The best month for new rap music so far in 2025. Enjoy.

"Get The Paper" - Paul Wall [prod. by DJ Fresh]

DJ Fresh and Paul Wall are both national treasures and should keep making music.

"Almost Broke My Nucleus Accumbens (ft. Still Rift)" - Open Mike Eagle [Playa Haze]

Go listen to Neighborhood Gods Unlimited, which I'm thinking just might end up being my favorite Open Mike Eagle album.

"Lavish Habits" - Freddie Gibbs [The Alchemist]

Obviously.

"M.T.B.T.T.F." - Clipse [Pharrell]

It would be nice if the Clipse album had less singing and maybe even less Pharrell but hard to complain when they're making songs called "Mike Tyson Blow To The Face".

"SOS" - Lupe Fiasco [Lupe Fiasco, Nicolas Isaiah & Anthony Perkins]

I liked Samurai just fine. But this is what I'm talking about, Lupe!

"Trigger Warning" - ShrapKnel [Raphy]

ShrapKnel is in the midst of a three-album, one-producer-per-project rollout and the results have been marvelous so far. The first entry, Lincoln Continental Breakfast, is fully produced by Bruiser Brigade's Raphy and features some of PremRock & Curly Castro's best work.

"Cracc At 15" - Maxo Kream [Tyler, The Creator]

Wouldn't it be cool if Tyler, The Creator's music actually sounded like this?

"Meet Me On Harbor (ft. Black C)" - Larry June [Cardo]

Larry June does some good things but regularly bringing in Black C from RBL Posse is probably the best.

"Banshee Walk" - Bronze Nazareth [Apollo Brown]

I've been largely blind to the Bronze Nazareth solo catalog post-2005 Wu-Tang Meets Indie Culture era - aside from his 2021 album produced by Roc Marciano which was cool - but this one brought me back in. Apollo Brown is someone that every underground MC should want a full album with.

"The Whole Shabang" - Boldy James [Nicholas Craven]

I'm going to stop trying to figure out which 2025 Boldy James album is the best until we hit December. His collabs with Nicholas Craven never disappoint.

"Dead Give Away" - Tha God Fahim [Nicholas Craven]

Speaking of Craven and rappers who release records every month...the Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap series just came to a close (?) with volume 15. None of them are on DSPs aside from the Ultimate Dump Gawd compilation that pulls highlights from the first 4, but each one is available in full on YouTube. Dive in at your own peril.

"What You Leave Behind" - Blueprint [Blueprint]

It's awesome to see Blueprint still rapping/producing at such a high level. Vessel is worth the listen.

"89 Rolex (ft. Ab-Soul)" - Smoke DZA [Mike & Keys]

By my count the third entry in a line of very good DZA / Ab-Soul collabs over the last 13 years.

"Rain Every Season (ft. The Alchemist)" - Evidence [The Alchemist]

Unlearning Vol. 2 is shaping up to be something special.

"Matthew Receives Painting From Takashi Murakami" - FOHDH Matthew [Wino Willy]

Initially was drawn to this album by Wino Willy who has done some great work for Cavalier and Open Mike Eagle's Previous Industries. Was sold when I learned that (i) the FOHDH stands for "Fuck Outta Here, DickHead"; and (ii) the rapping is good!.

"Unrated Version (ft. 8Ball & MJG)" - Starlito & Don Trip [Asohii Music, Drumma Boy, ChrisBeatz, 2c's & Macshooter]

Some absolute bangers on the deluxeified Step Brothers Four & a Half including this Memphis All-Star team-up with two of the greatest to ever to it.

"We On Dat" - Monaleo [Merion Krazy, Skrioo & AVGOTDRIP]

Haven't checked much for Monaleo since her 2021 breakout but this is a jam.

"Calling People Back Hoping They Don't Answer" - Chris Crack

White People Think God Left Them In Charge is the second (and better) Chris Crack album to drop this year. This title wins the prestigious "Best Chris Crack Song Title" award for this round of releases. Other contenders included: "Don't Ever Wear Khakis To My Mom Birthday", "Why Was Kelis Warming Up Her Milkshakes" and "Dollar Tree Charger Changed My Social Security Number".

"Iced Tea (ft. Project Pat & 21 Savage)" - Young Nudy [Coupe]

Keep inviting Project Pat to these parties, please.

"600 School (ft. Ghostface Killah & Method Man)" - Raekwon [Swizz Beatz]

Please do not look up the almost completely AI-fueled music video for this track.

"Books" - Homeboy Sandman [Sonnyjim]

I really like Soli Deo Gloria, the new Homeboy Sandman record fully produced by Sonnyjim. I really like Homeboy Sandman's 2025 thus far, come to think of it.

"Gods in Versace (ft. Jay Nice & Big Cheeko)" - RU$H & Tha God Fahim

"On The Go (ft. Smoke DZA)" - The Musalini [Khrysis]

"Jammers Anonymous (ft. Niontay)" - MAVI [Laron & Subjxct 5]

MAVI is 3-for-3 in 2025 with the supercharged team-ups - Earl, Smino, now Niontay.

"Ball & Chain" - Gabe Nandez [Preservation]

Every Preservation project should be an event. Admittedly this is the first time Gabe 'Nandez has fully clicked for me. He has my attention.

"Smooth Jazz (ft. 38 Spesh)" - Che Noir [The Other Guys]