Great production and songwriting creatively unites hip hop and alternative pop, as the neo-classical strings and modern beat of Trigger My Aria let Maria Rosa La Kakiee deliver a modest but striking ode to self-preservation.
Hip Hop
Mastering character and depth as a modern hip hop and alternative rock artist, Austria’s KOLORPHOBIA brings a clear sense of recognisable identity and meaning to the indie scene. His singles and videos alike fuse professionalism and passion to a captivating level, and the songwriting is superb alongside that.
Clean-cut raps unfiltered and free, a smooth jazz backdrop of keys and trap rhythms – DaKurse keeps the flow honest and nostalgic, for the catchy rap anthem Kiss & Tell.
Yosamity is widely known for his versatility of flow, and indeed for his unwavering energy and the creative, often intense nature of his beats. This track feels a little more boom bap classic than other recent releases like Wake Up!, but it still feeds into the passion and creative artistry that drives his sound. The bars are striking, the flow unmatched, the performative charm sky-high, and this combined with the relatable, familiar traits will hopefully see Read Em & Weep run wild on streaming platforms.
One of the most distinct, freely playful but also stylish, catchy and quirky singles from this side of 2025. UK artist madanes brings indie charm and a conceptual twist of hilarity back to the modern scene, with the unforgettable single Your Dog.
Though loyalty appears to be a fading attribute of contemporary society, BOOZ refuses to lower the bar. His music is rooted in the values that raised him, and as such, his blending of determination and principle continues to inspire and engage with listeners far and wide.
For modern hip hop fans, emo kids, indie pop and electro lovers – CATHEDRAL is a gem of an album to lose yourself within. While the scene feels overwhelmed with half-assed efforts and AI-generated stories and songs, Kross Irwin brings a level of personal realism, talent, effort, emotion, and originality, and this album celebrates those qualities over and over.
Heavy old school hip hop with a boldly distinct vocal, riff, and realism – Jhaos brings the calm and the chaos in unison, energizing and inspiring, with the unignorable anthem Keep it Moving III.
Following dreams and delivering the calm, contemplative vibes required to highlight a clear love for making music, J.Con brings together five smooth hip hop and RnB songs, for the aptly-titled EP Late Nights.
Heavy and hard-hitting hip hop elevated by an original take on an iconic Bible story – Messenger The Choosen brings big beats and crisp vocal character back to hip hop, with this conceptual deep-dive into the story of God’s chosen leader Moses.
Marc Nevermind encapsulates the art of escapism, letting the creative process take him into this new world, and providing the same other-worldly embrace for all who press play. The music is the driving force, creative connection the goal, and that’s a refreshing and invaluable quality – particularly in a world so seemingly infatuated with image and daily life updates. The mystique returns, and with it, the true talent.
Puerto Rico’s rising RnB voice JUIC3 captures a romantic edge and dynamic artistic charm this year, with the vocal fluidity and unique central concept of Love Away.