It was an incredible year for UK rap’s rising stars. Some have become staples in the nation’s underground, while others were making their debut breakouts. The likes of YT, 5EB and TeeboFG showcased their maximalist take on rage and jerk. SINN6R combined trap and drill effortlessly on his two releases. N4T, Ciel and EHSI incorporated native influences in bold, experimental fashion. Ceebo made statements for the generation on Blair Babies. Svn4vr dropped some of the most intimate music of the year. Kofi Stone and Lord Apex led the charge for UK boom bap, while Natanya and Dexter in the Newsagent proved their pop crossover appeal.
With so much to discover and enjoy from the UK scene, this list aims to give you a wide selection of what the UK underground offered in 2025. With rage, trap, drill, R&B, acoustic, grime, and much more covered, here’s your chance to dig in and latch onto something new.
Check them out below, in no particular order:
Best tracks: “jook”, “pentecost of living”, “buzzball summer”, “blair babies”, “how many training days”, “018”, “the gospel (as according to tony blair)”, “where’s it @”
Best tracks: “Runner”, “Personally”, “Chilli”, “5 Geez”
Best tracks: “Black & Tan”, “Diamonds”, “Girls Trip”, “Put Your Hands Up”, “Prada or Celine”, “Arena”
Best tracks: “call ur bredrins coz the rapture might happen tomorrow at 7:30am”, “breathing through the walls”, “hypocrite”, “saviour complex”, “high school musical 4”
Best tracks: “Special”, “Eighteen”, “Tonight”, “Stranger to Love”, “Take Care”
Best tracks: “intro (harlem heat)”, “wunblud”, “a day in the life”, “the valleys are peak”, “boys don’t cry”
Best tracks: “Venice”, “Seeds”, “Rainfall”, “Cactus”, “Boats”
Best tracks: “u weren’t here”, “ROSTER”, “London Tipton”, “MASHUP”
Best tracks: “Female Top”, “Whole Damn Week”, “White Fur”
Best tracks: “WALKIN THRU MY SLUMS #ww”, “MONEY PON MI MIND!”
Best tracks: “stop talking to AI talk to God”, “this is my first year as the batman”, “brave & bold”
Best tracks: “sick day”, “ily wildcat”
Best tracks: “Initial P”, “Out the Water”, “Vision”, “No Worries”
Best tracks: “Look for Me”, “Lock My Heart”, “Made in the Manor”
Best tracks: “juggin”, “wouldacouldashoulda”, “fela kuti”, “lyk”
Best tracks: “Alla Dem”, “Justin Beiber”, “Louis Vee”
Best tracks: “CHOSE”, “THEN WHO?”, “WHO ARE U”
Best tracks: “Winning”, “Maybelline”
Best tracks: “Suya”, “Vixen Riddim”, “Everything for the Family”
Best tracks: “BAD 1NTENT1ONS”
Best tracks: “EVERYBODY KNOW”, “OGYA (HOT)”
Best tracks: “WHiNE ON ME!”, “ERiTREAN”, “BEYONCE, HANDS UP!”
Best tracks: “GLE 63″, “WOMANIZER”
Best tracks: “ORGANIC VIEWS”, “RUN UP A CHECK”, “CASH IN A BOX”
Best tracks: “create + make”, “i feel sick”, “la vida loca”, “life aint free”
Best tracks: “Linked In”, “I Don’t Sell Drugs”, “613 (NC Lounge)”
Best tracks: “Close your eyes”, “Dagenham boy”, “Homecoming”
Best tracks: “WE KNOW”
Best tracks: “r u dumb??”, “exist”
Best tracks: “Shadows”, “Eating Bullets”, “Fright Night”
Best tracks: “NEXT MOVE”, “BROADWAY”
Best tracks: “die poor”
Best tracks: “TenShots”, “Siliconebag”, “Ya bird is a sket.”
Best tracks: “Who do u wanna be”, “YOLO”, “XY”
Best tracks: “Settle”, “FTW”, “5Yrs”, “Surprised”
Best tracks: “Goomba”, “Puss in Boots”, “Pen15 Are”
Best tracks: “The Midnight Hour”, “The Mocking Stars”, “Space Cadet Cat”
Best tracks: “Don’t Let Me Go”, “Hills Have Eyes”, “Lying to My Face”
Best tracks: “Say the Word”, “Night Freaks”, “Moviestar”, “Dangerous”
Best tracks: “DISCONNECT!”, “STUCK ON LOOP”, “DEERS IN THE ROAD”, “BAD PARTS ARE MY FAVOURITE”
Best tracks: “Mindset”, “Nish”, “regime”, “premium wear”
Best tracks: “Rice and Stew”, “Stratford Job Centre”, “Art of the Imposter”
Best tracks: “BITTUHSWEET”, “TRADEMARK P”, “HIGH MAINTENANCE”
Best tracks: “Aademino”, “Game of Love”, “U Can Move”
Best tracks: “The Math Don’t Math”, “November”
Best tracks: “TSA”, “Still Not Famous”, “701 (Remix)”, “GTA”, “Judgement Day”
Best tracks: “Fuji”, “Mixtape J”, “Fallen Soldiers”,
Best tracks: “Yellowsmileyface”, “Ritterschlag”, “Five Minutes”
Best tracks: “THE LIGHT”, “LAYOVER”, “STANDING ON IT”
