Albums of the Year
BY: MTHIMKHULUDECEMBER, 19 2025
INTRO:
THIS YEAR’S TOP PICKS REVEAL HOW MUSIC NAVIGATES PRESSURE AND ATTENTION IN A MOMENT WHERE THERE’S POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY, MUSIC INDUSTRY SHIFTS AND CHANCES OF VISIBILITY BEING AS DANGEROUS AS IT IS LUCRATIVE. THE WORK OF THESE FOUR PROJECTS SIGNAL MEANING OVER MOMENTUM AND TOGETHER, DRAW THE MAP OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC WITH SHARP INTENT. THE CLIPSE, KAYTRANADA, DOMINIC FIKE AND SUMMER WALKER PROVE TO REMAIN EXPRESSIVE WITHOUT LOSING COMPLETE CONTROL. WHETHER THROUGH RESTRAINT, METICULOUSNESS, INSTABILITY OR SPECTACLE, THESE ALBUMS BROKE BARRIERS TO MUSICAL FREEDOM.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: “STARLIGHT” BY CHANCE THE RAPPER, “BPM” BY SUDAN ARCHIVES, “JUCO” BY REMBLE
SUMMER WALKER - FINALLY OVER IT
SUMMER WALKER LEANS INTO GROWTH IN THIS PROJECT, FEATURING STARRING CHARACTERS THROUGHOUT, SHE EXPANDS HER EMOTIONAL UNIVERSE WITHOUT DILUTING IT TOO MUCH. AFTER HER CONFESSION OF BEING “OVER IT” , THIS ALBUM USES A WIDE RANGE OF VOICES TO EXPRESS THE HEARTBREAK IT TOOK TO “FINALLY” GET THERE, TRULY. SUMMER GIVES PERMISSION FOR A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS ALBUM. SHE ALLOWS ANDERSON .PAAK TO TAKE HOME THE MOST COMPELLING VERSE AND ALLOWS SPACE AND SILENCE TO DO AS MUCH WORK AS THE LYRICS, TURNING R&B MAXIMALISM INTO SOMETHING PAINFULLY INTIMATE, MAKING THE ALBUM VERY ATTRACTIVE FOR WINTER.
DOMINIC FIKE - ROCKET
CHAOTIC YET ENGAGING. ROCKET’S INSTABILITY SEEMS TO BE THE POINT. THE GENRE LINES ARE BLURRY AS POP HOOKS CRASH INTO INDIE/ROCK DISTORTION AND JOURNALISTIC RAP CADENCES. THE ALBUM’S SILENT TRIUMPH IS “EPILOGUE,” A CLOSING TRACK THAT STRIPS AWAY THE CACOPHONY AND LEAVES FIKE ALONE WITH HIS CONTRADICTIONS. IT REFRAMES THE EARLIER CHAOS, SUGGESTING “MIDAIR” COPING MECHANISMS HAVE BEEN A CRITICAL ANCHOR FOR SURVIVAL ON THIS QUICK JOURNEY UPWARD.
KAYTRANADA - AIN’T NO DAMN WAY!
A KEY REMINDER THAT HIS TRADEMARK RUBBERY DRUMS AND NEON SMEARED SYNTHESIZERS ARE IN A LANE OF THEIR OWN. AIN’T NO DAMN WAY POLISHES HIS STYLE INTO SOMETHING MORE INTENTIONAL. THE STANDOUT TRACK, “TARGET JOINT,” MANAGES TO SNEAK IN RESTLESS VOCALS FLOATING OVER PERCUSSION THAT NEVER QUITE RESOLVES. THIS EMOTIONAL FRICTION MAKES IT A MACHINE BUILT FOR PEAK-HOUR DANCE FLOORS. OFTENTIMES, PRODUCERS FIND THEMSELVES GLUED TO BACKGROUND STATUS, NOT THIS ONE, KAYTRA DEMANDS THE LIGHT AND THE ATTENTION...AND A JOINT.
THE CLIPSE - LET GOD SORT EM OUT
FIRST THINGS FIRST, THE CLIPSE ROLLOUT ALLOWED FOR TASTEFUL INTERPRETATION. IT LEFT VERY LITTLE SPACE FOR OTHERS TO EMBODY RELEVANCE LIKE THEY DID. IN AN INTERVIEW, THE CLIPSE CLAIM “URGENCY” AS THE MAIN DRIVE FOR THIS ALBUM, AND IT SHOWS. STRUCTURE AND RESTRAINT ARE USED TO ACHIEVE A DARKLY LUXURIOUS EFFECT WHILE THE INSTRUMENTATION FEELS SPECIALLY CURATED AND THE BARS PROLIFIC. PUSHA & MALICE’S CHEMISTRY CEMENT THEIR PRISTINE EVOLUTION IN CREATING TIMELESS TAGLINES, SURGICAL LYRICISM & REAL LIFE CHRONICLES.