Let’s get ready for 2026 by overanalyzing 2025!

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MOST UNDERRATED SONG

Travis Scott – DUMBO

I absolutely hated JACKBOYS 2—the album felt overloaded with gimmicky tracks. However, one song I should’ve given more credit to is “DUMBO.” After a second listen, I realized the production is fantastic, delivering the kind of energetic, chaotic vibes Travis usually thrives on. The hook is infectious, and the track’s wild energy makes it genuinely fun to listen to. If I ever revisit this album, “DUMBO” will likely be the only track I return to.

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MOST OVERRATED SONG

Drake & Central Cee – WHICH ONE

When Drake released “WHAT DID I MISS?”, I almost s**ted my pants. The level of s**t-talking and finesse he rapped with on the track hit for me, especially following his intense back-and-forth with Kendrick Lamar. The track had all the energy of a true headline moment.

He followed it up with “WHICH ONE,” but unfortunately, the hype from the first single didn’t carry over. While the song sold records (In my 50 Cent voice), I wasn’t drawn back to it. Not only am I not a fan of whatever the hell accent Drake used on the track, but I also just thought the song had a stale premise and an outdated formula. Overall, the situation reminded me of an NFL team that wins a major road game against a great team, but loses to a stinky team right after that.

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MOST UNDERRATED ALBUM

Central Cee – Can’t Rush Greatness

Central Cee doesn’t get nearly enough credit for how skilled he actually is. Beyond the hits and the hype, he’s a genuinely sharp rapper with airtight flow, a competitive edge, and a knack for punchlines that stick. All of that shines through on his debut album, Can’t Rush Greatness.

The project moves with confidence, weaving between different corners of hip-hop. There’s drill, there are R&B-tinted moments, and there’s a steady sense of ambition running through the whole thing. The features complement him well, but it’s Cench’s own presence that keeps the album glued together.

Of course, the biggest gravitational pull comes from “BAND4BAND,” one of the giant records of the year — and even an Obama-approved favorite. Because the album dropped so early in January, it feels like some listeners let it slip out of focus. But revisiting it, the quality holds. It’s a strong showing, full of personality and proof that Central Cee’s rise isn’t a fluke.

Can’t Rush Greatness lives up to its title, and it’s better than people remember.

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MOST OVERRATED ALBUM

Lil Baby – WHAM

I won’t lie—I really wanted Lil Baby’s WHAM to be a knockout. With so many saying he’d fallen off, this album felt like his chance to prove himself. At first, it seemed promising, especially as one of the year’s early hip-hop releases. But ultimately, the features felt stale, the tracks forgettable, and not a single song stood out enough to revisit—“Dum Dumb and Dumber” isn’t one I’ll be playing again. That said, Lil Baby still has plenty to prove.

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WORST SONG

Kanye West – Heil Hitler

Do I even need to explain this one? The title alone is already dark as hell, which is a problem by itself. Then you get the execution: Ye sounding like a weird DDG–Dave Blunts hybrid over this funky, church-propaganda-type instrumental. To make it worse, he randomly sprinkles in bars about smashing chicks like that’s supposed to save the track. Nah, I’m cool, bro.

We might be getting a call from Nick Fuentes by COB.

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WORST ALBUM

Dave Blunts – You Can’t Say That

There were some truly rough albums this year. Off the top, Tha Carter VI and GELO’s debut come to mind. But none of them touched the level of disaster that Dave Blunts reached with You Can’t Say That. As someone who genuinely thought he had real talent and still believes there’s something there, this project was shocking. It sounds completely unhinged, wildly unprofessional, packed with nonsense, and just flat-out bad. I tried hard to find silver linings, but the whole album comes off like someone grabbed a mic with no plan, no filter, and no respect for the listener, then proceeded to take a s**t on it.

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WORST VERSE

GELO – Tweaker

I hope it’s common knowledge that GELO isn’t exactly a top-tier rapper. That said, it’s genuinely dope that he managed to flip a basketball career into a solid rap lane, and “Tweaker” is undeniably a hit. Still, those verses make me want to rip my headphones off. The cringey vocals mixed with a noticeable lack of confidence in his delivery create an uneven, unfortunate listening experience. I get it, though. The song is a vibe and clearly connects, but when those verses come in, it starts sounding like a rap spoof. All that aside, I still salute him for carving out a real rap career.

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BEST VERSE

Kendrick Lamar – Chains & Whips

Unfortunately, Kendrick Lamar didn’t drop many solo tracks this year, but he still shined on several standout features. One of the best was undeniably on “Chains & Whips.” Kendrick comes through fully possessed, spitting ferocious bars and asserting dominance over his peers, reminding everyone that he plays by his own rules. It’s a perfect showcase of his unapologetic intensity—proof that anyone dealing with KDS (Kendrick Deranged Syndrome) is in for a ruthless ride.

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BEST HOOK

Stove God Cooks – F.I.C.O.

I’ve never heard a chorus quite like the one Stove God Cooks delivered in “F.I.C.O.” Seriously, what was he on? He bounces off the walls, perfectly setting up Pusha T and Malice to drop killer bars. I genuinely believe this hook had people pre-ordering his upcoming project.

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BEST FEATURE

Chris Brown – MUTT (Remix)

Walahi, I can’t even go back to the original version of “MUTT” anymore because Chris Brown’s feature on the remix is just that good. He slides in effortlessly, elevating Leon Thomas’s melodies while blending his signature savagery with a smooth, sly edge. Chris really put his whole foot in that verse and left no crumbs.

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BEST BEAT

Playboi Carti – EVIL JORDAN

God, the “EVIL JORDAN” beat is so damn good. The buildup, the chaos, the action-packed energy that gets you insanely hyped. Everything about it hits. This is one of those beats that made me close my eyes and almost call the police… don’t ask how, I don’t know either.

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CHEESIEST SONG

Young Thug – Whoopty Doo

The nerve of Young Thug to say hip-hop is in a low place and then come back with a track called “Whoopty Doo,” inspired by a comment he made during an interview with Big Bank while speaking on Gunna. Thugger clearly had fun with it, and the song isn’t bad by any means, but for a comeback moment, I’m definitely looking for something a bit more serious than “Whoopty Doo.”

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BEST INTERNATIONAL SONG

W Sound, Beéle & Ovy On the Drums – La Plenta (W Sound 05)

ICE agents can never make me hate international music. For me, “La Plena (W Sound 05)” was my favorite international release. I love the tempo, the harmonies, the melodies, and the overall vibe. It’s easily one of the most replayable tracks out right now.

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BEST INDIE SONG

Murkemz, Emmitt Dupree & NovTheZoner – Be About It

If people really knew how much I rock with this track, they’d probably call me a groupie. With Emmitt Dupree floating on the hook, Murkemz and NovTheZoner delivering unapologetic, confident verses, and a flipped take on the classic “Ride or Die Chick” beat, it turns into a festive, fun, nostalgic banger that just makes you feel good as hell.

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BEST INDIE ALBUM

BobbyBullRun – Bank Statements

If you’re into hip-hop with unconventional concepts, Bank Statements by BobbyBullRun is right up your alley. What makes the project stand out is how he centers the music around smart financial moves without ever sounding preachy or stiff. Instead of lectures, you get tracks that knock. A lot of these joints genuinely feel like club bangers first, with the money talk sliding in naturally. Whether you’re trying to get hyped or pick up a gem or two about leveling up financially, this album manages to give you both without sacrificing energy.

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SONG WE’RE AFRAID TO ADMIT WE LIKE

Taka Taktumi & Timbaland – Pulse x Glitch

I’m pretty torn when it comes to AI music. Here’s where I stand: if it sounds natural and genuinely good, I can get behind it to a degree. But if it feels lazy, soulless, and obviously AI-generated, I want no parts of it. Transparency matters too. If you’re making AI music, just be upfront about it. Don’t try to pass it off as something it’s not. Timbaland did exactly that when he introduced his AI artist, Taka Taktumi, and I respect it.

That said, the track “Pulse x Glitch” actually goes crazy. The writing is sharp, the vocals sound clean and surprisingly human, and Timbaland’s futuristic production feels right at home. There’s even a rap verse on here that clears about 90% of what I hear on a daily basis, which is wild to say. Because of that, this song made history for me as the first AI-generated track to earn a spot in my personal music library.

Whether we like it or not, AI music isn’t going anywhere. At this point, get with the programming.

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QD’S FAVORITE ALBUM

Dec 24

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QD’S FAVORITE SONG

Dec 26

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TOP SONG

Dec 27

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TOP ALBUM

Dec 28

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