Music
15 Dec 25

Hot Press Hip-Hop Albums & Mixtapes of 2025 – in partnership with Hennessy

<i>Hot Press</i> Hip-Hop Albums & Mixtapes of 2025 – in partnership with Hennessy

From the long-awaited return of Clipse, to a phenomenal run of Irish releases, 2025 proved to be another gripping year for hip-hop. To celebrate, we’ve teamed up with Hennessy – long-established champions of the culture – to reflect on the top hip-hop albums and mixtapes of the year…

2025 might have been a less combative year for hip-hop than the feud-dominated one that came before it – but that doesn’t mean it was any less captivating.

If anything, these past 12 months have seen rap take bold new leaps away from the mainstream, and reaffirm its outsider status across fearlessly innovative projects. Over half-a-century on from the birth of hip-hop, it remains the most boundary-pushing genre out there – continuing to evolve in countless unexpected directions, with a focus on experimentation, groundbreaking collaborations and unique regional flair.

Our list of the top hip-hop albums and mixtapes of 2025 – presented in collaboration with Hennessy, whose deep ties to the culture stretch back decades – reflects this subgenre-splicing movement, across dazzlingly diverse projects from the likes of Open Mike Eagle, McKinley Dixon, Little Simz, Billy Woods, Backxwash, Freddie Gibbs and Earl Sweatshirt.

Clipse. Photo: Cian Moore

Of course, only one act could take the top spot – and there’s no denying that 2025 was Clipse’s year, as brothers Pusha T and Malice made their triumphant return with the Pharrell Williams-produced Let God Sort Em Out, their first album in 16 years.

But this year’s list has also been shaped by a landmark run of Irish releases, representing scenes spanning the country. From pioneers like The Expert, Rí Rá and God Knows, to thrilling talents like Jordan Kelly, Curtisy, and Travy, the homegrown sound has only continued to expand and diversify over the course of 2025 – with plenty of acts primed for a serious international breakthrough.

It’s worth remembering, too, that these scenes couldn't exist without support.

Over the years, Hennessy has become inextricably intertwined into the very fabric of hip-hop – but their impact on the culture stretches far beyond shout-outs in rap classics.

In Ireland, Hennessy has carved out a role at the forefront of the scene, through trailblazing partnerships and collaborations. This year alone, the iconic cognac supported the Emporium Summer Series’ in-store DJ sets; The Future Of Irish Music shows at The Grand Social; and the Hennessy Wild Geese Cypher Hip Hop Trail in Limerick, featuring MuRli, God Knows, Hazey Haze, Strange Boy and Meadhbh Hayes.

Hennessy has continued to platform bold sounds around the world, too – blending the boundaries between hip-hop, amapiano and afrobeats with the pan-African Hennessy Cypher 2025 collaboration, and teaming up with Nigerian artist Tems for the Leading Vibe Initiative, to empower the next generation of women making music in Africa.

Clearly, the future of hip-hop is in good hands – and the close ties between Hennessy and the culture are as strong as ever. So why not toast that ongoing legacy, as you sit back, pour yourself something to sip on, and dive into this year’s top hip-hop albums and mixtapes…