Okayplayer’s Most Slept-On Albums of 2025
Too many releases. Not enough time. Here are some albums that deserved more love.
Photo illustration by Okayplayer.
There are roughly 733,486 new music releases every single day (this has, in fact, been scientifically proven by four of my homeboys, a cousin back home and at least two toxic exes), which makes keeping up with every drop nearly impossible. Between the sheer volume of music entering the ecosystem daily and the fact that releases don’t come with an iCal invite like a Zoom or Teams link, it’s a lot to juggle. And because of that, genuinely great projects often slip through the cracks.
But all isn’t lost. Amid the flood of end-of-year recaps — Top Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Moment(s) of the Year — Okayplayer decided to do things a little differently. Here at OKP, we’re an eclectic group of creatives with wide-ranging tastes. Similar to Spotify’s New Music Friday, we cast a broad net when it comes to what we’re listening to. So we asked around the compound for albums that may have flown under the radar.
Consider this your second chance at first listens.
Bryson Tiller - 'Solace & The Vices'
Normally, I feel like I’m choosing between Bryson Tiller the singer and Bryson Tiller the rapper. But on Solace & The Vices he lets us dip between both sides of his artistry. There’s a balance of darkness and light, yearning and clean-cut bars. It's definitely more than worth the listen.
Album Highlight: “Crocodile Tears”
Dave - 'The Boy Who Played the Harp'
This album is similar to Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly or Solange’s When I Get Home, where Dave chose to make the music he wanted to make regardless of commercial appeal, yet still managed to please everyone in his fan base. Even though he had slick flows and hot beats, his storytelling really improved, and it reminds me of why I like rap so much.
Album Highlight: “Chapter 16”
Destin Laurel - 'MERCY'
I really liked the production on the album. I feel like it reminded me of early Kanye vibes. [It] felt very cinematic all the way around.
Album Highlight: “i’kno’”
Errol Holden - 'Roc Marciano Presents: Mulberry Silk Road'
He’s different. He’s rapping in a spoken word kind of way, but it’s still flowing like rap. It’s almost like he’s creating his own genre. Instead of spoken word poetry, it’s spoken word rap.
Album Highlight: “Jerry Buss”
Jessie Reyez - 'Paid in Memories'
This album really hits the heart in more than one place. Almost every song on this album is replayable, and you can connect depending on what phase of your love life or of life you’re in. It’s a very connecting album.
Album Highlight: “****FREE*****
Lady Wray - 'Cover Girl'
Nicole Wray has been on a run since she returned under her new moniker a few years back, and Cover Girl is a groovy ride through soul, disco and gospel. The entire album feels like a hug from your favorite aunt who has no kids, travels the world and knows how to roller skate. And when “You’re Gonna Win” hits my eardrums, I get taken to seventh heaven each time.
Album Highlight: “You’re Gonna Win”
Nemzzz - 'From Me 2 U'
From Me 2 U has great production, good lyrics, good flow and it just overall has good upbeat energy that I think just creates a good vibe. And I think Nemzzz is a good lyricist. In general, he can stay on topic. He often has insightful and funny things to say, and for the most part, he’s consistent.
Album Highlight: “G7X”
NoGum Hundo - 'Open the Floodgates'
I think Hundo makes really approachable music that fans of Southern rap would enjoy, but when you listen deeper, his pen is really excellent. He’s really witty, and his metaphors put a grin on your face. By the time you process the first one, you’re already onto the next one.
Album Highlight: “Mokujin” featuring Dbfontaine
Olivia Dean - 'The Art of Loving'
It’s an equally uplifting and heartbreaking love letter to love. It’s an album that can get you through the entire roller coaster of love. It’s great for a breakup/situationship/talking stage, and encompasses everything.
Album Highlight: “So Easy (To Fall In Love)”
Reuben Vincent - 'Welcome Home'
It showed the evolution of someone going through growing pains. It also embodies the Black experience from various viewpoints.
Album Highlight: “ANYTHING”
TiaCorine - 'CORINIAN'
Tia is still up and coming, but very much so ‘here.’ She taps into different dimensions, and I think that’s what she wants her brand to be. She taps into various genres—from reggaeton to traditional lyricism, to ballroom, and straight ‘I’m just a girl’ music. Love her down.
Album Highlight: “Buttercup”
Vince Staples & The Alchemist - 'Untitled EP'
Hearing Vince over introspective beats by Al feels like a sonic departure from what he normally does, and that is a pleasant change of sound and scenery.
Album Highlight: “Track 3 [‘Van Gogh’?], 5:59-mark
Wale - 'everything is a lot.'
I haven’t listened to Wale in a while, but when I heard this one, I was immediately captured and knew I was gonna put songs on repeat. I was pleasantly surprised. He picked the perfect samples to utilize, he had some incredible features from Leon Thomas and Odeal, and it’s refreshing to hear someone put together a thoughtful body of work when others aren’t. And him putting his soul out there was very refreshing. It’s inspiring to see someone who has been at it as long as he has still trying.
Album Highlight: “Power & Problems”
Zukanee - 'Slaytanic'
[Zukanee] successfully captures the energy of mid-aughts trap music without it feeling like a cheap imitation. He does so by infusing the music with his own quirks, whether it’s medieval imagery or his extremely catchy vocal takes.
Album Highlight: “IN THE WOODS”
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