New Music Roundup (January 27th - January 31st)

1. Pink Siifu – BLACK’!ANTIQUE

Today, Pink Siifu releases his fourth solo album, BLACK’!ANTIQUE via Dynamite Hill, in partnership with Roc Nation Distribution. His new solo album bookends a prolific run of collaborative projects for Siifu since his last solo album (2022’s GUMBO’!) including Real Bad Flights (with Real Bad Man), Leather Blvd. (with Ahwlee as B. Cool-Aid) and It’s Too Quiet..’!! (with Turich Benjy). BLACK’!ANTIQUE, which The FADER called one of their most anticipated albums of 2025, includes both previously-released singles “SCREW4LIFE’! RIPJALEN’!” and “WHOUWITHHO+” featuring Kal Banx, and documents the latest amorphous iteration of Siifu’s relentlessly evolving sound. Alongside the album, Siifu is also releasing a new video for “LAST ONE ALIVE’!”, which he first teased last week as the second half of his two-part On The Radar Freestyle.

Widely regarded as one of the central figures and catalysts for the flourishing creative community of peers that surrounds him, Siifu’s new album enlists a cadre of talented artists and producers agnostic of generations and genres. BLACK’!ANTIQUE enlists guest features from 454, BbyMutha, HiTech, Ho99o9, Liv.e, B L A C K I E, Big Rube, Monte Booker, V.C.R., WiFiGawd, Big Rube & many more. The album also features production from iiye, Kal Bankx, Butcher Brown’s DJ Harrison & Morgan Burrs, Nick Hakim, Fatboi Sharif, HiTech & many more.

“This album was made with the intent to sharpen and truly show that an artist should be one of one,” Siifu says of his intention behind creating BLACK’!ANTIQUE. “This album is the shit eye say to myself in the mirror. We get each album/project to tell a different side of ourselves, bring you into a world, speak on our existence and express ourselves in depth. Everything present and in front of you isn’t here to stay, but the memory and the stories will forever be something. That’s an Antique’! Something or Someone Who is Here to Stay’! A Source of Inspiration, Power and Something Timeless’!”

Pink Siifu, who was raised between Birmingham and Cincinnati, has proven himself as a singular voice in contemporary music, with projects that defy traditional formats and serve as emblems of his restlessly experimental drive as an artist. As a solo artist, Siifu received universal acclaim for his 2018 breakout solo album ensley, and obliterated all expectations on his genre-defying album NEGRO, released in 2020, which the New York Times called “the most fearless album in his vast catalog of equally experimental music.” His previous solo album, 2022’s GUMBO’! set the stage for this next phase of his career presenting a musical mosaic of all of the influences of his peers across genres and generations, from spoken word by Dungeon Family’s Big Rube to ghettotech from Detroit trio HiTech.

Listen to BLACK’!ANTIQUE above, see the full album tracklist and more details below and stay tuned for more from Pink Siifu coming soon.

2. Charles Costa & King Charles – Charles Costa

After three beloved albums, the UK musician formerly known as King Charles has abdicated and now starts a new era under his real name, Charles Costa. Today, this chapter commences as he announces the release of his new self-titled album. Various factors have influenced Costa’s rebirth, from sharing his artist moniker with the actual monarch, to this already deeply personal artist becoming increasingly eager to explore the vulnerabilities of the man behind the music. 

Additionally, Costa suffered a catastrophic skiing accident in Austria 10 years ago which left him with a brain trauma that continues to shape his mental health journey. Through the challenges he has faced, he has gained profound empathy for those grappling with similar struggles. This inspired Costa to run 90 Marathons in 90 Days last October – a grueling 2,650 mile trek along the Pacific Crest Trail to raise funds and awareness for mental health. Costa is determined to turn his personal experience into a beacon of hope for others, and running is part of his ongoing strategy to manage those issues. 

Costa’s new album was crafted during six weeks of sessions at Old Jet studios in a former US Air Force base in Suffolk, England. It was created with a tight-knit team, primarily with Costa performing vocals, guitar, cello and keyboards; Jesse Quin making the most of his multi-instrumentalist talents; and Tom Hobden (Gang of Youths, Noah and the Whale) contributing evocative violin. What they’ve unlocked is a tapestry of sounds, touching upon everything from ‘80s electro-pop to hymnal devotion via pastoral folk, with echoes of the likes of Bon Iver and RY X.

“This is an album of new songs exploring the distance between life’s longings and laments,” said Charles Costa. “I am always looking for a way to ‘complete’ life – find truth or meaning or purpose – leading me down paths of discovery and revelation. Sometimes ending up at dead ends, sometimes to new openings and avenues. These journeys seem to be a bouncing between the boundaries of longings and laments and that is what is behind most of this album.” 

Listen to Charles Costa’s debut album on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you listen HERE.  

3. 3VM – BTE

AFTER AN IMPRESSIVE RUN IN 2024, 3VM IS BACK AND DECLARING THAT THINGS ARE “BIGGER THAN EVER.” WITH HIS LATEST SINGLE, “BTE,” THE RISING ARTIST OFFERS A GLIMPSE INTO WHAT’S NEXT FOR HIM, HINTING AT A FRESH SOUND FOR HIS UPCOMING PROJECT SET TO DROP LATER THIS YEAR.

FANS OF 3VM ARE NO STRANGERS TO HIS DIVERSE STYLE. HIS PREVIOUS PROJECTS, LIKE BURDENS & BLESSINGS, SHOWCASED HIS ABILITY TO BLEND VIVID, INTROSPECTIVE SOUNDS WITH CATCHY HOOKS, EARNING HIM A DEDICATED FOLLOWING. BUT WITH “BTE,” IT’S CLEAR THE ARTIST IS PUSHING BOUNDARIES, SIGNALING A SHIFT IN DIRECTION THAT HAS MANY EXCITED FOR WHAT’S TO COME.

IN 2022 3VM’S MOMENTUM WAS UNDENIABLE, SECURING MAJOR MILESTONES WITH PERFORMANCES ON ON THE RADAR AND GAINING RECOGNITION FROM PLATFORMS LIKE LYRICAL LEMONADE. WITH EACH STEP, HIS CREDIBILITY AS A RISING STAR ONLY GREW. NOW, WITH “BTE” SET TO DROP ON JANUARY 24TH, THE ANTICIPATION IS BUILDING. WHAT’S NEXT FOR 3VM IN 2025? IF THIS NEW SINGLE IS ANY INDICATION, FANS CAN EXPECT EVEN BIGGER MOVES AND A BOLD NEW CHAPTER IN HIS MUSICAL JOURNEY. STAY TUNED—THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

4. Latto ft. Playboi Carti – Blick Sum

Today, ATL-based Grammy nominated Queen of the Souf rapper Latto drops her highly anticipated collaboration with multi-platinum, genre-defying Atlanta rapper Playboi Carti for the alternate version of “Blick Sum” via RCA Records– click here to listen / click here to watch. Shot in Atlanta, the Hidji World and Gunner Stahl-directed video shows Latto and Carti in different spots flexing their cash, style and bars. Upon release, the song garnered the cover of Apple Music’s NMD and a Pandora billboard. Latto is currently nominated for a 2025 Grammy Award – Best Melodic Rap Performance for her single “Big Mama.”

Latto made history this past year with her critically acclaimed third studio album Sugar Honey Iced Tea as the first solo female rapper from Atlanta to ever have a #1 on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums chart, debut or otherwise. The album also earned Big Mama a top 15 spot on the Billboard 200 chart, her highest debut to-date at #15. Overall, she is only the second female rapper in 2024 to have a #1 Rap Album debut and Top 15 Billboard 200 debut.

Sugar Honey Iced Tea is centered around Latto’s Georgia Southern roots and displays her signature raw, witty lyricism over magnetic beats. The 21-track album features A-List Southern artists including Megan Thee Stallion, Ciara, Coco Jones, Young Nudy, Flo Milli, Teezo Touchdown and more. Latto’s major Billboard July cover print issue came out around the album release and most recently she graced the December issue of EBONY Magazine.

Latto wrapped her first North American Sugar Honey Iced Tea Tour last year with special guests Mariah The Scientist and Karrahbooo. In addition to touring, she was also a performer and had a panel chat at the 2024 Teen Vogue Summit in Los Angeles, performed her Grammy nominated single “Big Mama” on The Jennifer Hudson Show (plus a couch interview) and held her own event at the Grammy Museum that included an acoustic performance. 

With the release of her third studio album and over 1 billion streams worldwide across all platforms, in addition to accolades continuing to rack up from her success, Latto has full command of the stage to become a global superstar and this next chapter of Latto’s career spotlights her new music, new creative vibrant visuals and gives more big energy from The Biggest aka Big Latto.

5. Goya Gumbani – FireFly

Today, Brooklyn-born, South East London-based rapper Goya Gumbani announces his new album Warlord of the Weejuns, out March 21st via Ghostly International. His first album on his new label, Goya brings a refined artistic vision to Warlord of the Weejuns, carving himself a space in between the two formative musical canons of his life: New York City hip-hop’s storytelling prowess and London’s exciting new Jazz generation, of which he’s a central figure. 

Coinciding with the announcement of the album, Goya is also sharing his new single and video, “FireFly,” featuring London-based Swedish soul singer Fatima. The song marks the second offering from Warlord of the Weejuns, following the previously released “Chase The Sunrise”, which featured Yaya Bey, lojii, and Fatima. “FireFly” is a cosmic R&B groove that confronts the raw emotions of a recent breakup, soundtracked by a combination of production contributions from Swarvy, Omari Jazz, Les Lockheart, Zalente, and quickly, quickly.

The album’s title is an ode to Miles Davis, who Goya admires for his fervor for music and the ubiquitous style he brought to every aspect of his life. Goya channels that ambition on this new album, recorded with lush, full-band arrangements that utilize his own voice as part of the instrumentation. With Goya and his sharp, effortlessly smooth delivery leading the way as the album’s tone-setting conductor, he brings in a bevy of musical minds to lay a spacious, radiant collection of musical vignettes that invoke the wordless expressions of jazz and the meditative rhythms of reggae. Threads of affirmation, self-worth, and Black heritage — manifesting knowledge and power from within — run throughout Warlord of the Weejuns. Goya arranged his singular vision with production from Joe Armon-Jones, Swarvy, Franky Bones, Dan Diggers, Alejandro Śanchez, Maxwell Owin, Omari Jazz, Les Lockheart, Zalente and Ghostly labelmate quickly, quickly. 

To celebrate the album’s release, Goya will also be hosting two album release shows in New York at MOCADA (Museum of Contemporary African Diasporic Art) on March 22nd and London, at Jazz Café on April 17th. 

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Goya Gumbani’s relocation to South London in his teens opened a new world of possibilities. Operating within various musical collectives throughout the city, Goya quickly enmeshed himself in London’s buoyant jazz scene as a tastemaker with his renowned  NTS show Chicken Foot Soup and as a dynamic performer, having just played Pitchfork Music Fest London with billy woods this past Fall. Goya’s decade-long development as an artist and producer reached a breakthrough when he released his debut self-produced EP Morta & More Doves, dedicated to his sister who passed away in 2018. The release began a prolific period of EPs and mixtapes, with Goya frequently partnering with a single producer for a project. Most recently, Goya dropped Face in the Storm in 2022 and When the Past Bloomed in 2023, featuring contributions from Pink Siifu, John Glacier, Lex Amor, Lord Apex, and others. 

Following a much-loved COLORS session, Goya has gained further recognition from industry makers at the intersection of music and fashion, working with the likes of the late designer Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton, Nicholas Daley, and Bianca Saunders. Despite his transatlantic upbringing, the flavor of Goya’s work is rooted in the decorated lineage of NYC Hip-Hop, and he stands out as an evocative and boldly vulnerable lyricist.

Listen to “FireFly” and pre-order Warlord of the Weejuns above, and stay tuned for more from Goya Gumbani coming soon.

6. Alexia Faith – Butterfly Girl

Pop meets soul singer songwriter Alexia Faith makes her debut with ‘Butterfly Girl.’ The song spreads its wings with an intoxicating blend of crystalline pop sonics and soulful R&B undertones. The track floats effortlessly between an empowerment anthem and an intimate confession, as Faith’s silky vocals dance through a soundscape that shimmers like sunlight. “Butterfly Girl” is a track that at celebrates individuality, self-discovery and inner strength.The track serves as both mirror and window – reflecting listeners’ own journeys while offering glimpses into her own. As Faith’s voice soars through carefully crafted hooks and vulnerable verses, she creates a musical sanctuary where liberation and rhythm intertwine.

7. Sturdyyoungin, Ohthatsmizz & Zeddy Will

A rising star in his city at just 19-years-old, Sturdyyoungin brings panache, charm, and quotable bars to Philadelphia’s uptempo, dance rap sound. Hot on the heels of his guest verse on viral hit “BUMBAA” by his close friend Ohthatsmizz, Youngin shares “Trippin’,” a brand new song and video. Warping Fergie’s “Clumsy” into a stuttering, club-ready anthem, “Trippin'” reunites the young rapper with his fellow Philly native Ohthatsmizz, adding NYC’s ZeddyWill to make a troublesome trio. The three rappers trade bars as if in conversation, ping-ponging off each other’s punchlines and attempting to one-up their flexes in pursuit of romance.

Featuring a cameo from Fergie, the video is a tribute to teen movies, with the three rappers portraying football players in pursuit of the cheer captain. Sturdyyoungin shows off his talent on the football field, while ZeddyWill spits game in the hallway and Ohthatsmizz takes her for burgers at the local diner. The story ends at a house party, where the rivalries melt away and the crowd hits the viral “Trippin'” dance  throughout the party. The story ends at a house party, where the rivalries melt away and the crowd goes dumb to “Trippin'” on the dancefloor. 

A popular figure in Philadelphia since high school, Sturdyyoungin built a following on social media by starting dance challenges to Philly club rap bangers, rocking freestyles, and just by being himself. While he first gained fame as a content creator, Sturdyyoungin pursued his music dream, making his own music on Bandlab and eventually joining up with legendary Philly dance rap crew 2Humpy, which also featured luminaries like 2Rare, Bril, and frequent rap partner Ohthatsmizz. After 2Humpy broke up, Sturdy started to make waves on his own, and often teamed up with Ohthatsmizz to release red hot singles like “How It Goes” (also featuring Bril), racking up over 1.3 million streams on Spotify.

Sturdy and Mizz scored their biggest hit to date in Fall 2024, with Mizz’s “BUMBAA,” a kinetic party anthem that went viral on TikTok (634k creations) and YouTube (5+ million views on the static image audio and music video combined), catching the attention of notables like Jayda Wayda and LaLa Anthony, among others. Sturdy and Mizz used the song to show off their performance skills with memorable appearances on In The Cut (4.1 million views) and On The Radar, and started a viral “open verse challenge” for the song, receiving thousands of videos in response.

With “BUMBAA” on the rise and much more music to come, Sturdyyoungin is primed to take the Philly sound global. Stay tuned for more.

8. Real Bad Man & ZelooperZ – Sweet Celine

LA-based producer Real Bad Man and Detroit artist ZelooperZ announce their joint album Dear Psilocybin, out February 7th via Real Bad Man Records. The album, which finds the duo collaborating for the first time, follows RBM’s 2024 collaborative album with Memphis rapper Lukah Temple Needs Water. Village Needs Peace. and is ZelooperZ’s first full-length offering since his 2023 project Microphone Fiend. Alongside the announcement of Dear Psilocybin, the duo are sharing the album’s lead single “Sweet Celine”, which is accompanied by a grainy, hypnotic visual starring ZelooperZ.

On Dear Psilocybin, ZelooperZ invokes unconventional production out of Real Bad Man to match his own unpredictable and outlandish delivery, working outside of traditional song structures and existing in a lane of his own. The Detroit multihyphenate, who is an integral part of Danny Brown’s Bruiser Brigade collective and also an accomplished visual artist, painted the album’s corresponding cover artwork as well. The album also features a few select guest appearances, with features from Boldy James, MAVI and The Alchemist.

Real Bad Man is the production moniker of visual artist and designer Adam Jay Weissman. A designer and visual artist first, he made his foray into music through his On High Alert series of imaginative, multi-generational compilations, which have featured the likes of Roc Marciano, Blu, Kool Keith, Inspectah Deck, Pink Siifu, Maxo and more. In the years since, he’s partnered with some of hip-hop’s most talented and adventurous artists on full-length projects, including multiple albums with Boldy James, Memphis’ LUKAH, Pink Siifu, Blu, Kool Keith, Elcamino and more.

Listen to “Sweet Celine” above, see below for more album details and stay tuned for more from Real Bad Man & ZelooperZ coming soon.

9. Jack Van Cleaf ft. Zach Bryan – Rattlesnake

Today Jack Van Cleaf announced the release of his new sophomore album, JVC, releasing May 9 via Dualtone Records. Planting its flag halfway between the worlds of indie rock and Gen Z folk, it asks big questions about identity, home, and adulthood. For Jack, it’s the culmination of a journey that began during his teenage years. “This album is all about the vertigo of growing up, It’s about re-defining and re-understanding yourself.” Pre-order HERE

Today he released a new single “Rattlesnake,” a reimagination of his own viral hit featuring a new duet with friend and fan Zach Bryan. It also featured every musician who had appeared on the song’s first recording, a group composed of Jack’s best friends from college. Setting up shop at Electric Lady Studios, they recorded the heart of the new production live, leaning into instinct and inspiration as Zach and Jack traded off lines in the spur of the moment while co-producer Eddie Spear captured their camaraderie. Listen to single HERE. Watch music video directed by Ivey Redding HERE

On the track, Jack stated, “Zach started sharing the song on social media, then eventually sent me a DM that said, ‘If you ever want to record a version of this with me, I’m in!'” Jack remembers, adding “Zach really inspired me in the studio. I was moved by his dedication to the moment and capturing something alive, rather than painstakingly pursuing perfection with endless takes.”

Zach Bryan stated on Instagram, “To become the best of friends with people through music in the city. Think that may be the point of all this. Jack & me re-recorded one of the best written songs of all time (jack is a genius) and hope u guys listen to it.”

Jack also announced an album release show on May 8 at The Blue Room in Nashville, TN, with support from Emma Ogier. Tickets on sale now. For more information and tickets – HERE.
 

Years after penning his first song as a high school freshman in San Diego, Jack headed east to Nashville, where he studied songwriting at Belmont University and released his debut album, Fruit from the Trees, after graduation. Jack experienced unprecedented early industry debut album buzz, drawing the attention of the likes of Noah Kahan, opening for him on Jack’s first ever major US tour, as well as touring with artists from Briston Maroney to Madi Diaz. When his single “Rattlesnake” landed him a spot on Spotify’s 2024 Best New Artist List with tastemaker playlist “juniper,” it drew over 13 million streams, and one fan in particular, Zach Bryan, became a major champion of Jack, covering the track on his social media. 

This unexpected success induced an intense period of self doubt in Jack, “I was shell-shocked,” he remembers. “I’d spent my whole life being told what to do every single day, and I always dreamed about growing up to be my own boss. Then graduation came, and I got what I wanted… but I realized I had no idea how to function on a day-to-day basis.”

He regrouped and retreated to his songwriting, and found solace in creating music in far-flung locations like Joshua Tree and the Texas/Mexico border, where he and producer Alberto Sewald (Katy Kirby, Sierra Hull) created this remarkable body of work. Those geographic choices were deliberate, their landscapes evoking the spiritual barrenness of Jack’s lyrics. “I felt like I was staring into an emotional desert when I wrote these songs, experiencing this feeling of desolation around me and looking for little signs of life,” he explains. 

Alongside all star collaborations with established stars like Zach Bryan and Gatlin — who features on seize-the-day anthem “Teenage Vampire” — the album also features his closest friends, Austin Burns, Ethan Fortenberry, Hunt Pennington, Adam Carpenter, Nathan Cimino, and Aaron Krak – plus Annika Bennett and Heaven Schmitt (aka Grumpy) who contribute background vocals – whom he met during his time at Belmont University and remain part of his closest creative circle. 

Previous Jack’s confessional and cathartic folk songs have garnered comparison to sparse verses of Nathaniel Rateliff and Gregory Alan Isakov and the directness of Kris Kristofferson and Leonard Cohen. On JVC, Jack takes another approach, focusing on blurring the dividing lines between acoustic singer-songwriter and electrified indie music. The result is an expansive sound, sparse one minute and grungy the next, dreamt up by an artist who’s never been afraid to write songs that shine a light on his own challenges. 

A sharply-written record that measures the long, winding road from past to present, deftly capturing the vertigo of early adulthood, drawing on his own struggles with his post-college success and disorientation that followed.  Songs like “Green” is a climate-conscious song whose indie rock pop hooks heighten the song’s activist bite and moody acoustic rocker “Shouldn’t Have Gone to L.A.” find Jack in transit, caught between locations without a clear anchor. His songs draw on deeply personal experiences including a constant evolving approach to religion and the emotional gravity of young adulthood to its full. 

With JVC, Jack Van Cleaf turns personal experience into something universal: a soundtrack to the years we all spend in existential free-fall, and while he finds gravity in the chaos, he has also made an album set to establish him as one of the biggest breakout singer-songwriters of his generation.

10. Fly Anakin ft. Quelle Chris, $ilkmoney & Big Kahuna OG – My N*gga

Richmond, Virginia’s Fly Anakin announces his new album (The) Forever Dream, out April 25 via Lex Records. The new LP commemorates an embrace of newfound creative freedom for Anakin, partnering with executive producer Quelle Chris to craft casually conceived songs that register among the most experimental and ambitious tracks he’s ever made. Combining Anakin’s decade-spanning reputation of being an incisive and masterful lyricist, with Quelle’s free-wheeling, yet intentional production style, the duo are polar opposites and a match made in heaven. Beyond Quelle, Anakin also enlisted collaborators both familiar and new on (The) Forever Dream, including Pink Siifu, BbyMutha, The Alchemist, $ilkmoney, lojii, Nickelus F, Turich Benjy, Demae, and of course, Mutant Academy brethren Big Kahuna OG and Sycho Sid.

Alongside the announcement of the album, Anakin also shares standout single “My N*gga”, a glacially smooth synth-heavy track that caters to the razor-sharp delivery of Anakin, along with featured guests Quelle Chris, $ilkmoney and Big Kahuna OG. The song is accompanied by a DEV-directed video, conceived by ILLIMITEWORLD.

Having spent the majority of the past decade honing his craft with consistent Mutant Academy releases as well as a prolific run of solo projects, Anakin broke new ground in 2020 with his widely-celebrated joint album with Pink Siifu, FlySiifu’s, and the accompanying $mokebreak EP a year later. That project opened up a new sound and community for Anakin who has seized on that project’s success to cement himself as a leader in rap’s underground renaissance with his critically-acclaimed studio debut album Frank in 2022, which landed on best of the year lists at Bandcamp, HipHopDX, OkayPlayer, Uproxx and more. His subsequent dual-sided mixtape series with Foisey, Skinemaxxx, demonstrated that he could be versatile and adapt to more experimental and boisterous production, leading to Pitchfork describing him as “the single best pure rapper in the scene.”

Listen to “My N*gga” featuring Quelle Chris, $ilkmoney and Big Kahuna OG above, see below for more album details and stay tuned for more from Fly Anakin coming soon.

11. Elijah Blake & Kareen Lomax – Read The Room

Today, Elijah Blake and Kareen Lomax unveil the official music video for their infectious track “Read The Room,” premiering exclusively on BET Soul. Featured on the deluxe edition of Elijah’s critically acclaimed album elijah!, the song offers a rhythmic groove that’s impossible to ignore. Directed by Bee The Creative, the video brings the energy of the track to life with dance sequences and visually engaging choreography. Set against a backdrop of vibrant yet minimalist aesthetics, the visuals create an electrifying atmosphere that perfectly matches the song’s upbeat tempo and Elijah and Kareen’s undeniable synergy.

The deluxe edition of elijah! boasts nine additional tracks featuring collaborations with Kim Burrell, Sevyn Streeter, Maeta, Kirby, Tone Stith, and more. Songs like “Stuck In My Ways” and “Does Something Happen When You Hear My Name (Jason’s Song)” have already showcased Elijah’s versatility, and “Read The Room” brings a fresh, danceable energy to the project.

12. Hurricane Wisdom – Demand

Channeling his trials and tribulations through his church-trained singing voice, Hurricane Wisdom makes music for triumphing over tragedy. The 20-year-old North Florida rapper slows down the tempo with “Demand,” his new single and music video. Backed by rippling pianos and ethereal vox, Hurricane refuses to get too deep in his feelings, reflecting on the hearts he has broken from Cali to Tally and taunting his exes with his X5 Beamer.

“Demand” continues Hurricane Wisdom’s red hot start to 2025. Shortly after the calendars flipped, Hurricane recruited Polo G to hop on the remix to his breakout 2024 hit, “Giannis,” which already has more than 1 million streams across platforms. “Giannis” (Remix) came on the heels of “Salute” (1.8 million video views), a late 2024 collaboration with Tallahassee heavy-hitter Loe Shimmy. Hurricane Wisdom is currently hard at work on Perfect Storm, his next mixtape, which will feature “Demand” and arrives on February 14th via Open Shift Distribution.

Born and raised in Havana, Florida, just 30 minutes from Tallahassee, Hurricane Wisdom stands out in a bustling Florida rap scene with his unique melodic sensibilities. Rhyming under a childhood nickname that refers to both his state’s most common severe weather system and his whirlwind energy, Hurricane earned a big fanbase (117k YouTube subscribers, 272k Instagram followers) with his emotionally honest lyrics and entrancing melodies. As a teenager, he built his reputation as a prolific and hard-working talent, releasing five mixtapes, starting with 2021’s Hurricane Season reaching a fever pitch with last year’s Eye Of The Storm.

Eye Of The Storm featured “Giannis,” a kinetic anthem dedicated to the Milwaukee Bucks superstar, which became Hurricane Wisdom’s biggest hit to date, with over 19 million YouTube views and 4 million Spotify streams. “Giannis” earned rapturous reviews from critics, as well, including Pitchfork, who called the song “the feel-good Florida anthem of the moment” and listed it at #36 on their list of the 100 Best Songs of 2024.

With co-signs from Rod Wave and NLE Choppa, a spot supporting NoCap on his tour in January and February, and coverage in Billboard, BET, UPROXX, AllHipHop, and more, the conditions are perfect for Hurricane Wisdom to make a major impact on the rap game. Stay tuned for more about Hurricane Wisdom and Perfect Storm.

13. DrexTheJoint – The One Who Did

Rising star DrexTheJoint (@drexthejoint) has kicked off the year with a bang as the 19-year-old Mexican rapper from Santa Ana has dropped his highly anticipated project, The One Who Did. Featuring collaborations with Heembeezy, Rowdy Racks, and Mike Sherm, the 15-track EP showcases Drexthejoint’s West Coast vibes, authentic storytelling, and unique ability to stand out.

“There hasn’t been anybody in Orange County who has done it like me,” says Drexthejoint about the project. “Somebody who reps the city and county so hard without having to claim LA.” This perspective is woven into every track of The One Who Did, offering fans an unfiltered look at his life and artistry.

Growing up in Santa Ana deeply influenced Drexthejoint’s music. “Everything I rap about in my lyrics is everything I’ve been through, seen, or lived in the city I come from,” he shares. “All that has shaped my sound and who I am as an artist.”

Drexthejoint first turned heads with his viral hit “Bounce Out,” amassing over 7 million streams. “Honestly, that was one of those songs I wasn’t even going to drop,” he admits. “But in the studio, I just started talking my s–t.”

Now signed to Now & Forever in partnership with Santa Anna Records, Drex is pushing boundaries while staying true to his roots. “I want fans to feel that West Coast sound when they hear me,” he says.

With The One Who Did, DrexTheJoint proves he’s not just another rising artist. He’s here to stay. And the momentum isn’t slowing down anytime soon. In March, he’s set to make his debut at Rolling Loud California, marking a major milestone in his career as he takes the stage at one of hip-hop’s biggest festivals.

With The One Who Did, DrexTheJoint solidifies his position as one of the most exciting young voices in hip-hop.

14. Emmanuel Jal & Bun Xapa – Chaak

Today, South Sudanese artist, author, and former child soldier Emmanuel Jal (new book My Life Is Art out now) teams up with South African producer Bun Xapa (named one of DJ Mag’s artists to watch in 2025) to release a new collaborative single, “Chaak.” The new track is out now via Higher Ground.

The message behind Emmanuel’s hit from last year, “Gorah”—also out on Higher Ground with 75M+ streams and at #1 peak on Beatport’s Afro House chart—was pointed towards checking in with loved ones to ask, “We edian?” (lyrics translated from the Naath/Nuer language to “How is it going?”). Now, on “Chaak,” Emmanuel sings about manifestation and looks ahead to a time when his people can “bathe in milk”—an African expression meaning to be wealthy; not just financially but also physically and spiritually. 

Emmanuel Jal and Bun Xapa initially came together at The Alchemist, a creative hub and event space in Nairobi, while Bun was on tour in Kenya. The duo hit it off immediately and started exchanging ideas. Emmanuel handed over the initial demo of “Chaak,” which Bun then reworked with his signature powerful synths and irresistible rhythm. 

15. 2hollis & Nate Sib – Afraid

Today, multi-hyphenated producer and artist 2hollis releases new single “afraid” featuring nate sib – alongside accompanying music video. Nate sib is currently opening for 2hollis on his North American “Leg Two” headlining tour, where the pair have been performing the track to nightly sold-out crowds. Stream “afraid” HERE, and watch official music video HERE.

The song first premiered on The Zane Lowe Show on Apple Music 1 Radio + featuring 2hollis on the cover of Apple Music’s New Music Daily playlist. Alongside the premiere, 2hollis was announced as Zane Lowe’s “25 artists for 25,” in their annual tradition of selecting the most exciting new artists to look out for throughout the year. He also was chosen for Pigeons and Planes Artists to Watch for 2025.  

“With a follow-up to “gold” undoubtedly on the way, an electrifying live show, and an army of evangelists at his Rick-clad feet, 2025 is 2’s for the taking” -Pigeons and Planes

With a frenetic blend of pyrotechnic production and exhilarating vocals, “afraid” is the perfect showcase of the 20-year-old disruptor’s ability to challenge the traditional boundaries of music creation.

2hollis is currently on his sold-out “Leg Two” headlining North American Tour, the follow-up to last year’s “Leg One”, which sold out in its entirety within only days of official reveal. in addition to his own headlining tour, 2hollis served a 39-date run as direct support for Ken Carson. In February, 2hollis will travel to New Zealand and Australia for his first shows in both countries, performing at Laneway Festival in 6 different cities as well as his own sold-out headlining shows in Sydney and Melbourne. He’ll continue touring throughout the year with additional dates to come in Asia and Europe and an exciting debut performance in April at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.

16. GELO – Tweaker

After igniting social media, buzzing rapper GELO (LiAngelo Ball) has unveiled the anxiously awaited official music video for his breakout single “Tweaker.” It notably marks his debut song with Def Jam Recordings. Increasing anticipation for the video’s arrival, the song has already soared as the First Breakout Hit of 2025, #1 Debut Single of 2025, and #1 Rap Song of 2025. Watch HERE.

Shot in his hometown of Los Angeles as well as Chicago, GELO is joined by his brothers Lonzo Ball [Chicago Bulls] and LaMelo Ball [Charlotte Hornets] for the high-energy visual. Never taking his foot off the gas, the visual concludes with a tease of a new song “Can You Please?” With all eyes on the future, he shows no signs of stopping or slowing down now.

“Tweaker” continues to surge with unmatched impact. It has garnered millions of streams in addition to catapulting to #1 on Spotify Viral US and Worldwide, #1 on the Apple Music Hip-Hop Chart, #1 on the iTunes Top Hip-Hop/Rap Songs Chart, and #1 on the US Shazam Chart. Not to mention, he captured #3 on the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart and #4 on the Spotify Overall US Chart. This success led to a Top 30 breakthrough on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Tweaker” remains #1 “Most Added” at Overall Radio on track for Top 15 at Urban and Rhythm. It exploded as the #2 most viral song on TikTok and emerged as the #3 trending song on Instagram Reels. 

Def Jam Recordings Chairman and CEO Tunji Balogun welcomed him to the label, saying, “GELO is an old soul bringing a refreshing style of music that feels reminiscent of my favorite era of hip-hop. Beyond being a member of one of America’s most prominent and inspiring Black families, he is a true artist with a bright future ahead of him. Standing at the intersection of sports, music, and youth culture, he’s caught lightning in a bottle with ‘Tweaker’ but I’m more excited for people to hear the rest of the songs he has in the stash.”

GELO added, “It means a lot to sign to Def Jam. When I was a kid my dad always listened to DMX, and we had the video game Def Jam: Fight for NY. We met everybody, and I played them a bunch of songs. They wanted to hear it all. I really love their energy and excitement about everything I’m doing.”

17. BabyDrill – Wicked West

Today, breakout ATL rapper BabyDrill drops his new single and video “Wicked West” – listen here / watch here. The video for “Wicked West” has a raw, grungy energy that aligns with the track’s rebellious spirit. This is the first single from his forthcoming project coming soon via PDE Records/RCA Records.

BabyDrill initially garnered buzz in Atlanta with his 2022 breakout song “32 Freestyle.” The word started getting out locally, but BabyDrill couldn’t immediately reap the rewards. Soon after “32 Freestyle” dropped, Drill was arrested. His release on bond that same year was accompanied by his debut project, Drill Season, compiled mostly from older material, which balances big, brassy trap and blockbuster features (Latto, G Herbo) with softer melodic moments like “War Wounds.” For the next six months while on house arrest, Drill would spend nearly every waking moment at the studio. He claims he recorded 900 songs in that stretch, with the first result of that period being his MadMan album that was released in the summer of 2023, right after he beat the case and was cleared of all charges. With a new outlook and a buzzing rap career, BabyDrill released his project ScoreGod in 2024 which features production from heavyweights Coupe and ATL Jacob, while having feature guest spots from Luh Tyler on the title track “ScoreGod” along with YTB Fatt and Rob49 on “Check Ups.” With each release, Drill continues to level up and build a world for himself within the rap space. 

Stay tuned for more from BabyDrill coming soon.

18. Constantine – I'm Him

6’8 talented multidimensional music artist Constantiine blends confidence, aura, and genres with new single “I’m Him.” This smooth but mysterious sonically cohesive musical genius takes bits of urban pop mix and R&B magic to procure a mystical banger that puts your ears on a joyride. 

The only other time you have ever experienced an artist this tall and goated is the legendary Montell Jordan who is also a former basketball player like Constantiine. However music is his tital focus right now and this new single only previews a plethora of magically tunes set to be released this year. 

You can’t compare Constantine to any other music curator but a few influences on his sound involves Daft Punk, The Weeknd, Pharrell, J.Cole, and Michael Jackson. Like the iconic MJ look for Constantiine to leave a legacy few can obtain in entertainment. 

Stream the new single below. 

19. Caroline Romano – IDK These Days

Nashville-based alt-pop artist Caroline Romano returns with her latest single, “IDK These Days,” offering a raw and introspective preview of her upcoming EP, ‘How The Good Girls Die,’ set for release on February 21st. This new track follows a string of successful releases including “Body Bag,” “Pretty Boys,” and “Born To Want More,” all of which will be included on the ‘How The Good Girls Die’ EP next month.

“IDK These Days” showcases Caroline’s knack for blending vulnerability with compelling storytelling. The minimalist arrangement emphasizes her poignant lyrics and heartfelt vocal delivery, making it one of the most emotionally charged tracks on the EP. “I wrote ‘IDK These Days’ during a period of inexplicable anger and frustration,” Caroline shares. “It’s about the little things—like snow and traffic—that used to be trivial, suddenly becoming overwhelming. It’s that unsettling feeling when even your mom notices you’re not yourself, and you’re stuck in this state of discontent, feeling like a middle schooler again.”

Caroline further reflects, “The song speaks to the fear that these emotions might linger longer than desired. It’s about the struggle of being honest when asked how you’re doing and admitting, ‘I don’t know these days.’ While these feelings are fleeting, in the moment, they feel all-consuming. This song is my way of confronting those emotions head-on, admitting them aloud, and finding solace in that admission.”

Caroline Romano has established herself as a versatile artist, effortlessly transitioning between misty-eyed ballads and fiery alt-rock anthems. Since the release of her 2022 debut album, Oddities and Prodigies, and her subsequent 2023 EP, ‘A Brief Epic,’ Caroline has continued to come into her own as an artist, revealing new layers of her artistry with each release. 

With the forthcoming release of ‘How The Good Girls Die,’ Caroline pushes her creative boundaries further, promising a collection of tracks that offer an honest, unfiltered look into her world. ‘How The Good Girls Die’ will be out February 21st.

20. Lancey Foux – Enter The Dragon/Tektime

Today, rising UK rapper and style icon Lancey Foux releases his new two-pack “Enter The Dragon” and “TEKTIME” out now via Human Re Sources / RCA Records – click HERE to listen. In “Enter The Dragon” and “TEKTIME”, Lancey Foux can be heard rapping over heavy-hitting beats. These two tracks encapsulate Lancey’s chillingly sharp verses and infectious hooks while radiating a contagious and raw energy. “Enter The Dragon” and “TEKTIME” is just the start of the next chapter for Lancey’s ever-evolving career, bringing with him the visceral rush of excitement that has cemented him as one of the most forward-thinking and defining artists of his generation.

Most recently, Lancey Foux teamed up with fellow UK rappers Fimiguerrero and Len for their joint album entitled CONGLOMERATE, which reached No. 1 on the Official UK Hip-Hop and R&B Albums Chart and No. 23 on the Official UK Albums Chart – click HERE to listen. All three artists on CONGLOMERATE can be heard offering their unique, genre-defying sounds. Known for pushing the boundaries of UK rap, each artist infuses their individual distinctive styles into the collaboration, making CONGLOMERATE an exceptional project. Together, they deliver a fresh sound that continues to put UK rap on the map. Additionally, Lancey recently performed at Paris Fashion Week for the MISBHV and Michael JaeJoon Kim shows.  

Earlier last year, Lancey collaborated with his labelmate Teezo Touchdown and Cash Cobain for new single, “Daylight.” The record was produced by Cash Cobain (Drake / Ice Spice) and finds Lancey showcasing his melodic vocals and lyrical versatility, while Teezo adds his signature rock and boom sound to his verse. The trio of artists’ create one great sound and bring such a masterful delivery. Ahead of his collaboration with Teezo Touchdown and Cash Cobain, Lancey released his track, “Gotta Get U” – click HERE to listen. This track was also produced by Cash Cobain and finds Lancey flexing his vocals and highlighting his signature melodic range.

Lancey Foux has been at the forefront of the rise of UK rap that’s been gaining momentum in recent years. Although no term has yet been coined to fully encompass the sound, Lancey’s music can be described as a blend of hip-hop, cloud rap, trap, jerk, Jersey club, drill and more. Lancey’s impact has been tremendous as he continues to be recognized as a rising artist to watch and redefining the sound of UK rap.

Stay tuned for more on Lancey Foux coming soon!

21. EST Gee – I Ain't Feeling You

Today, Louisville native EST Gee dropped his highly anticipated new album, I Ain’t Feeling You. Stream HERE via CMG / Interscope Records.

The 12-track offering includes collaborations with Travis Scott, Lil Baby, Veeze and Rylo Rodriguez and features vivid street tales, introspective storytelling and dynamic punch lines.

On “Houstonatlantaville”, EST Gee, Lil Baby, and Travis Scott meld their creative forces as the three kings of their respective cities. Over big bass, trap drums, and tolling bells, we get three visions of hustling that take us from the streets to the stadium. They share the hook: “Take your time when you gettin’ it out the oven, and why you rushing? / You can lose it all, get it back tomorrow if you a hustler / I failed plenty of times, put a million aside when I got back up from it / It’s cool to do it with help but you that n—- if you do it with nothin’.”

EST Gee has been unyielding in his grind, previously sharing I Ain’t Feeling You highlights like “My Love” featuring Veeze and Rylo Rodriguez. Before that came the painfully real “RIP Lu Mike,” dedicated to late friend, collaborator, and signee to his Young Shiners label Lu Mike. That emotional tribute followed two November singles: “Go,” a driving broadcast from Louisville’s underbelly, and “The Streets.”

A musical force to be reckoned with, EST Gee continues to awe fans and critics alike by authentically, unflinchingly documenting day-to-day life in his hometown with a rumbling, deadpan style that pairs perfectly with various strains of trap-infused Southern rap. His current era follows a busy 2023 in which he not only released two charting mixtapes — the gritty, pain-powered MAD and his stylistically diverse victory lap EL TORO 2 — but also featured heavily on CMG’s door-kicking Gangsta Art 2 compilation alongside his labelmates/collaborators like Moneybagg Yo, 42 Dugg, GloRilla, and Mozzy, plus legendary CMG label boss Yo Gotti himself.

Initially developing his unique vision across several self-released mixtapes, EST Gee broke out with 2021’s Bigger Than Life or Death tape, which hit No. 7 on the Billboard 200, grabbed No. 1 on Apple Music’s All-Genre chart, and lifted his career to the next level. That year, he also: collaborated with Lil Baby, Young Thug, Lil Durk, and many others; received cosigns from the likes of Jay-Z and Drake; played Jimmy Kimmel Live! with Louisville’s own Jack Harlow; and garnered praise from Complex (20 Best Rappers in Their 20s), The New York Times, who put Bigger on their year-end best albums list, and Rolling Stone, where EST Gee topped the Breakthrough 25 chart. 

In 2022, EST Gee joined Yo Gotti’s CMG and released his debut studio album, I Never Felt Nun, a collection of tense street raps with occasional dips into melody provided by superstar guests including Future and Harlow. The set reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and was his third to hit the Top 10 — including his and 42 Dugg’s acclaimed 2022 joint mixtape, Last Ones Left. Before the year’s end, he’d make his nationally televised debut performing at the BET Hip-Hop Awards with Jeezy, plus return to Billboard’s Hot 100 with verses on Future’s “CHICKENS” and Lil Baby’s “Back and Forth.” EST Gee has long been your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper.

22. skaiwater – pop

23. Coco Jones ft. Leon Thoms – Here We Go (Uh Oh)(Remix)

GRAMMY-Award winning powerhouse singer/songwriter and multi-hyphenate actress Coco Jones shares a new remix of “Here We Go (Uh Oh) featuring Leon Thomas via High Standardz/Def Jam Recordings.  Listen HERE. 
 
Coco proves once again she is a force in R&B with two 2025 GRAMMY Award nominations for “Here We Go (Uh Oh)” in the categories of Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance, the latter she took home at last year’s GRAMMY Awards for her Platinum selling single “ICU.”
 
Gearing up for her debut album in 2025, Coco recently joined forces with Future and London On Da Track for “Most Beautiful Design.” The song joins previously released singles “Sweep it Up” – watch here, and “Here We Go (Uh Oh)” – watch here, to appear on her anxiously-awaited album.
 
Most recently, Coco was named to the 2024 Ebony Power 100 list for her contributions to music. She performed on this year’s BET Awards as part of the Usher tribute, delivering a soulful rendition of his hit single “There Goes My Baby.” Watch HERE. Plus, she was nominated for her first ever MTV VMA Award for MTV Push Performance of the Year for her breakout single “ICU”.

24. Mina Okabe – Always Hurts

Today, Danish-Japanese singer/songwriter Mina Okabe shares her new single “Always Hurts” — a poignant and powerful track revealing the more painful side of her uniquely worldly upbringing. Her first new music of 2025, “Always Hurts” is the fourth song released from the rising global star’s eagerly awaited sophomore album (due out this spring via Capitol Records). Go HERE to stream “Always Hurts” now.

Made with multi-platinum-selling, two-time GRAMMY-nominated producer Leroy Clampitt (Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber), “Always Hurts” gracefully showcases Okabe’s diary-like songwriting as she reflects on the heartbreak of impermanence and the beauty of true connection.

“I grew up with a Danish dad and a Japanese mom and in different cities,” says Okabe. “I’ve lived in London, New York, and Manila but now live in Copenhagen. Although I’m very grateful for the experiences it has brought me, and I somewhat got used to leaving places and people behind, there are some people in my life I never want to leave and never would be able to say goodbye to. This song is for and about them.”

Recently named a Spotify Borderless Artist for 2025, Okabe opens “Always Hurts” with a stark arrangement of hushed vocal work and gently driving acoustic guitar. Over the course of the understated but spellbinding track, the 24-year-old artist speaks her truth about the emotional cost of moving on from the people she adores. As she confesses to burying her feelings (“It always hurts when I let go, but I don’t let them see me cry”), the song slowly gains momentum and weaves in delicate piano melodies, sweetly layered vocals, and brightly fluttering textures. Building to a gorgeous cascade of harmonies at the bridge, “Always Hurts” ultimately expresses a heart-melting gratitude for those who’ve become an essential part of her life.

The follow-up to her 2021 debut album Better Days (a widely acclaimed LP now certified four-times platinum in Korea), Okabe’s sophomore full-length will also feature previously released tracks like last November’s “Making Plans” (an up-close and unforgettably tender portrait of longing and loss) and “Strong” (a luminous piece of dream-pop that marks one of her most carefree offerings yet).

A gifted lyricist who tends to write alone in her bedroom, Okabe first started penning songs on her own as a teenager and soon embarked on her ascent to international stardom. Thanks in part to the smash success of hit singles like “Every Second” (a Better Days standout that’s amassed over 58 million streams on Spotify alone), she’s earned recognition as a Spotify RADAR Artist and an Apple Music One To Watch, in addition to receiving the New Artist of the Year prize at the 2024 Japan Gold Disc Awards.

Fresh off a sold-out tour of Japan, Okabe recently garnered a nomination for the 2025 Music Moves Europe Awards, which found her taking the stage at the world-renowned Eurosonic Festival in the Netherlands earlier this month. With more than 500 million streams to date, her live experience also includes performing at major festivals like SXSW, Roskilde Festival (Denmark), Seoul Jazz Festival (Korea), and Summer Sonic Festival (Japan).

25. Al Jetson – PTO (Prepare The Others)

Meet budding star Al Jetson, smooth with his rhymes and delivers nice flow with ease. Starting off 2025 with a captivating performance on Hang The Line, Al Jetson captures music fans attention with his charisma and talented music making abilities. 

He follows up on that with new single “PTO (Prepare The Others).” It’s a fun and catchy tune that is definitely an energy booster with every listen. Jetson is an artist who prides himself on making fun and relatable music that his fans can not only enjoy because it sounds great but also because they can put themselves in his shoes.

Al Jetson coming from Brooklyn mall has been featured on DJ Small Eyez, Billboard, and the Los Angeles Tribune. Keep your eyes out for him to blow up this year. “PTO” is a great way for Jetson to start his year and we hope for more. 

26. FAKE SUEDE – Love Don't Come Easy

FAKE SUEDE — the brainchild of Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter Jeffrey James — shares his captivating new single, “Love Don’t Come Easy,” out today. 

“Love Don’t Come Easy” seamlessly blends soulful production with Jeffrey James’ captivating vocals, creating a track that’s both intimate and universally resonant. The song delves into the emotional rollercoaster of modern dating—the highs, the lows, and the moments of doubt when it feels like you’re lost in a sea of dating apps and disappointing encounters. Yet, amidst the chaos, even the smallest spark of connection keeps hope alive, driving us to keep searching for that elusive “person.” With its grooving rhythm, warm instrumentation, and introspective lyrics, “Love Don’t Come Easy” is a heartfelt anthem for anyone navigating the complexities of love and relationships.

FAKE SUEDE masterfully channels the vibrant energy of the 70s disco and soul era, infusing it with modern indie rock, synth, and pop elements. The result is a rich, immersive soundscape that echoes the stylings of Jamiroquai, Jungle, and Tame Impala, yet remains uniquely its own.

At the core of FAKE SUEDE’s music lies Quint, a heart-shaped character who emerged serendipitously during the creative process. Quint isn’t just a whimsical mascot; he embodies the project’s soul, guiding listeners through each song’s emotional journey. From the carefree exuberance of “Don’t Mind If I Do” to the introspective depths of “Love Don’t Come Easy,” Quint offers a visual narrative that complements the music’s exploration of life’s highs and lows.

Jeffrey James, the mastermind behind FAKE SUEDE, has been making waves in the music industry for nearly a decade. With millions of streams and support from tastemakers like Billboard and 1883 Magazine, his music has found a home in commercials for Xbox and Ford, as well as in popular TV shows like All-American, Jack Ryan, Criminal Minds, Good Trouble, and Shameless.

27. Cymande – Renascence

Today, legendary British band Cymande release their highly anticipated new album, Renascence, released today via BMG – listen here. Also released today is new single “Coltrane,” a jazz-infused hommage to the legendary artist and activist – listen here. 

In addition to their US tour, which kicks off in New York City at Irving Plaza on February 13, hitting major cities including Chicago, DC and Los Angeles, Cymande today have announced a brand new European headline tour, with dates in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and more – full dates below.  Tickets for all shows will go on sale next Friday February 7th.  

A true return to form and jewel in the crown of their iconic discography, Renascence picks up where their 1974 album Promised Heights left off – a spiritual and sonic follow-up, bringing a fresh modern edge to their iconic sound, which remains foundational to early hip-hop and funk scenes in the United States and UK. Renascence tells the story of a band that never fully got its due back in the day; but are back to take the crown by remaining true to themselves – politically aware, and spiritually positive with infectious grooves. 

Their latest single “Coltrane,” out today, is a nod to the multi-faceted legacy of John Coltrane and exemplifies Cymande’s long-held deep jazz influences. “Coltrane” strikes a balance between tight arrangement and a loose comfort, dancing between genres like funk, jazz and Caribbean, that meld so naturally. Its slinking bassline, modal jazz influences, atmospheric shimmers of strings and wails of horns, including saxophone, all underscore the refrain,  “Music is the message that creation sent.” 

Guitarist Patrick Patterson says, “It came out of an original rhythm track that Ray [vocalist] put together called Early Morning. The rhythm created certain picture ideas in one’s mind which led to the way we developed the lyric. Also it had a jazzy thing, which brought about the concept about writing something relating to Coltrane. That’s a real three-part thing we put together with everybody making their contribution. I suspect it’s the same for all black musicians, what Coltrane represents in terms of artistry is the pursuit of the highest possible quality.” 

Bassist, Steve Scipio adds “And Coltrane was also political! He wasn’t just an artist, and that was also one of the attractions. Although a quiet man by nature, he was aware of the issues that affected black people. This song is in recognition of his music, his creativity and his importance as a jazz musician.”

28. Annabel Gutherz – Dance Around It

Montreal-based singer-songwriter Annabel Gutherz returns today with her spellbinding new single, “Dance Around It.” The track seamlessly fuses the timeless essence of classic rock with the irresistible pull of modern pop melodies, creating a rich sonic landscape that perfectly frames Annabel’s emotive vocals.

At its core, “Dance Around It” is an exploration of love’s delicate balancing act—the joy of living in the moment tempered by the quiet apprehension of the unknown. “This song captures the bittersweet joy of being deeply in love while quietly fearing its fragility,” Annabel shares. “It’s about cherishing the beauty of the present while grappling with the ‘what ifs’ that loom in the background. It’s a dance of vulnerability and courage, choosing to love fully even in the face of uncertainty.”

Recorded in Los Angeles and co-written with acclaimed songwriters Mikal Blue and Bret “Epic” Mazur, “Dance Around It” combines lush instrumentation with introspective lyricism. The result is a track that feels both intimate and expansive, offering listeners a poignant reflection on the paradox of the joy and fear that comes with love.

Hailing from Montreal, Annabel Gutherz has a gift for crafting timeless music that speaks to the universal human experience. Her signature style—marked by poignant storytelling, honeyed melodies and captivating vocals—takes listeners on a deeply emotional journey.

A graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, she holds both a baccalaureate and master’s degree, which have helped her sharpen her technical skills and elevate her artistry. Since releasing her debut album Loose Ends in 2021, Annabel has continued to hone her craft, collaborating with industry heavyweights like Bleu McAuley (Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato) and Bonnie Hayes (Bonnie Raitt, Bette Midler), among others. Most recently, her original songs were featured on CBS during Big Ten College Football broadcasts, further amplifying her presence and cementing her status as an emerging artist to watch.

29. Dreamer Isioma – Did You Ever Care/Dead End

Today, first-generation Nigerian-American singer and songwriter Dreamer Isioma makes their highly anticipated return with the announcement of their new album StarX Lover slated for release for Spring 2025. In celebration, they share two new tantalizing singles titled “Did You Ever Care” and “Dead End” that usher in a new era for the young artist sonically and personally. Dreamer also shares a striking visual that brings both songs to life and introduces their cosmic new universe at the core of the new StarX Lover album. The new chapter is soundtracked by a sonic direction that ventures in a more rock / alternative territory while still remaining rooted in the Dreamer’s Nigerian heritage and life in Lagos, a scintillating new sound they call “Afropop rock.” The visual unveils a world that draws from the work of Norman Bates and evokes a solar punk, dark sci-fi feel with a mesmerizing duality between a super hero and a villain. Both songs, along with the upcoming album StarX Lover were entirely written and primarily produced by Dreamer Isioma with additional contributions from close collaborators Romello, Brooklynn Skye, and Saint Lewis, who helped shape a few tracks by adding instrumentation and subtle production elements. 

The young artist has quickly built a cult following and has long received praise and support by some of today’s biggest stars including SZA, Janelle Monae, Steve Lacy, Doja Cat, Lizzo, Foushee, Kali Uchis and many more through their dynamic art. Fierce and unrelenting in their vision, Dreamer’s music has long worked to dismantle genre confines and disrupt social norms to ultimately create space for those who don’t fit into binaries. Dreamer broke onto the scene with their massive hit “Sensitive” in 2020, which has now clocked in nearly 220 million streams and landed them on Rolling Stone’s Breakthrough 25 Chart ranked at #6 as well as #1 on Shazam’s Predictions 2021 Chart ultimately reaching a viral explosion on TikTok.

Dreamer has time-after-time received large critical acclaim for each of their explosive projects, including Princess Forever, The Leo Sun Sets, and Goodnight Dreamer. Additionally, Isioma has amassed 325 million career streams across their catalog and becoming a bonafide critical press darling who has been lauded by NPR, Rolling Stone, Vogue, i-D, Complex, BET, Billboard, NME, Teen Vogue, PAPER Magazine, Pigeons and Planes, Nylon, HYPEBEAST, them, Wonderland and many others. 

The Chicago native has become celebrated for effortlessly combining timeless vocals and groovy, funk-inspired production, brilliantly fusing indie rock, R&B, pop, Afrobeats, and hip hop with lyrical themes about being unapologetic, carefree, and joyful despite external pressure and opinion. Dreamer’s voice has become an anthem for young marginalized voices everywhere defying conformity and intolerance. Their captivating music and message has positioned them as an undeniable force who is re-inventing and revolutionizing modern popular music.

30. Maddie Zahm – Sheets

Today, “rising pop star and raw truthteller” (People) Maddie Zahm released a new single “Sheets” via AWAL – LISTEN HERE – a cheeky, F-U post-breakup anthem and sonic teaser of more to come, that showcases her powerful vocals and ability to capture complex swirls of emotions and transform them into a banger. “Sheets” is the first single from a new project – more to be revealed! 

She also announced her Sad & Sexy Tour, kicking off March 21 in Houston and hitting major markets around the US including New York City and Los Angeles – full dates below. Tickets are on sale today! 

“Sheets” is a pure dose of pop with an undeniable dance-floor hook, with Maddie’s smoky, powerful vocals on display. The song is a post-break up anthem that anyone can relate to, but came about for Maddie in a very specific scenario hilariously described by her. After breaking up with her girlfriend, she found herself single and queer during pride. 

Maddie continues,  “And like every dramatic, you know, young gay in Los Angeles, I got updates from my friends that my ex was kissing blondes at a party. It crossed the line for me. So I went home and I wrote “Sheets” and pretty much I just was like, ‘did she even change her sheets before she’s making out with other people?’ That’s insane. And I remember the songwriters all gasped and they were like, well, that has to be the hook.”

The announcement of her new single and US tour follows a whirlwind of burgeoning success for Maddie Zahm, whose confessional lyrics and powerhouse vocals have landed her attention from the Kelly Clarkson Show, NPR All Things Considered, Billboard, American Songwriter, Consequence, Rolling Stone, People, SPIN, YouTube’s The Spark series and many more. 

From the virality of singles “Fat Funny Friend” and “You Might Not Like Her” to her critically acclaimed debut album Now That I’ve Been Honest, to last year’s fan favorite single  “little me”, which she debuted on the Kelly Clarkson Show, Maddie Zahm has continued amassing a devoted fan base of over 175 million streams and millions of fans on TikTok. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times about TikTok virality, they mentioned her as the rare artist who has been able to transform TikTok fame to tight-knit community to  in-person sold-out shows around the US. 

Now, with the kick-off of her next chapter of music and the sad & sexy tour, Maddie is again inviting fans into her world, where she leads listeners into the most intimate parts of her psyche (and theirs too). Maddie is forever oscillating through the spectrum of emotions and creating a space where audiences can unite and share in the reality that existing is overwhelming. 

Last year, she took the debut album on tour – selling out shows around the U.S. – and released fan favorite “little me” while on the road. Maddie’s star continues to rise in 2025. 

31. Tre Loaded – Glorilla

Well-studied in the ways of the Dirty South, 21-year-old Memphis firebrand Tre Loaded is a natural spitter. Paying tribute to one of the hottest in his city as he gets his flex on, Tre shares “GloRilla,” his first new song of the year. Smoothly surfing atop percolating bass, cheeky minor-key electric piano, and snapping Tennessee trap percussion, Tre boasts about pursuing a woman as bad as his titular fellow Memphian and explains why he’s hot in the streets: “I been havin’, this ain’t nuthin’ new/And this Glock stuck on my hip like some glue/Why settle for one b*tch, I need a few/Was already ballin’, feel like Uncle Drew,” he spits. In the video, Tre proves that he has everything a baddie needs: a closet full of designer clothes, a deluxe-sized jacuzzi, a California King bed, and infinite stacks of cash.

“GloRilla” kicks off what is sure to be a busy 2025 for Tre Loaded, who exploded into the consciousness last year with viral hits and important co-signs, leading to over 50 million catalog streams in 2024 alone. The new single follows in the footsteps of “Another Whip,” a viral hit that generated over 7 million streams across platforms. In the fall, Tre added a verse from his compadre BigXThaPlug to the remix, after joining X on his fast-selling “Take Care Tour” as the direct support.

Trending on TikTok and charting on Shazam, “Another Whip” provided a breakout moment for Tre Loaded, and was a highlight from his LOADED mixtape. A 12-track mixtape full of unapologetic Southern rap bangers, LOADED is home to slinky singles like “Push Start,” and a guest appearance from That Mexican OT on the trumpet-laden single “The Ticket,” covered by outlets like Stereogum and HipHopDX. LOADED is available everywhere via Loaded 4 Life/PULSE Records/Connect.

With much more music on deck and much further to rise, Tre Loaded has his sights on rap supremacy in Memphis and beyond. Stay tuned for much more from this smooth-voiced spitter in the near future.

32. Cut The Kids In Half – What We Became

Boston via Rahway, NJ rock outfit Cut The Kids In Half are excited to share their debut album, What We Became. Named after Radiohead’s “Morning Bell,” brothers Charlie and Jack Silver (ages 18 and 19 respectively) have established themselves as a compelling young band, cutting their teeth the old-fashioned way: playing gigs on their local scene. With their first full-length record, their artistic ambition is clear, as vulnerability collides with catchy riffs. Nine tracks unfold with storied lyricism and contemplative vocals, capturing moments of emotional strife with twinges of optimism. 

“‘What We Became’ is the product of four years of dedication to a shared vision,” say Charlie and Jack Silver. “Every song on this album was crafted while we were still in high school, and we are endlessly proud of how these songs continue to resonate with us. These stories grapple with the contradictions and hardships of love, the terrifying weight of aging, and the catharsis that comes with leaving your old life behind. We hope you enjoy.”

Key tracks on the record include the expansive “Riverbend” and the acoustic-driven and pleading “Old Manhattan,” the latter of which features cello and writing from GRAMMY® nominated cellist, Dave Eggar (Coldplay, Patti Smith). Eggar also wrote on the shimmering “Oh Sudden Lover,” on which ideas of love are soundtracked by soaring string arrangements and bright synths. Famed trumpeter Mac Gollehon (David Bowie, Hall & Oates) wrote on, “Riverbend,” an eleven-minute triumph that tackles the haunting relationship between the past and the future, complete with a spectacular trumpet finale.

What We Became’s announcement was heralded by the emotional single “Song of Two Humans,” which tackles a tumultuous relationship with brightly toned guitars and wandering lyricism. The track arrived alongside an official music video streaming now on YouTube. Shot in their current home base of Boston, MA, Charlie and Jack Silver star in the video, alongside longtime drummer Luke Tan. 

Last year, the band shared their second-ever single, a storied track called “A Good Man Died.” The release marked the beginning of a raw yet focused era, one that mixes grit with anguished, honest songwriting. This followed their striking debut, “The Quiet Life of August,” which premiered in January 2023. As they share their debut album, listeners can expect a record filled with collaboration and masterful storytelling. The brothers’ teenage perspective adds sensitivity to their alt-rock sound, edgy but not jaded — their lyrics read like despair, but their songs sound like hope.

33. MIKE – Showbiz!

MIKE, nèe Michael Bonema, releases his new album Showbiz! via his own 10k label. The new album, his tenth solo LP, includes features from 454 and duendita, and guest production from Thelonious Martin, Salami Rose Joe Louis, Jacob Rochester, Anysia Kym, Harrison (SURF GANG), ShunGu, Laron and redLee. At only 26 years old, Showbiz! finds MIKE stepping into the next chapter of his career as a proven, essential voice in hip-hop this decade, with Pitchfork awarding him Best New Album in their review today. The album’s 24 songs crystallize the sound that MIKE has been honing across a prolific discography that documents his progression as an artist and a person in real time. Yesterday, ahead of the album’s release, MIKE shared a double video directed by Nicholas Stafford Briggs for “man in the mirror” & “Artist of the Century”, along with unveiling a special website where fans could listen to the album early, www.lostscribe.com. 

Showbiz! examines the various iterations of himself that MIKE has shared through his music, and reflects on the upsides and downsides of reaching success as a professional musician: the higher highs and lower lows of show business. In a conversation with Pitchfork that was published earlier this month, MIKE spoke about his experiences touring in 2024, the meaning of Showbiz! as a mantra while on the road, and how he manages to stay grounded in himself despite all of the roles he serves professionally and personally.

MIKE capped off an unprecedented run of projects and collaborations with the likes of Earl Sweatshirt, Wiki, The Alchemist and more over the past two years with Pinball, a creative reunion with producer Tony Seltzer. Rolling Stone called the project “a fearless sonic shift” and injected an unexpected, invigorated new energy to MIKE’s catalog, which has primarily been lauded for his incisive writing. He celebrated that moment with the 4th edition of his annual Young World festival in Brooklyn last Summer, which has come to be regarded as one of the premiere events on New York’s Summer calendar, aimed at giving its 8,000+ attendees a space to express themselves. 

In support of Showbiz!, MIKE will embark on the biggest tour of his career and today, he’s announcing the full slate of supporting acts on the run, 24 in total across the UK, Europe and North America this Spring. The North American dates include support from Sideshow, Niontay, semiratruth, El Cousteau, Mercury, Stahhr, Salami Rose Joe Louis, Liv.e, RiTchie, Maxo, Camden Malik, Anysia Kym, duendita, Navy Blue, Mike Shabb, 12k Gotti and additional special surprise guests. Supporting acts for the European leg will include k-caz, dav1d, Pretty V, Lauren Duffus, Jespfur, Fine, Salimata, Jadasea and special European surprise guests. The 71-date run begins in Ireland in late February. Tickets are available at aotctour.com and see below for the full breakdown of each show’s supporting bill.

Listen to Showbiz! above, find the full tour routing for his world tour below, and stay tuned for more from MIKE coming soon.

34. Joel Timmons – End Of The Empire

Within the patchwork of Joel Timmons’ debut solo album, Psychedelic Surf Country, lies a kaleidoscopic view of the career sideman and band leader’s striking self-awareness. Both in lyricism and musicality, Timmons has adopted an easy-going and reflective view of the world, creating unencumbered and accessible songs from even the most left-field subjects like lighting old Christmas trees ablaze, the highway patrol K9 who paid his band a visit between tour stops, and the tight jeans and Stetson hats that took over his former neighborhood. But it’s in the heavier subject matter, like his latest single, “End of the Empire,” where Timmons’ upbeat musical attitude shines.

“My wife, Shelby Means, started writing this song on a small boat in the Virgin Islands while surfers rode waves across a nearby reef,” remembers Timmons. It sounds picturesque, but the initial idea brought about an undercurrent of influence from a wildly different place. “My recurring dreams of doom and nightmares of being hunted by an unknown predator—as well as a sense of apocalyptic loss—figured into the co-write.” Ethereal and dreamy from the onset, “End of the Empire” floats between images of inescapable crashing waves and desperate hiding, looking for escape, but it might take listeners a couple of passes to recognize these as the song itself feels uplifting and borderline anthemic; a testament to Timmons’ positive spin. With the help of Psychedelic Surf Country producer Maya de Vitry, “End of the Empire” turns into a huge wash of harmonies and a wall of rhythm section. “The recording ended up being a rocker,” says Timmons, “and the guitar is howling.”

Fans can stream and purchase “End of the Empire” at this link, check out the premiere on Glide Magazine, listen to Timmons’ previously-released singles, “The Swimming Song,” “Guitars, Guns, and Pickup Trucks,” “Turbo,” and “The Bullfighter” featuring Shovels & Rope’s Cary Ann Hearst, at their respective links, and pre-order or pre-save Psychedelic Surf Country ahead of its February 7th release right here. Keep an eye out for more new music, tour dates, and more at joeltimmons.com.

35. Legado 7 – Loko

Pioneers of Regional Mexican music and Southern California natives Legado 7 delivers a hard-hitting new anthem with the single “Loko” out today via Sony Latin / Lumbre Music. Written and produced by composer and lead vocalist Alexander Guerra and accordionist Ramón Ruiz, the track serves as a larger-than-life anthem inspired by the real trials and tribulations of the group’s own journey of chasing after their own dreams as part of a group of people that has long been dismissed in this country. Carried through an electrifying accordion run with a heavy Norteño style, the track sees the group reminiscing on their setbacks and pushing onward with the support of their family and community to supersede all of the naysayers and inspire all others to do the same during times of adversity. An anthem that resonates deeply and feels essential to many Latinos and immigrants in the United States in the present day.

“Loko” carries through the signature style that has made the group a major force and a foundational group in the Regional Mexican phenomena and which has taken the world by storm. The single arrives with a music video full of joy and camaraderie that brings to life the celebration of their major accomplishments and the collective wins of the larger Latino community, the underdog, and the discarded. Never losing sight of their core audience who has stood by the band since its creation, they look to honor the dreams and aspirations of millions of Latinos with thrilling anthems for the working class lined with fierce inspiration and motivation – shining light on their duality as both artists and men at the end of the day.

As real deal trailblazers in Latin music, Legado 7 has opened doors for many of today’s biggest artists and all of whom have credited Legado for having shaped and inspired them including Peso Pluma, Fuerza Regida, Natanael Cano, Eslabon Armado, Herencia de Patrones, Grupo Marca Registrada and more. Through years of hard work, dedication and pushing up against social norms within music and outside, the group has impressively amassed over 2 billion global streams to date. The group established the luminary label Lumbre Music who is responsible for cultivating some of the most culturally significant and commercially successful releases and artists in recent history including Yahritza y Su Esencia, Nivel, and a major player in the regional Mexican genre.

Their influence has been pivotal in the development and explosion of Corridos Tumbados and other movements within the genre and onto the mainstream music arena. The duo has also gained prominence for their Corridos Verdes, a subgenre that incorporates cannabis themes, solidifying their unique identity in regional Mexican music. In 2018, they headlined the SMO Tour, joined by artists like Fuerza Regida and Herencia de Patrones, further cementing the group as a major force in the genre. Outside of their own music, members Guerra and Ruiz have taken the reins as entrepreneurs in the music industry. In 2018, they founded Lumbre Music and Lumbre Publishing, companies that support artists’ independence and creative control. Leveraging their experience as musicians, they have helped discover talents such as Yahritza y Su Esencia, and Fuerza Regida, earning recognition for their ability to identify future stars of regional music.

36. Journey Montana – Lucky Girl Syndrome

Starting 2025 on a high note, R&B star Journey Montana unveils her debut studio album entitled Lucky Girl Syndrome, produced by Grammy Award-winning DJ Camper – out now via 10K Projects.

Stream Lucky Girl Syndrome HERE.  

Speaking on her new album, Journey Montana says: “A labor of self love and self empowerment. During the making of this project, I was inspired by the power of my words. Speaking love and light into myself is so important to me at this time in my life because if you don’t pour into yourself and believe in yourself why would anyone else? ‘Lucky Girl Syndrome’ is a collection of real stories of womanhood and feelings that I hope everyone can understand and enjoy.”

Alongside the album, Journey has also released a brand new video for “Always Knew,” which features model-turned-musician Maleigh Zan. Spliced with black-and-white footage, the Borleone-directed visual finds the pair honing their craft with a carefree attitude – WATCH HERE. 

She initially teased Lucky Girl Syndrome on Instagram earlier this month and simultaneously previewed the lead single, “Best One,” inciting anticipation for its arrival among her growing fanbase. The album also includes previously released singles “Journey” and “YOU,” the latter of which is the R&B It-girl’s most-streamed single to date. 

Each track on Lucky Girl Syndrome feels like a chapter in Journey’s story that explores universal themes of self-worth, love, and destiny with unapologetic honesty that’s both intimate and empowering. Backed by Camper’s dreamy production and Journey’s infectious melodies, and lyrics, Lucky Girl Syndrome captures the essence of a young woman stepping fully into her power. The project serves as an anthem for claiming your narrative, trusting divine timing, and embracing life’s blessings — no matter how hard-won. The end result is a deeply emotional and relatable body of work that’s bound to resonate with audiences worldwide. 

The former “All American” cast member made waves last year, amassing over 10 million streams across platforms, including her critically-acclaimed EP Stargirl, which skyrocketed into the Top 10 of US iTunes, debuting at #5. Then, she parlayed that momentum into a cross-country tour with Capella Grey (‘The Terribly Responsible’ tour) before closing out 2024 on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, supporting GloRilla and T-Pain. Building on the momentum of a monumental year, Journey unveils her next chapter as Lucky Girl Syndrome propels her to new heights. 

Stream Lucky Girl Syndrome above, and stay tuned for more as Journey Montana takes her career to the next level in 2025. 

37. Aaryan Shah – Interlinked

Gaining momentum as an artist to watch, acclaimed Indian-American singer, songwriter, and genre-breaking artist Aaryan Shah returns with a vulnerable and introspective new single and music video entitled “Interlinked” available now via ADA. Listen to “Interlinked” HERE. Watch the captivating and emotionally charged accompanying “Interlinked” music video HERE.

“Interlinked” heralds the arrival of his highly anticipated fifth full-length album, Do You See The Birds, Too?, out March 21. Pre-order/Pre-save HERE. About the track, Aaryan shared, “‘Interlinked’ serves as a pivotal moment on my forthcoming album, for the first time acknowledging that the journey to stability isn’t linear, nor is it one of healing, posing the question — is the silence more deafening than the voices I used to hear?” 

The single illuminates Aaryan’s sense of cinematic ambition. He notably culled the title from Blade Runner: 2049 where “Interlinked” acts as a baseline test to “ensure the protagonist wasn’t showing signs of experiencing emotions outside of his allocated range.” Via the song, Aaryan personally confronts the consequences of medicating his own long-undiagnosed bipolar disorder. As a result, he clouded and anesthetized his ability to grasp opposing extremes of emotion. Sonically, the track’s sparse synths complement ethereal and entrancing vocal transmissions accented by squeals of crows and seagulls—mixed to eerie perfection in Dolby Atmos. 

“Interlinked” only hints at the scope of Do You See The Birds, Too? though. Approaching the album from the perspective of an auteur, he dives into the recesses of his psyche, wrestling with concepts of chaos, peace, unease, emptiness, and truth. Without holding back, he processes the rollercoaster of his mental health journey. Nodding to another big screen epic (Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer), the ideas of Fission and Fusion also anchor this deep and dynamic vision. 

Ultimately, the album revolves around a core question, “If I’m the most stable I’ve ever been, but I can’t feel it, does it even matter?”

38. Ned LeDoux – Boys Growing Up

In living a life scarred by tragedy, songwriter and recording artist Ned LeDoux decided he had two options to move forward: drown in the sorrow or turn these lives gone too soon into music. Fortunately for LeDoux—and his fans—he found the latter path to be the only way through, using the memories of those he has lost to help him carry on with joy, celebration, and faith that they are guiding his work. On April 4th, LeDoux’s latest album, Safe Haven, explores this more mature side of his writing style. Named after his late daughter, Haven Jo, and featuring a magical duet with his late father, Chris LeDoux, Safe Haven introduces a more risk-taking, bold style of songwriting to LeDoux’s already-beloved country style, opening listeners up to a deeper side of the man but not straying too far from what they’re familiar with. 

Today, LeDoux released the second single from Safe Haven, “Boys Growing Up,” an anthemic return to the heyday of good, earnest Country music. After a pulsating introduction, the Mac McAnally-produced band kicks in just in time for LeDoux to usher in the first lines of the song: “Mamas talk to Jesus a lot about boys growing up / And the junkyard’s still doing a lot of business from boys growing up.” “I really like the way ‘Boys Growing Up’ came together,” says LeDoux. “It brought back so many memories of growing up with my brothers. There’s a lot of truth in these lyrics.” “Toys get faster, drinks get stronger, skin gets thicker, and the shadows get longer,” he sings in the ever-catchy chorus. “Don’t mind us; we’re just boys growing up.” 

Fans can stream or purchase “Boys Growing Up” today at this link, hear “One Hand In The Riggin’”—LeDoux’s aforementioned duet with his dad—here, and pre-order or pre-save Safe Haven ahead of its April 4th release right here. LeDoux just came off of a run of shows this past week and will hit the road again in March. Tour dates can be found below or at nedledoux.com.

39. Gryffin, Kaskade & Nu-La – In My Head

Dance music maverick Gryffin and electronic music legend Kaskade have united for the first time on their new collaborative single ‘In My Head’ featuring UK vocalist Nu-La out now via 10K Projects.

‘In My Head’ is a starlit collaboration that sees two titans of progressive dance music combine their generational sonic influences. Blending their emotive yet energetic signatures, Gryffin and Kaskade lay down entrancing melodies and driving basslines to elevate Nu-La’s powerful vocal performance. ‘In My Head’ is a heart-thumping hit that will heat up dancefloors all winter long. 

“Kaskade has been one of my biggest idols since I first got into dance music. I’ve had the pleasure of playing on shows and developing a friendship, but now I couldn’t be more excited to finally have a collaboration with him. ‘In My Head’ feels like a perfect collab between us, as it represents both our styles coming together.” – Gryffin

“I’ve known Gryffin for years, including having him perform at Sun Soaked in 2017. With our shared San Francisco roots and West Coast base, this collaboration was long overdue but came at just the right moment. ‘In My Head’ is a piece of music that shows both of our strengths, and his classical music training brought a fresh perspective to the process. We’ve created a track with the kind of warm, sing-along energy perfect for getting through the winter months.” – Kaskade

Hot off the heels of his third studio album PULSE, ‘In My Head’ ushers in a new era for Gryffin and arrives following his monumental 2024, which included collaborations with Armin van Buuren, John Newman, Rita Ora, and more. Gryffin capped off last year with his five headline PULSE shows, supporting Kygo throughout Europe and performing across Australia as part of Palm Tree Music Festival. Gryffin will once again hit the road with upcoming festival appearances at EDC Mexico, Ultra, and Breakaway Dallas and Phoenix, and the return of his Wynn Las Vegas residency. 

Kaskade is also coming off an impressive 2024 that started with him becoming the first in-game DJ at Super Bowl LVlll. Later in the year, Kaskade performed at the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix as the starting grid DJ. Kaskade also released collaborations with John Summit, Wilkinson, Punctual, and Enisa before concluding the year with his Christman mini-tour. ‘In My Head’ serves as Kaskade’s first release of 2025 and arrives ahead of his performance at BottleRock Napa Valley and his Zouk Nightclub Las Vegas residency. 

Stream Gryffin and Kaskade’s wondrous new single ‘In My Head’ available now on all platforms.

40. Michaël Brun, J Balvin & Beenie Man ft. Bounty Killer & Tasan – Touchdown

GRAMMY winning Haitian DJ and producer Michaël Brun returns with a star-studded cast of collaborators on new single “Touchdown.” The track features GRAMMY nominated global icon J Balvin, legendary Jamaican dancehall superstars Beenie Man and Bounty Killer as well as Jamaican singer/songwriter Tasan.

On the track, the powerful dancehall vocals of Beenie Man and Bounty Killer are complemented by J Balvin’s smooth reggaeton flow and Tasan’s delicately sung tones, resulting in an expansive sound with potential to be a global smash. “Touchdown” made its debut on ESPN earlier this month, with J Balvin serving as the network’s Monday Night Football music curator.

The song is a monumental moment for Brun, who has always been inspired by dancehall and Jamaican culture and is truly honoured to bring legends of the scene Beenie Man and Bounty Killer together on the same track for the first time. Furthering his connection with the island and its musical history, Tasan is a frequent collaborator and the daughter of legendary Jamaican singer Papa San – an artist who profoundly influenced the dancehall genre. Being one of the biggest reggaeton stars in the world, J Balvin also has a deep reverence for dancehall music and his inclusion on the track speaks to the influence that the genre has had on music worldwide.

With “Touchdown,” Brun once again showcases his natural ability to craft contemporary music that connects the Caribbean to the world, resulting in a truly global sound that can move a worldwide audience.

The new song comes at the heels of a very exciting announcement from Brun who shared that his annual festival, BAYO, will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on June 28. What started out as a block party in 2016 has grown in popularity over the years and has seen Brun bring the festival to crowds in Miami, Atlanta, Paris, Montreal and more. The new home for BAYO cements its status as one of the biggest Caribbean music festivals in the world. Tickets to BAYO are now available for pre-sale using the code “HAITI” via: https://www.ticketmaster.com/michael-brun-presents-bayo-brooklyn-new-york-06-28-2025/event/30006236F4082BD5

41. Dyce Payso ft. Peezy – No Distractions

New year, new goals—but not everyone can come along. That’s the message Bronx rapper Dyce Payso and Detroit’s own Peezy deliver in their latest single, “No Distractions,” via MNRK Music Group. Produced by TSquared Beats, the track is a gritty anthem of determination and focus, speaking directly to hustlers who know the cost of survival and success. The accompanying music video, directed by Big Ape TV, brings the track’s theme to life. 

“No Distractions” marks the second single off Dyce Payso’s highly anticipated album, set for release in March. The track follows the success of his smash hit “Let It Go” featuring the late legendary Fatman Scoop, which has already solidified Dyce as one of hip-hop’s most promising voices.

This latest release highlights Dyce’s ability to pair authentic storytelling with dynamic collaborations, creating music that’s both relatable and inspiring. With Peezy’s Detroit grit and Dyce’s Bronx energy, “No Distractions” is a coast-to-coast testament to staying focused and cutting out the noise.

42. CHOCC – Did You Mean It?

Rising singer-songwriter CHOCC, aka Cori Broadus, has released the official music video for the track “Did You Mean It?” from her latest EP, Journals to Johnny. Directed by her father, Snoop Dogg, alongside GuapCityProductions, the video acts as a continuation of the previous video release, “Johnny Don’t Break My Heart.”

The video keeps its dreamy ’90s aesthetic as CHOCC wakes up to the aftermath of her emotional outburst when her significant other didn’t come home. As she takes in the shattered glass and flowers thrown on the floor, memories of their time together come rushing back. Through it all, she slowly picks up the pieces, both physically and emotionally, ultimately choosing herself and moving forward.

43. Hulvey – Bing Heaven Down

God-fearing rapper Hulvey returns with his first single of the year entitled “Bring Heaven Down.” Backed by a sobering chorus of solace, Hulvey’s faith-filled lyrics are a divine battle cry that instills hope in believers around the world. 

Listen to “Bring Heaven Down” here via Reach Records. 

On the new track, Hulvey reflects on his journey to salvation: “I been baptized now/No turning back right now/My mind was bound by hell/Your love came all the way down.” A sonic testimony that inspires a call to worship through music, “Bring Heaven Down” marks a triumphant moment for the Brunswick-bred artist. It’s a subtle reminder to find joy when facing hardships, and that your worst experiences can lead to personal growth on a higher level.

The single precedes Hulvey’s headlining tour – Hulvey Presents: The All For You Tour – which officially kicks off on Tuesday, February 11 in Charlotte, NC at The Underground. The 30-date trek across North America includes additional stops in major U.S. cities like New York, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, and more before wrapping up on Saturday, April 12 in Phoenix at The Van Buren.

This all builds on the momentum of the faith-based MC’s critically acclaimed sophomore album, CRY, released September 13, 2024 via Reach Records. The 17-track project received praise from fans and media, including publications such as VIBE, London-based VIPER Magazine, The Christian Beat, and CCM Magazine to name a few. Not to mention, Hulvey capped a banner year with the first-ever Christian hip-hop set at Rolling Loud Miami, performing alongside Caleb Gordon, Alex Jean, nobigdyl., and Jon Keith, among others. 

Stream “Bring Heaven Down” above, see full live dates below, and stay tuned for more from Hulvey coming very soon. 

44. Novulent ft. whatsaheart – Death Wish

Today, 20-year-old up-and-coming artist Novulent releases the official video for “death wish” ft. whatsaheart from his new EP BEFORE EVOLUTION. Watch the official video for “death wish,” which was directed and produced by Metro Blu, who helmed Lil Peep and Lil Tracy’s video for “Witchblades,” HERE. Listen to BEFORE EVOLUTION HERE.

Novulent’s gift for storytelling shines on “death wish.” On the first verse, he spins a tale of a terrifying attraction. New Zealand-based artist whatsaheart counters with a siren’s song on the second verse, drawing him in deeper and deeper.

After sold-out headline shows in such cities as Chicago and Los Angeles, Novulent will wrap up The Evolution Tour in New York City on February 1 at Mercury Lounge. Tickets are available HERE. The Missing Peace and Olive Vox are supporting him on the tour, which marks his first headline run. He made his live debut in Texas last year, opening for Violent Vira.

While he initially planned to become a tattoo artist, Novulent became obsessed with creating music after seeing how everyday people were experimenting with sounds and posting their work on platforms like SoundCloud. At 17, he began creating songs in Bandlab, fusing elements of hard rock, shoegaze and Midwest emo into a sound all his own.

45. Durand Bernarr – Impact

Grammy nominated singer/songwriter, producer and genre-bending vocalistDurand Bernarr has released his new single “Impact” via DSING Records. The electronic funk record is the introduction to the next chapter of Durand’s auditory adventure, arriving soon. The accompanying visualizer will premiere on YouTube on January 28th at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET. Watch HERE.

In shared spaces, impact is inevitable— we’ll stumble, read too close, collide and knock things over.  But what matters is the intention behind these moments. In the garden Durand Bernarr has cultivated, correction comes with care—gentle guidance rather than harshness, love instead of harm. The lead single was written by Durand Bernarr, GAWD, b.kae, & Sierra Hill and produced by Stanley Randolph, Poe Leos, Bijan Davis.

“Impact” arrives on the heels of the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards, where Durand was nominated for his visual EP En Route in the Best Progressive R&B Album category. He also received a nomination for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist at the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards.

Stay tuned for more information from Durand Bernarr!

46. Will Smith & Big Sean ft. OBanga – Beautiful Scars

47. rusowsky – SOPHIA

Madrid-based multi-instrumentalist and producer rusowsky kicks off 2025 by unveiling his new track “SOPHIA.” The new song centers the spotlight back on rusowsky, following his previously shared collaborative singles with two burgeoning stars in Latin music in Latin Mafia on “neo roneo” and BbTrickz on “uwu^^,” which Rolling Stone named one of the best Spanish-Language Songs of 2024. “SOPHIA,” which rusowsky wrote and produced himself, encompasses his genre-defying sound at its core. The single is accompanied by a horror film-inspired video co-directed by Fomotrauma and Roy Viceroy, in which rus falls into a cursed love story with an eerily peculiar partner, whom he meets through a TV screen.

Speaking on what he aimed to capture with “SOPHIA,” rusowsky says: “A simple and crazy way to get hooked on something. It could be anything, from a screen to a random person. So we tried to materialize/personify this somewhat nostalgic, sometimes dystopian feeling that I think we all experience at times, both in the song and in the video.”

“SOPHIA” is the latest offering of new music from rusowsky via Warner Records, who he signed to last year, along with partnering with his entire Rusia-IDK collective on a joint venture. The collective also consists of avant-garde talents like Ralphie Choo (who closed the year collaborating with Rosalía on “Omega”), TRISTÁN!, drummie, and mori, who are all propelling music in the Spanish capital into exciting and unpredictable new places. With a full-length project to come via Rusia-IDK & Warner Records later this year, rusowsky will also embark on a series of live performances throughout the year, including a performance at Bahidora Festival in Mexico and more to be announced soon.

Check out “SOPHIA” above and stay tuned for more details on rusowsky’s forthcoming project coming soon.

48. Nessa Barrett – Love Looks Pretty On You

Today, alt-pop breakout Nessa Barrett shares her highly-anticipated new single, “LOVE LOOKS PRETTY ON YOU” — listen HERE via Warner Records. An instant fan-favorite since Nessa first teased it over a year ago—with more than 80 thousand creates on TikTok and counting—the delicate track precedes the release of her AFTERCARE DELUXE album, arriving next Friday, February 7. Pre-order HERE.

With six new tracks—including recent single “DOES GOD CRY?”—AFTERCARE DELUXE expands upon Barrett’s acclaimed 2024 album AFTERCARE. The collection boasts a darkened, dance-powered sound that Nessa has perfected in her journey to empower and uplift her listeners, as reflected through standout tracks like the smoldering “MUSTANG BABY” featuring Artemas and the hits “PINS AND NEEDLES” and “P*RNSTAR,” which have amassed over 350 million combined views and counting on TikTok. The album also features singles “DIRTY LITTLE SECRET,” “PASSENGER PRINCESS,” and the Tommy Genesis-assisted “DISCO.” Earlier this week, Nessa took the stage on Jimmy Kimmel Live! for an electrifying performance of “P*RNSTAR” — watch it HERE.

Barrett will kick off her AFTERCARE World Tour on February 4, with an extensive run of dates throughout North America before wrapping up with a two-night run at The Wiltern in Los Angeles on March 15 and 16. She will then head overseas for a run of dates throughout Europe. Click HERE for tickets and see the full list of dates below.

AFTERCARE is only the latest milestone for one of music’s hottest rising stars. In November, Nessa teamed up with Nasty Gal to curate her own collection, which is available now — shop HERE. Barrett was also announced as the new face of Cheap Monday’s relaunched denim line, and in May, she joined Lana Del Rey on stage at Hangout Festival, where the duo performed Barrett’s 2023 single “american jesus,” a highlight from her hell is teenage girl EP. 2024 also saw her release “girl in new york,” the heartfelt “club heaven,” and her pulse-pounding collaboration with Whethan, “sick of myself.” Shortly after, she hit the road for her fully sold-out church club for the lonely tour, which included two main stage performances at Austin City Limits Festival.

After being named as one of Billboard’s “21 Under 21” twice — as well as being featured on Forbes’ “Top Creators: Fashion 50,” Uproxx’s “Next Hitmakers List,” People Magazine’s “Emerging Artist List,” and Ones to Watch’s list of “25 Artists to Watch in 2022” — Nessa Barrett has gone on to accumulate over 2 billion global streams to date. In 2022, she was also nominated for Push Performance of the Year at the MTV VMAs, performed at When We Were Young Festival, and took her show on the road for her sold out North American and European tours in support of her acclaimed debut album young forever.

49. Oliver Cronin w/ Lola Amour – Maria

With 2025 promising to be a massive year for breakout Australian pop artist Oliver Cronin, he has today shared the deluxe edition of his EP Halfway To Paradise, poignantly titled Edge Of Paradise via Warner Records/WMG Australia. Listen HERE. 

Focus track “Maria” hears Oliver teaming up with Filipino band Lola Amour for a classic sounding boyband ballad that then kicks in with a big saxophone solo. While “Room For Two” is an electric dark-pop song that quickly became a fan favourite in his live set earlier this month. These songs join the already released seven-track collection which was heralded by the singles “Girl Next Door” with Charley, “Burning House,” and “Hello Goodbye.”

“I wrote ‘Maria’ with the Lola Amour boys whilst at a writing camp in Malaysia. Being a 9 piece band, they have a very different process to writing than I do, which I think brought out something magical in this song. It feels like a blend of two different worlds. In this story both me and Pio (Lola Amour lead singer) are so blindly in love with Maria that we don’t realise she is sneaking behind both of our backs.” says Oliver of “Maria.”  

 On Edge Of Paradise he adds, “As you can probably tell by the name, we’re one step closer to my debut album Paradise. The last few years have been an absolute rollercoaster and I haven’t exactly felt in the right headspace to finish this album, but I’ve grown a lot and as time goes on I feel more and more comfortable and confident in the music and what paradise looks and sounds like for me”. 

With over 39.1 million combined streams, 1M TikTok followers, 412K Instagram followers, and 500K monthly listeners on Spotify alone, it’s safe to say that Oliver Cronin has all ears turned towards him right now. Receiving a nomination for “Best New Artist” at the 2024 Shure Rolling Stone Awards, he’s also had press love from GQ Australia, The Daily Telegraph, Sunrise, The Project, Nova’s Red Room, Rolling Stone Australia, Marie Claire, New York Post, 10 Magazine, Acclaim, and more. 

2024 was notably a whirlwind year for Oliver with his sold out debut headline tour, performing at GQ Men Of The Year, YouTube Music Nights in Hong Kong, and rounding out the year performing a headline show in India. He spent a lot of the year travelling and performing with showcases and promo tours in America, Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. The year was heightened by partnering with Warner Records globally, working with the team that has propelled artists like Teddy Swims, Benson Boone, and Zach Bryan to stardom. 

50. B.U.G Antman – Make Sense

Opening up a sonic world without comparison, rising rap surrealist B.U.G Antman presents the psychedelically stunning music video for his new single “Make Sense” out now via Warner Records. Watch HERE. Listen HERE.

He draws viewers into a colorful alternate reality through this vibrant visual. Sitting in the backseat of a classic car, he cruises down a bright road flanked by gigantic sunflowers. The video intercuts moments in the neighborhood with sweeping shots of UFOs descending upon a beach, “bouquet-headed” skateboarders sliding down the sidewalk, and a pianist donning a paper bag over his face. A final vignette zooms out on an old-school handmade model, leaving a hint at the truth….B.U.G Antman could very well be a puppet master pulling the strings in the world and determining its future. 

“Make Sense” transfixed tastemakers upon its arrival last week. Billboard named it among “R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week.” VIBE plugged it on “New Hip-Hop To Ride Out To.” BET highlighted the single in their new music roundup. Dirty Glove Bastard professed, “The psychedelic track showcases his magnetic charisma and innovative artistry.

“Make Sense” paves the way for more to come from the culture’s most fearlessly innovative outlier. Get ready to let B.U.G Antman open up your mind in 2025.

51. Lord Sko ft. Curren$y – Understand

Today, NYC hip-hop artist Lord Sko officially announced his upcoming album PIFF, which you can stream HERE.

In addition to the announcement he release his new single and music video

 “Understand” ft. Curren$y. Along with the new single, Sko officially announces PIFF.

“Understand” finds Sko living the life he used to dream of, calling the track “a feel-good stoner anthem that brings the energy of California summer to the bitter New York cold.” A longtime idol and inspiration to Lord Sko, Curren$y taps in with a flex-filled verse of his own, looking down on the people who can’t understand this type of success.

The “Understand” video, directed by Jason Goldwatch, uses trippy visual effects to superimpose Sko and Curren$y on screens in opulent mansions, superyachts, private ‘Lord Sko’ jets, and more, reflecting the regal lives the rappers live.

“Understand” follows up “Stubborn,” the hazy Arlo Walker-produced stoner anthem, and “Lesson Learned,” the Statik Selektah-produced single. The anticipated follow-up to his acclaimed 2023 album United Palace is an expansion of the young rapper’s sound, with a sonic palette crafted by luminaries like Harry Fraud, Statik Selektah, A-Lau, and Arlo Walker, the 18-year-old production prodigy who has been Sko’s right-hand man since his 2022 debut, MUSEUM. The 14-track PIFF signals Sko’s growing respect in the rap game, with greats from all eras stopping by to pay their respects.

Sko’s music, inspired by the blog era’s stoner rap scene, blends classic NYC rap with modern influences, drawing comparisons to artists like Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller. With the new album a collaboration and a forthcoming national tour this year, the future looks bright for Lord Sko.