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The 2025 essentials: ft. Dave, Doechii, Central Cee, Skepta, Sexyy Red and more

The tracks that shaped 2025 in rap, drill, grime and hip-hop. From viral heat to legends still shelling it, this is 1Xtra’s fully certified Rap List: Best of 2025.

1Xtra’s Rap List: Best of 2025, your ultimate guide to the tracks that shaped the year in rap, drill, grime and hip-hop. If it mattered in the culture, it’s on this list.

Only the biggest, boldest and most talked-about names made the cut. From viral breakouts to pure bar merchants, legends still shelling it to fresh heat from the underground this is what defined 2025.

Dave, Skepta, Doechii, Flo Milli, Central Cee, Cardi B, Latto, J Hus, Ice Spice, D-Block Europe and more came through with serious weight. These are the songs that soundtracked the year.

All handpicked by the team at BBC Radio 1Xtra, this playlist is fully certified. No skips, no filler — just the records that ruled.

Turn it all the way up. This is the sound of 2025.

Produced by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 1Xtra.

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2 hours

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Next Monday01:00
BBC Radio 1Xtra

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Rap essentials: ft. Ice Spice, Cardi B, Gunna, Drake, AJ Tracey, Shallipopi, Skepta and more

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Rap essentials: ft Headie One, Lancey Foux, Skepta, Wretch 32, Little Simz, JayaHadaDream, J Hus, Glorilla, 21 Savage and more.

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Music Played

  • Dave

    Raindance (feat. Tems)

    • Neighbourhood Recordings.

  • Doechii

    DENIAL IS A RIVER

    • Top Dawg Entertainment/Capitol Records.

  • Skepta & Fred again..

    London

    • Epic Records UK.

  • Latto

    Somebody

    • Streamcut/RCA Records.

  • D‐Block Europe & Young Adz

    Ski Flow

  • Megan Thee Stallion

    LOVER GIRL

    • Hot Girl Productions.

  • J Hus

    Gold (feat. Asake)

    • EMPIRE.

  • JT

    Girls Gone Wild

    • Copyright Control.

  • Fred again.., Skepta & PlaqueBoyMax

    Victory Lap

    • Atlantic.

  • Nemzzz

    ART (feat. Latto)

    • Elevated Music Limited.

  • Flo Milli

    Never Lose Me

    • 94 Sounds/RCA Records.

  • D‐Block Europe

    Wrongs (feat. Lil Tjay)

    • PTSD 2.
    • D-Block Europe.
    • 3.

  • Headie One

    Balanced

  • Skepta

    Sirens (From Ireland) (feat. Finessekid)

    • Epic Records UK.

  • French Montana

    Pack U Up (feat. Cash Cobain)

    • Coke Boys Records.

  • Knucks

    GOLDTOOTH (feat. Blaqbonez)

    • No Day Off Ltd.

  • Sexyy Red

    Get It Sexyy

    • Open Shift/Gamma.

  • JayaHadADream

    Hideout (feat. Frisco)

  • Jim Legxacy & Dave

    3X

    • XL Records.

  • Gunna

    just say dat

    • 300 Entertainment.

  • Ms Banks

    4C

  • Pozer

    Nyash (Shake)

    • Copyright Control.

  • Sexyy Red & Bruno Mars

    FJW

    • Gamma/Atlantic Records.

  • Blanco

    Regime

  • Doechii

    Nissan Altima

    • Polydor.

  • ArrDee & Mazza L20

    Trouble

  • Cristale

    Roadents

  • ODUMODUBLVCK

    Big Time (feat. Wizkid)

    • Native Sounds/Def Jam PS.

  • Meekz

    BACK2LIFE

  • Mazza L20

    New Money (feat. Aitch)

  • EsDeeKid & Rico Ace

    Phantom

    • Phantom.
    • Lizzy Records.

  • TeeZandos & Cristale

    No, Yes!

  • Pozer

    Jersey King

    • ADA Music.

  • Ty Dolla $ign, Young Thug & Lil Baby

    TYCOON$

    • TYCOON.
    • Atlantic.
    • 6.

  • JayaHadADream

    Main Characters (feat. Big Zuu)

  • Blanco

    Carpe Diem

  • Mobb Deep

    Down For You (feat. Jorja Smith & Nas)

    • Infinite.
    • Mass Appeal.
    • 6.

  • Central Cee

    GBP (feat. 21Savage)

    • Can't Rush Greatness.
    • Columbia.
    • 5.

  • Cardi B

    Imaginary Playerz

    • Atlantic Records.

  • Yeat

    COMË N GO

    • Capitol Records.

  • Drake

    NOKIA

    • OVO Sound/Santa Anna Label Group/Republic Records/UMG Recordings.

  • Strandz & Teejay

    Rebel

    • Strandz Music Ltd.

  • Knucks

    Cut Knuckles

    • Copyright Control.

  • Tion Wayne

    Streets A Lie

    • Tion Wayne.

  • Lady Ice

    Brazy (Ya Na)

    • Lady Ice.

  • Latto

    Gyatt (feat. Ice Spice)

    • StrameCut / RCA.

Broadcasts

  • Sat 3 Jan 202601:00
    BBC Radio 1Xtra
  • Next Monday01:00
    BBC Radio 1Xtra