I have long considered Bruno Mars to be the best male singer. He’s simply the perfect package of performance, songwriting, charisma, and patience.

It’s certainly been far too long since we last heard from A$AP Rocky. Noting his weird feud with Drake, acting, and of course the never-ending carousel of fatherhood, the idea of Rocky returning to the music scene was viewed as a fable for far longer than we would like to admit.

In music, there are few things as underappreciated as the harmonic polygot. Capable of reaching the ears of adoring fans globally without the consistent intrusions of a language barrier, a multilingual singer is a lifetime of education and experience matched with the ultimate luck of inheriting talent.

Musically, this year was magical. Artists provided career defining material and we were blessed to hear every second. Here are my picks for the best albums of 2025.

Anwar Sadot is inherently a storyteller. Even though songs designed for the radio, like "Mary Poppins," his penchant for painting a scene and setting a story in motion outweighed the song's catchiness.

Lonely Magic by Rebecca Sugar is a whimsical, delicate idea that finds time to romanticize the often mundane details of life. Through a quick 20-minute project, listeners enjoy sounds that go beyond the scope of partnering well, instead existing in intimate moments to craft one of the year's best projects.

Spotify wrapped is here and I thought it would be fun to show some of my stats.

What are your stats?

Here is a factual statement: FKA Twigs has never released a bad project. Her string of fantastic albums continues with the release of EUSEXUA Afterglow, a follow-up to the well-received EUSEXUA, a future-forward album blending dance hits with the classic FKA Twigs mystery.

This month has been great for me creatively. I have found a unique groove in writing, music, and my other ventures. This is the soundtrack for me finding my passions again.

Danny Brown is one of the rare anomalies in hip-hop. This emcee stuck true to his sound, story, and consistency, and despite not having the commercial success of his rapping classmates, has been a mainstay of respected artists since entering the scene in the late 2000s.

“Trap Trauma” by Asaka The Renegade, if nothing else, is a blueprint for song structure that has long been forgotten by modern rappers, blending fresh and raw storytelling with natural, divine-given talent. This song is a stark reminder that when Asaka puts pen to paper, few in music can match him letter for letter or story for story. 

Hardships usually cause life's greatest lessons. However, for musicians, the experiences create magic that grows into our audio theme songs. For singer Peterice Estelle, her single “Unbound” features the songstress chronicling her most difficult life lessons into a power anthem as the single belts through the near four-minute track. 

Couch Hangin’ by Florencia & The Feeling, if nothing else, is the audio equivalent of discovering a new flavor to your favorite drink. Between the groovy basslines, the ability for every song to uncover ways of growth on a second-by-second basis, or the fact that no two tracks sound the same, this project is a late arrival, but if nothing else, it is one of the best albums of the year. 

"Belly" is another reminder that Wale is one of the greatest poets of this era. And in a world where lyricism is becoming increasingly unimportant in the genre built on lyrics, Wale is the one true constant that reminds us that when a flow pairs with a tailor-made instrumental, there is no better genre than hip-hop. 

Update regarding my plans for the Ayesharp website. Do not worry, we are not deleting.

Coming off the audio-heaven that is Fountain Baby, Amaarae follows up with Black Star, a direct 180 from the previous album’s composition, focusing more on dance hits and afro-house instrumentation, rather than sticking to an established sound that her 2023 project.

In the world of Music, it is a beautiful but rare occurrence when an artist is so clearly performing at the peak of their powers, whether it is DMX in 1998, GloRilla in 2024, or, as we are currently experiencing, Leon Thomas now

Hi everyone! I will spoil the news now. I am making an album! I am also looking to hire more writers for the site. So if you know any writers looking to sharpen their skills, send them my way.

While rappers often try this tactic to remind people that their pen game is sharp, nobody executes this better than #WhoIsJovie, who once again, brings forth his iron fist to remind people that when he puts pen to paper, there’s rarely a soul willing to match him letter-for-letter.