Looking back at 2025 through the music that actually stayed with me.
(Spoiler alert: This list is heavily weighted toward hip-hop, no surprise there, as it’s the genre I live in most of the time.)
From avant-garde jazz to abstract rap, these ten records are the ones that defined my year. I’ve added Bandcamp (or soundcloud) links, wherever possible, to make it easier accessing the music & directly support these artists. Here is the countdown,
10. The Necks – Disquiet (Avant-Garde Jazz)
Disquiet is a beautiful example of how much you can do with just piano, bass, and drums. The four long tracks on this record feel like a slow discovery, where the band builds and breaks down hypnotic patterns with incredible focus. There is no set order to the album, which lets the music stretch time in its own way. It’s a patient, absorbing listen that rewards your full attention.
Bandcamp: https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/disquiet
9. Maruja – Pain to Power (Post-Punk)
Pain to Power is an incredible balance of punk energy and free jazz experimentation. This Manchester quartet creates a sound that is both violent and spiritual, driven by intense saxophone and relentless drumming. With hip-hop inspired spoken word and sharp anti-capitalist lyrics, Maruja tackles modern issues with raw emotion. It’s an urgent, powerful album that switches perfectly between chaotic noise and moments of deep calm.
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/maruja-sc/sets/pain-to-power-3
8. Preservation & Gabe ‘Nandez – Sortilège (Abstract Hip-Hop)
Sortilège is a collaboration between producer Preservation and rapper Gabe ‘Nandez. The two linked up after working together on billy woods’ Aethiopes, and this album feels like a natural next step. It is a cinematic record with heavy drums and a deep, baritone flow. Both artists share a French-speaking heritage, which adds a unique cultural layer to the sound. The music is raw yet polished, creating a world that feels both urban and dreamlike. It reminds me a lot of Billy Woods & Moor Mother collab album Brass. It’s a perfect album for heavy speakers.
Bandcamp: https://gabenandez.bandcamp.com/album/sortil-ge
7. Stereolab – Instant Holograms on Metal Film (Indie Rock)
After 15 years, Stereolab returns with an album that sounds exactly like they never left. Instant Holograms on Metal Film brings back their classic mix of “motorik” rhythms, bubbling analog synths, and calm, stylish vocals. It’s a record that feels both carefully planned and strangely loose, blending electronics, jazz, and political themes into something very unique.
I saw them perform these new tracks live at Le Trianon in Paris during this tour, and the energy on stage was incredible. This album isn’t just a trip down memory lane; it’s a solid, beautiful comeback that proves they are still one of the most interesting bands around.
Bandcamp: https://stereolab.bandcamp.com/album/instant-holograms-on-metal-film
6. Viagra Boys – viagr aboys (Post-Punk)
Viagra Boys are absolutely my favorite modern post-punk band, and their latest album shows exactly why. After the heavy political themes of their previous work, this record feels more personal and “stupid” in the best way possible. It mixes hilarious lyrics about everyday life with a sound that jumps between jazz-punk, electro-rock, and their signature manic energy.
I saw them at Le Zénith de Paris just one day after the album was released. It was a hilarious moment when the band joked about excusing us for not knowing the new lyrics yet. It’s a brilliant, chaotic record that proves love and humor are the only things that keep us sane in this world.
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/vboysstockholm/sets/viagr-aboys
5. Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out (Hardcore Hip-Hop)
This is a “God-tier” comeback from the Thornton brothers. After decades apart, Pusha T and Malice return with incredible lyrical precision, making every word feel essential. Pharrell is back at the helm of the production, delivering some of his most striking and dramatic beats in years.
With standout features from Kendrick Lamar, Nas, and a show-stopping verse from Tyler, The Creator, there isn’t a single skippable track on this record. It’s a masterclass in hardcore hip-hop that proves the Clipse legacy is as powerful as ever.
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/clipse-official/sets/let-god-sort-em-out-1
4. Westside Gunn – Heels Have Eyes 2 (Hardcore Hip-Hop)
Westside Gunn is back with a sequel that fully embraces his obsession with wrestling. He plays the “heel” (the villain) perfectly throughout the record, balancing his larger-than-life ego with flashes of real-life struggle. On tracks like “Mandela,” he even touches on personal loss, showing that his “bad guy” persona has deep roots in his own history.
The production is classic Griselda loops and 90s drums from names like Conductor Williams and DJ Muggs. It features some of his best rapping in years, alongside great performances from Benny the Butcher and Stove God Cooks.
As a wrestling fan myself, I love how he bridges these two worlds. I had the pleasure of meeting him last year at an indie wrestling event he organized in Paris. This album is a focused, fierce project that proves Gunn is still in a league of his own.
Bandcamp: https://daupe.bandcamp.com/album/heels-have-eyes-2
3. Nourished By Time – The Passionate Ones (Alternative R&B)
On his second album, Marcus Brown (Nourished By Time) explores what it means to stay passionate in a world that tries to wear you down. The music is a great blend of retro soul, R&B, and bedroom pop. Whether he is singing about the grind of a “9 to 5” job or the need for a love that “leaves a scar,” his voice is always honest and moving.
Saw him perform at Petit Bain in Paris this past November. The show was intimate and soulful, just like the record. It is an inspiring album about protecting your dreams and staying vulnerable even when things get tough.
Bandcamp: https://nourishedbytime.bandcamp.com/album/the-passionate-ones
2. Billy Woods – Golliwog (Abstract Hip-Hop)
Billy Woods has been mentioned on this blog before, and for good reason. Golliwog is another piece of the puzzle in his incredible career, proving once again that he is one of the most important voices in the underground.
The album has a dark, “horrorcore” vibe, but it feels more like a psychological thriller than a cheap horror movie. It is deep and complex, with production from legends like The Alchemist and El-P. Listening to this record is like walking through a maze—it’s intense, paranoid, and brilliant. Woods remains an “underdog” by choice, and this album shows he is operating at a level far above most other rappers today.
Bandcamp: https://billywoods.bandcamp.com/album/golliwog
1. Pink Siifu – Black’!Antique (Experimental Hip-Hop)
Pink Siifu has been a staple of the underground for years, but BLACK’!ANTIQUE feels like the definitive peak of his career so far. It is a massive project—over an hour long—that pulls together everything he has experimented with in the past. It’s a heavy, chaotic, and brilliant mix of genres that only someone with Siifu’s vision could pull off.
The album starts with an aggressive, industrial sound—reminiscent of Death Grips or clipping. before moving through southern trap, soulful grooves, and jazz interludes. Highlights like “Sacrifice’!BonAppetit” bring a chaotic energy that recalls his earlier work on NEGRO, while tracks like “Girls Fall Out Tha Sky” offer a smoother, melodic vibe perfect for a summer drive.
While the runtime is long and the mix can feel “messy” at times, it all makes sense when you listen to it from front to back. Siifu is right up there with artists like JPEGMAFIA, pushing the boundaries of what experimental hip-hop can be. It is a dense, rewarding record that deserves to be played loud. This is my album of the year for 2025.
Bandcamp: https://ronee.bandcamp.com/album/black-antique
Final Thoughts
That concludes my Top 10 for 2025. This year was defined by artists who aren’t afraid to be difficult, experimental, or purely passionate. As I move into 2026 and focus more on my own technical and sonic projects with Kernel Noise, these records will continue to be the baseline for my inspiration.