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:
Ceebo, Blair Babies
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 @”
SINN6R, #FEDERAL
Best tracks: “Runner”, “Personally”, “Chilli”, “5 Geez”
YT, OI!
Best tracks: “Black & Tan”, “Diamonds”, “Girls Trip”, “Put Your Hands Up”, “Prada or Celine”, “Arena”
Svn4vr, Amen
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”
Dexter in the Newsagent, Time Flies
Best tracks: “Special”, “Eighteen”, “Tonight”, “Stranger to Love”, “Take Care”
Afrosurrealist, BUYBRITISH
Best tracks: “intro (harlem heat)”, “wunblud”, “a day in the life”, “the valleys are peak”, “boys don’t cry”
Kofi Stone, All the Flowers Have Bloomed
Best tracks: “Venice”, “Seeds”, “Rainfall”, “Cactus”, “Boats”
5EB, ##MOTIONMUZIK
Best tracks: “u weren’t here”, “ROSTER”, “London Tipton”, “MASHUP”
SINN6R, 2Often
Best tracks: “Female Top”, “Whole Damn Week”, “White Fur”
EHSI, YB: MUGA
Best tracks: “WALKIN THRU MY SLUMS #ww”, “MONEY PON MI MIND!”
Svn4vr, postgrad
Best tracks: “stop talking to AI talk to God”, “this is my first year as the batman”, “brave & bold”
Svn4vr, fleshdeath
Best tracks: “sick day”, “ily wildcat”
Lord Apex, Smoke Sessions 4
Best tracks: “Initial P”, “Out the Water”, “Vision”, “No Worries”
Paul Stephan & BexBlu, Protect the Silence
Best tracks: “Look for Me”, “Lock My Heart”, “Made in the Manor”
kwes e, Fingers Crossed
Best tracks: “juggin”, “wouldacouldashoulda”, “fela kuti”, “lyk”
jjfinns, BOSSCALL
Best tracks: “Alla Dem”, “Justin Beiber”, “Louis Vee”
REEM, KRYBABY
Best tracks: “CHOSE”, “THEN WHO?”, “WHO ARE U”
Salski2x, Paradox
Best tracks: “Winning”, “Maybelline”
Jianbo, Everything for the Family
Best tracks: “Suya”, “Vixen Riddim”, “Everything for the Family”
Dav1d, ECL1PSE
Best tracks: “BAD 1NTENT1ONS”
N4T, GHANAMUSTGO
Best tracks: “EVERYBODY KNOW”, “OGYA (HOT)”
Ciel, SPiCE
Best tracks: “WHiNE ON ME!”, “ERiTREAN”, “BEYONCE, HANDS UP!”
ST3V OR STUNNA, President of the World
Best tracks: “GLE 63″, “WOMANIZER”
TeeboFG, RIDDLR
Best tracks: “ORGANIC VIEWS”, “RUN UP A CHECK”, “CASH IN A BOX”
5EB, allsummalong
Best tracks: “create + make”, “i feel sick”, “la vida loca”, “life aint free”
Finessekid, Finessekid
Best tracks: “Linked In”, “I Don’t Sell Drugs”, “613 (NC Lounge)”
Salski2x, Swagenham
Best tracks: “Close your eyes”, “Dagenham boy”, “Homecoming”
Lev Zaire, #ZAIRE4EVER
Best tracks: “WE KNOW”
Young Eman, Steeze Kills.
Best tracks: “r u dumb??”, “exist”
Zukovstheworld, End of the World
Best tracks: “Shadows”, “Eating Bullets”, “Fright Night”
Slew, WHO ELSE?
Best tracks: “NEXT MOVE”, “BROADWAY”
blimeydog, Who doesn’t like dogs?
Best tracks: “die poor”
Vat6ré, Silicone.mp3
Best tracks: “TenShots”, “Siliconebag”, “Ya bird is a sket.”
Feng, What the Feng
Best tracks: “Who do u wanna be”, “YOLO”, “XY”
PIERRE, Monster
Best tracks: “Settle”, “FTW”, “5Yrs”, “Surprised”
oopsy, Certified Accident
Best tracks: “Goomba”, “Puss in Boots”, “Pen15 Are”
Lausse the Cat, The Mocking Stars
Best tracks: “The Midnight Hour”, “The Mocking Stars”, “Space Cadet Cat”
JD Clife, misfit.
Best tracks: “Don’t Let Me Go”, “Hills Have Eyes”, “Lying to My Face”
Natanya, Feline’s Return
Best tracks: “Say the Word”, “Night Freaks”, “Moviestar”, “Dangerous”
Jeshi, Airbag Woke Me Up
Best tracks: “DISCONNECT!”, “STUCK ON LOOP”, “DEERS IN THE ROAD”, “BAD PARTS ARE MY FAVOURITE”
namesbliss, Signature Sound
Best tracks: “Mindset”, “Nish”, “regime”, “premium wear”
Zino Vinci, The Late Bloomer
Best tracks: “Rice and Stew”, “Stratford Job Centre”, “Art of the Imposter”
Proph, Hurt’s the New Sexy
Best tracks: “BITTUHSWEET”, “TRADEMARK P”, “HIGH MAINTENANCE”
Reek0, Dance Tapes
Best tracks: “Aademino”, “Game of Love”, “U Can Move”
JM7, WHERE’S YOUR WIFE
Best tracks: “The Math Don’t Math”, “November”
BlazeYL, The Boy on Fire
Best tracks: “TSA”, “Still Not Famous”, “701 (Remix)”, “GTA”, “Judgement Day”
Jords, Mixtape J
Best tracks: “Fuji”, “Mixtape J”, “Fallen Soldiers”,
Sonnyjim, Less Labour More Fruit
Best tracks: “Yellowsmileyface”, “Ritterschlag”, “Five Minutes”
bib sama. & Tayo Loxs, GAIA
Best tracks: “THE LIGHT”, “LAYOVER”, “STANDING ON IT”
