track. Her vocals are probably the best parts! This piece is rhythmic and deeply satisfies the soul. My only complaint is that it leaves you craving more and longing for another track.
Vacancy ~ Ari Lennox
We have been awaiting new music from Ari Lennox and this year we got it! It’s smooth, jazzy, and soulful. It delivered all you would expect from Ari Lennox including her sensual, powerful vocals on top of a silky R&B beat. Vacancy was one of our favorites of her releases and it is also the title track for her new upcoming album! Make sure to check out the Beat Drop to see when it comes out.
Ran Out ~ JT
One of the few JT releases of the year, Ran Out was a provocative upbeat song that matches everything about her! It’s playful, raunchy, and encapsulates JT’s bad bitch energy. This song was the perfect vibe for the summer because it’s a little bit crazy and a lot of fun. The lyrics were made for dancing and a night out with the girls. It was just catchy enough to have me singing it for the rest of the year!
Folded ~ Kehlani
This song has been so popular and as long time Kehlani fans we couldn’t leave it out! You can feel Kehlani speak from her heart. As she delivers each lyric, a larger story unfolds about that weird phase where an intimate relationship is fizzling out but that chapter is still not quite over. The song’s vibe is everything a contemporary R&B hit should be. Kehlani layers her beautiful, seamless vocals over an electrifying beat that takes the song to another level. It is no surprise the whole world was encapsulated by her voice this year!