The Top Rap Projects of 2025!

Before we begin, this list of Top 10 Rap Projects is something I do at the end of every year (or the start of the following year). A compilation of what I believe to be the best Rap projects internationally, taking into consideration the U.K., other European countries, and North America predominantly.

This list is strictly opinion-based, as I’m sure many of you reading would have included some projects over others and potentially would have re-ordered the list. I want to give an honourable shout-out to Wiz Khalifa’s - Kush & Orange Juice 2 and 8Syn’s (One Acen) - I Don’t Miss The Old Me, two projects that narrowly missed out on top 10 spots for me!

Now it’s time to dive into the list and unpack each project and the reason for its ranking. Let’s go!

10. M’Way - Rappin ‘N’ Trappin (England)

At No.10, we kick off the list with Nottingham’s M’Way and his project Trappin ‘N’ Rappin. I only properly discovered M’Way this year, and what a discovery! I honestly couldn’t tell you how many times this project has been reloaded, with M’Way topping my Spotify list of most listened-to artists in 2025 - it clearly speaks volumes. Trappin ‘N’ Rappin offers a Midlands spin on U.K. Trap Rap - it sounds fresh and reminiscent of what many would align with a Memphis sound. Producer Vandadium, alongside the likes of Cage, Hayze & Eliesg, play a huge role in producing some of the hard-hitting trap beats that contribute to making it a tape full of trap anthems. Due to its sonic consistency, variety in flows, features, and beats, Rappin ‘N’ Trappin almost has a compilation project feel to it.

Stand out songs for me include ‘Packs on Deck’ featuring YTB KL, who is M’Way’s younger brother and is slowly carving out his own lane and space in the scene, with 2026 set to be a year for him to shine, as well as ‘50 P’s’ (also featuring YTB KL) and ‘Running up Blows’. Coincidentally, M’Way makes that hustle and motivation rap that you can turn up full volume whilst cruising down the motorway. For me, his name needs to be mentioned when you discuss the great year that Midlands and Up North rap has had with the likes of EsDeeKid, Kasst 8 and Marnz Malone. At the time of writing this, M’Way has shared that a new project is on the way, which I’m sure many, including myself, are anticipating in 2026!

 

9. Wretch 32 - Home? (England)

At No.9, we have UK Rap Legend Wretch 32’s ‘Home?’, his seventh studio album in his illustrious rap career. Upon the first few listens, it immediately gave me a similar audio experience to when I first listened to Bashy’s ‘Being Poor is Expensive’ album that was released in 2024. Both albums were excellent in providing a representation of the Black British Experience of the past and present, as well as providing a detailed history and reflection of the Windrush Generation experience in particular. The three-track run at the beginning of the project is one of the best openings to a rap album I have heard in recent times. A major strength of the album is the great range of features that exist on it, with verses and hooks from the likes of Teni, Skip Marley, Protoje, WSTRN, Kano, Little Simz and more! A lot of difficult conversations are had throughout the album around belonging, family conflict and the history and journey of the Caribbean diaspora in England - mainly the second and third generation Windrush experience. Stand out songs for me include ‘Black and British’, ‘Like Home’ and ‘Windrush’ - which features Cashh, who has my favourite feature verse on the album. Home? is a great offering from one of our homegrown legends and is deserving of a spot in everyone’s rap projects lists.

 

8. Dave - The Boy Who Played The Harp (England)

At No.8, we have Dave’s third studio album, The Boy Who Played The Harp. A highly anticipated that many, including stans, fans and the everyday rap music listener had been patiently waiting for. A great aspect of this project's release is that no singles from the album had been released prior, allowing listeners to experience the album from start to finish without any surprises, hearing every song for the first time. The album is an extremely vulnerable and introspective body of work - something you would usually expect from Dave; however, I feel that this offering is definitely one that offers the most depth into Dave ‘psychi’, his trials and tribulations and inner battles with himself, offering a reflection of his subconscious and decisions he has made and is yet to make. Thematically, down to the name of the album - faith and Dave’s walk with God was a dominant theme across the project “Father God forgive me, it’s been a couple years or maybe more that I haven't prayed, even longer I haven't been to Church, God I’m ashamed.” Dave raps on 175 months. The type of introspection that is displayed on this album is one that many young black men growing up in inner city areas can relate to, while on their paths with God, battling against worldly things and inner desires.

The Boy Who Played The Harp is definitely Dave’s coming-of-age album. A project in which he is proclaiming his no.1 spot in U.K. Rap both directly and indirectly, with the album going no.1 on its release week and reaching the achievement of being the second highest selling release week of a U.K. rap album of all time after Tinie Tempah’s 2010 release Disc-Overy. Dave now occupies the 2nd, 3rd and 4th spot for first week album sales, an extraordinary accomplishment. Stand out songs for me include ‘No Weapons’ featuring Jim Legxacy, ‘Chapter 16’ featuring Kano and the album titled track ‘The Boy Who Played The Harp’. At the time of writing this, ‘Raindance’ featuring Tems has been the most successful song from the album, having spent over 9 weeks on the chart since its release and having over 80 million streams on Spotify alone.

To conclude, this personally isn’t my favourite album of Dave’s, but I believe it is definitely the most put together sonically and one that will stand the test of time, due to its distinct production, deep subject matters and timeless sound.

 

7. Dave East & Ransom - The Final Call (USA)

At No.7, our first US offering with a collaborative project from the East Coast’s Dave East and Ransom, a project that is pure lyrical exercise - from wordplay to flows and finding intricate pockets, the project is a rap fan’s paradise. The project has an old-school East Coast feel and is a great embodiment of gritty rap, with the two going back to back on a lot of the tracks in an almost seamless manner, considering this was their first time making a joint project. Stand out songs include ‘Audobon Room’, ‘The Final Call’ featuring Jay Electronica and ‘By Any Means Neccesary’ featuring Method Man.

 

6. Knucks - A Fine African Man (England)

At No.6, we have ‘A Fine African Man’ from North West London’s Knucks. For me, this is an excellent follow-up from Knucks’ Alpha Place project released in 2022. There is exceptional thematic storytelling on this album detailing the journey of a young man from Nigeria to the U.K, including using an “English name” in specific spaces, colonisation and diasporan identity. A blend of different sounds is experimented with on this project, including Rap and Amapiano, with a heavy Afrobeat influence. A lot of the skits throughout the album were very well placed and contributed to the overarching theme helping to paint the picture of what the album represented. The standout song for me was ‘NKITA’ featuring Fimiguerrero, which has an alternative/underground feel to it. A Fine African Man showcases Knucks versatility in an expansive way, with a lot of different genres being catered to and delivered extremely well! It is a must-listen to project for fans of multi-genre influenced albums and anyone who wants to discover a new favourite artist!

5. Krept & Konan - Young Kingz 2 (England)

At No.5, we have Krept and Konan’s Young Kingz 2! Considering that this was the second instalment of this project, which came 12 years after the 1st edition, the duo did not miss! I would start by mentioning that this album doesn’t feature a bad song, and willing to go the mile and debate if anyone thinks otherwise. This album is a cultural experience throughout, borrowing from the likes of Dancehall, Reggae, Rap and Afrobeats. I think one thing that the duo have always been able to do is deliver hits whilst still maintaining rap credibility. The South London duo make great music and always deliver something for everyone, being able to cater to multiple audiences and environments. One feature of the album that I enjoyed was the five solo tracks, with three coming from Konan and two solo songs from Krept. The incorporation of solo songs allowed for both artists to dig deeper into their emotions and get some important messages off their chest, whilst also showcasing their individual pen games. Delroy’s Son by Konan (a tribute to his late father) and Back To Me by Krept were the two standout emotive songs. Whilst Low Vibrations, Bedroom featuring Sizzla and Smooth Lovin featuring Popcaan are the traditional hit sounds that we expect from the duo.

 

4. Little Torment - Henny Music 4 (England)

At No.4, we have Little Torment’s Henny Music 4 - a project for the streets! What a year 2025 was for Little Torment, having had a short stint in jail but still managing to release 2 quality bodies of work, Torment is one of two artists who appear in this top projects list twice. Henny Music 4 is the fourth instalment of Torment’s Henny Music series, which depicts the realities of the roads in a distinct and authentic way. Torment doesn’t glamourize anything and epitomizes what someone who has battled with street traumas has pushed through. This project is elite-level rap. Torment is rapping like the rent is DUE! The likes of ‘Free Us All’ featuring KayMuni and Marnz Malone and ‘In My Feels’ featuring Catch are some of the best songs to come from the genre of UK Rap this year. Lock in and invest in those Torment stocks before the price increases!

 

3. Dave East - Karma 4 (USA)

 

 

2. Central Cee - Can’t Rush Greatness (England)

At No.2, we have the U.K.’s Golden Boy, with his third project but first studio album, ‘Can’t Rush Greatness’ and what an ironic title, because he is absolutely right if we are judging the quality of this project. Cench, alongside Dave, are 100% flying the flag for U.K. Rap if we are considering numbers, global appeal and star power. This project is ultimately a superb offering for a debut album and one that lived up to the hype in my opinion. You can see the progression from Wild West, his first project, up until this point. The level of rapping, improved cadence, and ability to craft chart hits, with the likes of Band4Band and GBP featuring Lil Baby and 21 Savage, respectively. The album was also the first ever UK Rap album to enter into the Billboard 100 album charts, entering at no.9 upon the week of release with 37,000 sales (10,000 of these being physical sales) - an extremely expressive achievement. Cench depicts and gives details of his come-up really well on tracks like ‘No Introduction’, ‘Top Freestyle’ and ‘Limitless’. Sonically, this album is firmly at No.2 for me, both nationally and internationally this project will in the long term remain a cultural moment in time to look back on, and will likely contribute to the opening of many doors, as we recently have seen the rise in popularity of UK rapper EsDeeKid, who recently signed a £30 million pound deal with capitol records, with labels now willing to try and find the next big artist - ultimately following in the success of the likes of Central Cee.

 

1. Little Torment - Henny Music 4: OTR (England)

Written by Toren (Founder of 99Piece)