THE NDX: Every Essential Track from the Last 12 Months

Inside the 304 Essential Songs That Made Our Year, Plus Our 7 Unstoppable Artists to Watch in 2026.

The year 2025 was a complex, explosive, and beautiful mess of sound. From genre-bending newcomers to legends dropping career-defining collaborations, our annual NDX list—the staff-curated index of the year’s best songs—is a massive 304-track testament to music’s unshakable power. Forget the charts; this is the sound of our late-night drives, our healing sessions, our club sweat, and our biggest triumphs.

This year, the culture embraced sonic fluidity, proving that the best songs defy boxes. Here is a look at the tracks that earned their spot in the canon of 2025.

The year belonged to infectious grooves and unexpected drops that dominated algorithms and dance floors.

The list kicks off with kwn’s sultry house-R&B crossover, “back of the club.” The track perfectly captured the atmosphere of low-stakes, high-tension flirtation. The lyrics, “I wanna get drunk in the back of the club with you / When it’s hot, and it’s wet / But you won’t take your eyes off mine,” became an instant social media caption for summer flings. Similarly, SAHXL brought an undeniable bounce “Again” that had everyone keeping his latest songs on loop.

Tate McRae’s explicit “TIT FOR TAT” and the propulsive energy of SLM’s “Pushin’ Up” were mainstays on pop playlists, but the real buzz came from the global stars such as Tyla who continued to show her undeniable star power with multiple entries, particularly the Sean Paul-assisted “PUSH 2 START (REMIX).” The track, a mesmerizing blend of amapiano, pop, and reggae, used car analogies to explore attraction, with critics noting her ability to “merge lyrics and choreography” into a captivating package. Her other hit, “MR. MEDIA,” offered a sly, rhythmic response to fame that had the timeline talking.

Honey Dijon and Chlöe’s “The Nightlife” was the deep-house anthem that bridged generations, making it a staff favorite, while Lola Brooke’s powerful “Pain” was a triumphant moment, sampling Mary J. Blige’s “No More Drama.” Responding to industry debates, Brooke stressed she’s “living proof” that commercial rap is not dead, emphasizing her commitment to respecting the craft. Drake’s explicit “NOKIA” sparked an immediate firestorm, with fans dissecting every line of the video for perceived subliminal messages and trolling—evidence that the OVO head still commands conversation with every single drop. The single quickly appeared in countless fan-made mashups, cementing its essential presence in the 2025 soundscape.

R&B continued its reign as the genre of collaboration and emotional honesty, often pulling from its own rich history. The divine connection between Mariah Carey and The Clark Sisters on “Jesus I Do” was a spiritual highlight of the year. The legendary gospel group described the studio atmosphere as “warm, spiritual, and familial,” while Carey admitted she had “butterflies” finally working with her idols, calling the moment “major.”

Rising stars also delivered deep cuts that became staples for late-night listening to the impeccable Tems’ “What You Need” was lauded for its “dreamy, intimate and pure alt-Afro/R&B” sound, with one fan breaking down her genius: “The way the song balances vulnerability and confidence... it’s a floaty, late-night, headphones-on atmosphere.” UMI’s explicit collaboration with 6LACK, “HARD TRUTHS,” was a soothing, introspective R&B staple. UMI stated her goal was to be “the storyteller, the vessel to express everyone’s stories,” and the track served as a key pillar in her highly personal and expansive new project.

Queen Naija and Mariah The Scientist also teamed up for “my man...” while Halle delivered the counterpoint with “his type” from her long awaited debut album. Both tracks fueled countless debates on social media about dating dynamics, with fans tweeting how often simply we forget how important things can be in a relationship and even the best of us can find things of that nature as relatable.

Some of the most exciting additions came from artists who shredded the genre lines, earning massive fan engagement for their sheer originality.

Thundercat and Remi Wolf delivered a joyous dose of avant-funk with “Children of the Baked Potato.” Thundercat praised Wolf’s contribution, saying, “She knew exactly what the song needed, and it was wild to watch her make it happen. The more I listen to the song, it’s clear there was no one better I could have picked.”

On the pop-punk side, Taylor Acorn’s explicit “Blood On Your Hands” provided an emotionally raw, cathartic moment. The track, described as a “retributive post-breakup song,” used a brilliant, darker metaphor for heartbreak: “You broke in uninvited / shoved a knife through my heart.”

Finally, the unexpected hip-hop-meets-Skate-Culture track, explicit “Sk8” by JID (featuring Ciara and EARTHGANG), was initially met with surprise but quickly became a fan favorite for its fun, low-stakes vibe thanks to social media. A fan perfectly summed up the feeling on social media: “Skating is big in ATL culture, Ciara is big in ATL culture, and that subgenre of hip-pop is a part of the ATL lineage. He’s just having fun with it and that’s my favorite part of it all.”

After hours and days of deliberations our staff couldn’t pick the traditional 70 songs but did want to spotlight these…

• back of the club – kwn

• AGAIN – SAHXL

• The Softest – Psyrin

• I Like Them Girls (Black Women Anthem) – Rayle

• Silver Pillars – Keenan TreVon

• SUGA ON THE RIM – Kyle Dion

• Never Love You Again – Jordan Armstrong

• THE AWARD GOES TO – Jessie J

• Like A Dog – Miss Dior

• LIE FOR ME – Aleebi

• Oh No! Did We Miss The Turn? – cecilian

• SENTIMENTAL – Raspberry Sky

• Deadwrong – Elujay

• TIT FOR TAT – Tate McRae

• Pushin’ Up – SLM

• U Can’t Remember (feat. Queen Naija) – Kiana Ledé, Queen Naija

• The Nightlife – Honey Dijon, Chlöe

• Dinner For 3 – Felix Ames

• Simple Things – Ne-Yo

• Diamond In The Dark – Sophie Ellis-Bextor

• Addicted – Odeal

• Come Home – Dariel Amant

• What You Need – Tems

• Break – Jhené Aiko

• Easy – Taylor Belle and SAFA

• Come Home – Marzz

• Still Not Over U – PxRRY

• LOCKED IN – SAILORR

• Promise – Chalynn

• No More Scorpios – Jhyve

• Smoov – Bellah

• So Good – V. Cartier

• RED – Eyah Cohle

• She – Ambré

• Control – Tank

• Pamela – Aya Nakamura, Kany

• Can’t Stop Loving You – Felicia Temple

• Number One – Summer Walker, Brent Faiyaz

• Destiny – Ellie Goulding

• Pain – Lola Brooke

• Came A Long Way – Jalisa Rey

• Baby Too Soon – Liza

• Shut Up – Chloe Jane feat. Flyana Boss, Flyana Boss

• S3x Symbol – Barry Hendrixx

• Still In Love – Mario

• Let Me – Zae France

• People Always Change – Celeste

• Nice n’ Sweet (feat. MOLIY) – Ciara & Oxlade, MOLIY

• Chains of Love – Charli xcx

• FIYAH – Sofia Ly, Skillibeng

• 587 – Kelsea Ballerini

• GIFTED – AJ McQueen

• Mad World (From “Reasonable Doubt (Season 3)”) – Luke James, Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad

• Broken Hearted – Justin Love

• 5 STARS – SANNI

• Lil’ Obsession (feat. Ambré) – BOY SODA, Ambré

• Fake Names – Che Ecru

• I Win – Masego

• Talkin’ About – Amerie

• APOLOGIZE – BLK ODYSSY

• DON’T EVER LEAVE ME – Faouzia

• I’m Over It – Alemeda

• Negative Self Talk – Hayley Williams

• Someone Like You – 2BYG

• Once I Was A Good Girl – 3Quency

• Celebrate (feat. Paul Wall) – Don Louis, Paul Wall

• Freakie – Jae Stephens

• Passenger Princess – BAYLI

• Girls Gone Wild – JT

• Babywoman – Äyanna

• Hold You – Savannah Ré

• HELP! – Jaymin

• Good Thing – SWEATA

• Safer – Tamar Braxton

• Need To Know – Leo Manzari

• MOVING – H.LLS, SOLOMON

• Phenomenal – TAMMIE

• Safe Space – Jade Novah

• Sorry To Myself – Demi Lovato

• Unknown Caller – Ann Marie

• Girls Like Sade – June Freedom & Nana Fofie

• Groupie – Chxrry

• Morning (By Your Side) – Begonia

• Think We Are (feat. Dylan Sinclair) – Pino, Dylan Sinclair

• STOPNGO – 3ee and jsilos

• CREEPIN – JEMS!, Elujay, & J.Robb

• Ando y Busco – Dariel Amant

• Afterlife – Guy Sebastian

• Delulu – Muni Long

• Blood On Your Hands – Taylor Acorn

• Do You Remember – Skylar Grey

• Just My Type – Miles from Kinshasa, NARX, aleeson

• my man... – Queen Naija, Mariah The Scientist

• his type – Halle

• Proud of Me – Storm Ford

• CHANEL – Tyla

• Talkin Bout You’re Ready – Keithian, JustKing Jones

• SWISH DAT – PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE

• Under The Moon – Ari Lennox

• Work2Hard – Jaz Karis

• Want This To Happen – Jastin Martin

• Hush Hush – Jaylon Ashaun, Jesse LeProtti

• Petty – Jermaine Elliott

• Get Back – Samm Henshaw

• LAYiN LO – Brandon Lott

• Shouldn’t Wanna Call – Elijah Blake

• Still Alive – IV4

• Alchemy (3am) – Cautious Clay

• Walls – Keyon

• Cashmere – Kofee Bean, La Soülchyld

• FEEL LOVE – PARTYOF2, Jadagrace, SWIM

• Nearsight [SID] – Miguel

• Emergency – Tink

• About Us (with Qing Madi) – 255 & Qing Madi

• Can’t Explain It – Jermain Reese Jr., Girlfriend, Girlfriend

• Burn Burn – Willa Ford

• Honest – Bhad Bhabie

• Limbo – Bryant Barnes

• BEEN THERE, DONE THAT – Abby Jasmine

• It Depends (The Remix) – Chris Brown feat. Bryson Tiller & Usher, Bryson Tiller, Usher

• Ainda Não Te Amo – Thiago Pantaleão

• Reassurance – Eli Derby & J.O.N

• Supermarket – Say Now

• Body Go – MOLIY, Tyla

• You Time – REGI FLIH

• Yé – Phreeborn

• Good Side – Shaun Ross

• Make Up – GIGI

• Over – Robert Glasper, Yebba, Yebba

• If I Never Get To Heaven – Ledisi

• tmwtd – Jordyn Simone

• READY SET – BIA

• whenever you’re gone – Khalid

• Brand New – JayDon

• Slide – Shaylin B

• Blue – Alina Baraz and Galimatias

• For The Night – ELENA

• UNDERCOVER ANGEL – Chase Shakur

• Don’t Remind Me – Amber Mark, Anderson .Paak

• Only You – Ebony Riley

• CARE 4 ME – Josh Levi

• Memories – Lojay & Tyla

• Take Me In Your Arms – Hollie Cook

• Moviestar – Natanya

• Bite The Bait – Rochelle Jordan

• High Priestess – Qveen Herby

• In My Head – 7Kulture

• YAP – Justine Skye

• Dancing in the Smoke (From the Netflix Series “Nobody Wants This” Season 2) – GIVĒON

• Leave Me (Please Don’t Leave Me) – JACOTÉNE

• He’s Not Me – Dylan Sinclair

• Imagination Guy – Jussie Smollett

• Under The Influence – EB3N

• ReasonsWhy – Flwr Chyld, James Tillman

• Disarray – Lianne La Havas

• Ordinary Love – Shelby Ruger

• Toot Toot – Tweet

• Bad News – Victoria Jane

• No Patience – Dylan Wild

• Gorgeous – Doja Cat

• Jesus I Do (feat. The Clark Sisters) – Mariah Carey, The Clark Sisters

• UP – Amari Noelle

• Man I Need – Olivia Dean

• I Got Questions – Jhyve

• Glory – Immasoul & Jeanki

• Deep In Luv – Breez Kennedy

• GMFU – Syd

• Move feat. H.E.R. – Tiara Thomas, H.E.R.

• Green Light – SAFA

• Do Me Like That – The Paradox

• games – ilham

• Coincidence – Maddox Batson

• WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! – RAYE

• Savor – Spencer Diamond

• You Should Be Here – Jack Freeman

• Children of the Baked Potato – Thundercat and Remi Wolf

• Breakfast – Olivia Knox

• Mesmo Lugar – Thiago Pantaleão & SIMBIAT

• Lightspeed – Avenoir

• JUICY – Jordan Ward

• on camera – HENNESSY

• Assumptions – Sevyn Streeter

• I’m your first – flowerovlove

• Makeup Sex – Jabari

• SWOOP – Adrian Marcel

• Break my Heart – IV. Jay

• MARCH – GloRilla

• this life’ – Destin Laurel

• Place Of Peace – Dax

• All Over You – Mabel, King Promise

• Blue Moon – Benita

• Focus – Aqyila

• Cinnamon – Jake&Papa

• covering faces – Carlie Hanson

• Mona Lisa Smile – Melanie Fiona

• Baby (Is it a Crime) – Rema

• Have It Your Way – Jazlyn Martin and TheArti$t

• Crush – Genia

• Outside – DaShean Porter

• Glory – Savannah Ré

• IFY – LÉA THE LEOX

• NOKIA – Drake

• STUPID – Quincy

• PUSH 2 START (REMIX) – Tyla & Sean Paul

• On You (Dirty) – Trina, Swurv305 & Nia Amber

• Flounce (feat. GAWD) – Durand Bernarr, GAWD

• Good Guys – Jonojono

• body – 88rising, YOUHA & Warren Hue

• Light Years – Nao

• Just Like Me – Chxrry

• Right Here Right Now – Romeyo Wilson

• RUDUMB? – Amanda Reifer

• Issa Rae 2 – God Body Bingo

• Space – ELENA

• Standards – Raiche

• Fall Too Hard – Hope Tala

• Fever – Winnie Ama

• Grab Hold – Mack Keane

• NEED MY BABY BACK – ArjaySoul

• OVER – Larrenwong

• Lovers To Enemies – No Guidnce

• Let Go – Noha Saré

• motion – Elijah LeFlore

• Pieces – Bathe

• Mine – AMERIE

• be with ya – Q

• AMPM – Luna Elle

• The Garden – Ballad, Akeem Ali

• Last Call – Jay Sean, Alan Sampson, ADP

• Issue – ASTN

• The Let Out – JeRonelle & Felicia Temple

• To Love and Be Loved – Annie Tracy

• toes in the grass – Adanna Duru

• Vogue on Vogue – Chikoruss

• That One Ex – The Amours

• Wake Up – Craig David

• Hands – Alex Isley

• Skirt Hurt (Redemption) – iyla

• Fine Shyt – Vedo

• Where is My Weed – Aliah Sheffield

• Lovin’ U – Paradise

• Thang 4 U – Coco Jones

• Have Your Way – Fantasia

• U Got Me – Spencer Diamond

• Just Like Me – RAAHiiM

• Comfortable – Steven Christopher

• Take Her Love – Xavier Omär

• Face to Face – Mya

• Rain – Kierra Sheard

• HARD TRUTHS – UMI x 6LACK

• june – DE’WAYNE

• BUTTERFLY KISSES – Rico Nasty

• Talk About Us (feat. Isaiah Falls) – Emotional Oranges, Isaiah Falls

• WHAT YOU NEED – Asiahn

• Oh Lala – Justine Skye & KAYTRANADA

• Two Cents – Hillari

• Leave Me in the Dark – Tony Evans Jr.

• CONTROL – Shreta

• Walls – JAWAN.mp3, Marie Dahlstrom

• JOURNEY – Shaé Universe, S’ABLE SOUNDS

• Save My Love – Marshmello, Ellie Goulding, AVAION

• ROMP (feat. Cocoa Sarai) – The Bashmen, Swanky, Jidenna, Cocoa Sarai

• how it starts – elijah

• I <3 YOU – MARINA

• I Choose Love – Cynthia Erivo

• Rescue Me – Keyon

• Hope You Understand Me – Tiffany Evans

• WeMaj – Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon (feat. Rapsody), Rapsody

• Hot Yoga – Domani

• Bodies – Offset, JID

• Off Script – Keke Palmer

• Broken Glass – Lorde

• Tell No Lie – Lecrae & Jackie Hill Perry

• Do U Ever – Skylar Simone

• I Choose You – Elhae, Ambré

• Not Today – Hymn Marley

• Rumours – Jack Dean

• I LIKE – Langston Bleu

• Instructions – Mahalia

• Over & Over – CARI

• Keep Me In Love – Charlie Wilson

• M.T.B.T.T.F. – Clipse, Pusha T & Malice

• MR. MEDIA – Tyla

• SHUT UP – Tone Stith

• Make It Right – Lekan

• Hot Body – Ayra Starr

• I’ll Take Care of You – Tyler, The Creator feat. Yebba, Yebba

• What Were You Thinking – Couch

• Sun Don’t Leave Me – Raveena

• superstars – Saweetie, TWICE

• Kiss It Kiss It – Reneé Rapp

• She Bad – NanaBcool, Greedo

• Sk8 – JID, Ciara, EARTHGANG

• Lucky – David Archuleta

• Country Boys Never Learn – Jimmie Allen

• LET ME IN – Taylor Gray

• Tsunami – RnBoi

• Slow It Down – Devon Culture

• Rock With Me – Kem

• all day – Nali

• United Nations + 1000 Ways to Die – Mariah the Scientist

• LMOL – Ciara

• Love On You – dvsn

• Fuck Off – Green Day

From the soulful depth of R&B to the global power of Afrobeats and the sharp edge of modern Hip-Hop, the our ‘NDX’ list has showcased the diverse sonic palette of 2025. This curated collection represents the best of the year, but the conversation doesn’t end here. We’ve tracked the artists who have married exceptional quality with massive metrics, and seven names consistently rose to the top. Congratulations to Psyrin, Felix Ames, Sofia Ly, JayDon, Bryant Barnes, 2BYG, and Party of 2—our 7 Artists to Watch in 2026. Each artist is set to define their respective genre in the new year. Their current catalog is fantastic, but trust us: their next chapter will be seismic. Also included are a few staff “awards” based on our overall picks:

• Favorite Song: this life’ – Destin Laurel

• Favorite Album: Me, My Songs & I – JayDon

• Favorite Collaboration: Jesus I Do (feat. The Clark Sisters) – Mariah Carey

• Favorite Music Video: Hot Body – Ayra Starr

• Favorite Live Vocal: RAYE

• Favorite Future Vocal: Dylan Sinclair

• Favorite Veteran Vocal: Mya

Also a few music projects (whether EP or studio album) that broke our repeat button in 2025:

• I Forgive You – Cynthia Erivo

• Why Not More – Coco Jones

• Hearts Sold Separately – Mariah the Scientist

• Love On Digital – Destin Conrad

• We All Need Love – Breez Kennedy

• Through the Wall – Rochelle Jordan

• Hear For It All – Mariah Carey

• Heat The Streets – Elmiene

• Pretty Idea – Amber Mark

• The Summer That Saved Us – Odeal