Joey Bada$$ Names 2025 as the Strongest Year in 2020s Hip-Hop
Hip-hop has seen transcendent projects in every decade, with the 1990s often considered a peak era. Legends like 2Pac, Biggie, DMX, Eminem, JAY-Z, and Nas delivered records that remain timeless. Each decade, however, has its standout moments, and the 2020s are already showing significant strength.
Modern stars such as JID, Freddie Gibbs, Pusha T, billy woods, Westside Gunn, and Kendrick Lamar have all released projects that have contributed to the decade’s growing reputation. Among these, Joey Bada$$ recently stated that 2025 is shaping up to be the strongest year so far. He shared his perspective during Brian B.Dot’s podcast Cover Lines, highlighting the quality of releases that have dropped this year.
Joey pointed to several major projects, saying, “We got two Westside Gunn joints. We got JID, Clipse doing the reunion joint, Larry June & 2 Chainz, Chance the Rapper… Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist…” These releases, he noted, showcase the consistency and talent flowing through hip-hop in 2025.
Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out has emerged as a standout, marking the group’s return after a 15-year hiatus. The album debuted in the top 10 of the Hot 200 and sold over 110,000 units, signaling strong community support. Such milestones strengthen the case for 2025 as a defining year for modern hip-hop.
Joey Bada$$’s own album, Lonely At The Top, also dropped in 2025, though he did not mention it while discussing the year’s highlights. While the album received mostly positive fan reviews, it sold fewer than 9,000 copies and did not chart on the Hot 200. This illustrates that sales do not always align with critical acclaim or cultural impact, but they remain a measure of hip-hop’s reach and dominance.
While it may be too early to declare a definitive best year for the 2020s, Joey Bada$$’s take underscores the strength of 2025. Between high-quality releases from established names and promising new talent, the year is shaping up as a notable chapter in hip-hop history.
