With constant releases from some of hip-hop’s most beloved and talented artists, the summer of 2025 has been one of the best seasons for fans in recent memory. From singles to albums, this summer’s releases are sure to become future classics, so let’s take a look at the most notable music of the season.
Let God Sort Em Out - Clipse (Pusha T and Malice)
At 52 and 48 years old, respectively, Pusha T and Malice released not only an immensely impressive hip-hop project, but one of the best hip-hop albums of the last few years. The chemistry between the two Thornton brothers is unmatched, and Pharrell Williams' production is some of his most captivating. The feature list is just as stacked, with appearances from Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, The Creator, Nas, and more. “Let God Sort Em Out” is a phenomenal display of two hip-hop legends at their absolute best, making the album nothing short of a fantastic listen.
JACKBOYS 2 - JACKBOYS & Travis Scott
On July 13, Travis Scott and his labelmates at Cactus Jack released a new sequel to their 2019 project, “JACKBOYS.” One particularly notable track is “CHAMPAIN & VACAY,” a loud, fiery Travis Scott and Don Toliver collaboration. “WHERE WAS YOU”, featuring Playboi Carti and Future, is just as striking, with Playboi Carti’s catchy hook shining alongside the track’s wildly unique beat.
Senior Josh Tseitlin shared his appreciation of the album as a whole. “The beats on ‘JACKBOYS 2’ are fire, and the entire production on the album is amazing,” he said. “It should be in [contention for] the (Grammy) Album of the Year.”
While I am glad Josh enjoyed the project, I unfortunately disagree about the quality of the production, which I thought was more bland than exciting. I found “JACKBOYS 2” to be mostly a disappointment, as there are plenty of forgettable tracks that showcase generic production and lazy songwriting.
DON’T TAP THE GLASS - Tyler, The Creator
Only nine months after the release of his eighth studio album, “CHROMAKOPIA”, Tyler, The Creator unexpectedly announced a new project titled “DON’T TAP THE GLASS.” While this release is far from his most personal or lyrical album, the project’s production is some of Tyler’s best. From the passionate and aggressive instrumental of “Big Poe” to the unique, speedy percussion on “I’ll Take Care of You,” “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” demonstrates Tyler’s underrated—yet spectacular—abilities as a producer.
Tyler sounds energetic and passionate for nearly every second of the project, making dull moments on the album impossible to find. Even though “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” does not match the emotional depth of “CHROMAKOPIA”, the storytelling of “IGOR,” or the features of “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST,” Tyler still delivered a solid project.
Alfredo 2 - Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
With luxurious production and smooth rapping, “Alfredo 2” is a wonderful sequel to “Alfredo.” Freddie’s flow sounds just as smooth as ever, and The Alchemist’s beats are as good as expected. From the heavily-textured production on “Mar-a-Lago” to Freddie’s storytelling on “I Still Love H.E.R.,” there is much to love about this project.
Senior Odin Gill, a fan of both Freddie Gibbs and the original “Alfredo,” suggested that “Alfredo 2” didn’t quite match the quality of its predecessor. “‘Alfredo 2’ was enjoyable, but a bit repetitive,” he said. “[Freddie] started to lose interest in the middle of it. I definitely prefer the original.”
God Does Like Ugly - JID
There have been few albums I’ve anticipated more than “God Does Like Ugly,” given that JID’s 2022 album, “The Forever Story” is an all-time favorite of mine. After a three-year wait following the previous album’s release, the “God Does Like Ugly” release date was finally announced. (I was personally thrilled to see that JID decided to drop his album on my 18th birthday).
Once August 8 finally arrived, I hit the play button on the album, which was most definitely worth the wait. The production on this project is so diverse, with calm, somber instrumentals contrasting the aggressive beats.
The album’s features—such as Clipse, Ty Dolla $ign, and Vince Staples—were each well-placed. However, like always, JID’s rapping was the highlight of this project, with incredible flow switches, clever bars, and captivating storytelling.
“I thought the new album was great, and it was so different from what other rappers are doing,” senior Sam Micheli said.
As summer comes to an end, I hope that releases—including possible albums from A$AP Rocky, Ty Dolla $ign, and more—continue to impress this coming fall. While unlikely, if this fall can outshine the summer when it comes to new hip-hop releases, we’re in for one of the greatest years for hip-hop in recent memory.
