The NFR Podcast is closing out the year with a comprehensive look at 2025’s major hip-hop releases. In the latest episode, hosts Luca and Anthony revisit their original tier list format to evaluate some of the year’s most discussed albums, including Playboi Carti’s Music, Tyler, The Creator’s Don’t Tap the Glass, and Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out.
The episode centers on how these projects performed critically, commercially, and culturally, using NFR’s structured ranking system to determine which albums defined the year, and which failed to meet expectations. The hosts examine standout trends, such as the resurgence of long-awaited veteran releases, the rise of experimental production choices across mainstream rap, and contrasting approaches taken by established artists versus emerging voices.
Playboi Carti’s Music, one of the year’s most heavily anticipated drops, generated extensive conversation within fan communities and critics alike. Meanwhile, Tyler, The Creator’s genre-blending Don’t Tap the Glass continued his run of stylistic experimentation, prompting debate about where it stands within the creator’s evolving catalog. Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out marked the duo’s celebrated return, offering a point of comparison between legacy-driven releases and the newer generation’s output.
Beyond individual album assessments, Luca and Anthony reflect on how 2025’s major records contributed to a shifting landscape within hip-hop. Their discussion highlights the divide between highly polished commercial albums and more adventurous projects aiming for artistic reinvention. The tier list format provides a structured way for listeners to engage with those contrasts while revisiting the year through the lens of its defining full-length releases.
The episode concludes with the hosts’ picks for both the strongest and weakest albums of 2025, offering a snapshot of how the year will likely be remembered in future discussions about hip-hop’s evolution.
