Tag: DJ TMB

We are going to do this a little different than we used to. In this end of the year post you will still see our favorite songs, projects, and we will acknowledge those we think differentiated and left that indellible stamp on the year. This is more commentary than list, and redefined as our “favorites” rather than just ascribe them as the “best” as we all know that’s contentious and debateable. There are ALWAYS dope tracks, great albums, and talented artists that these pages aren’t big enough to hold, so for that, we apologize. But THIS is the music that moved us most for one reason or another throughout the year that set itself apart. (Please note we will “slow rolling”the albums and songs out daily until we hit our favorites by January 1st so stay tuned for the updates!)

Favorite 50 Joints Of 2025

Artist	Song	Note
#1 – El Gant	Art Piece (ft. Ras Kass)
#2 – Ransom & DJ Premier	A Cut Above
#3 – Propaganda	All My Life
#4 – Eddie Kaine	Maurice & Shaunice
#5 – Water Buffalos	Pieces (ft. Illmac)
#6 – Spit Gemz	Bag Work
#7 – John Jigg$ & Butterknife Haircuts	Vladimir
#8 – Lateb & Kore	Love & Sin
#9 – Substance810 & Big Trip	Medusa
#10 – Fashawn & Sir Veterano	My Crown	Great track off of one of the best albums of the year in,
#11 – M-Dot & Confidence	The Run Around (ft. Kore)	M-Dot has made a literal living of putting his life in these lines and this time he has production from Confidence to support these meaningful bars. And I always appreciate a chorus from Kore to top it off. From the album, Library Of Sound.
#12 – Benny Watts & Profound79	No Hook	This tracks is one of the toughest of the year. No frills, just a flow and pen that go for maximum impact. And this beat with the piano and vocal sample leave a heavy imprint on the year. Off of the album, Stovetop Chronicles.
#13 – DJ Mirage	Lift Up (ft. M-Dot, Big Shug, and Lil Fame)	I could have picked a couple of ill joints from Mirage’s album, Background Check. The project is super ill, but this one spoke the most to me. The beat with the vocal sample and quality of the bars coupled with Fame’s energy is not to miss.
#14 – Daniel Son & Ghost Notes	T.O.	Daniel Son has been synonymous with putting out dope releases since 2018. He never disappoints and always delivers a premium product…and as the chorus says…”I love me some me…” Off of the collaborative The Estes Method.
#15 – Tabinstereo & Anitek	Captain’s Log	Not only a great song but this by far was also my favorite video of 2025. The anmiation and creative vision was super slick. Music than you can sit back an enjoy. Off of the Indigo Immaculate album.
#16 – Ayoo Bigz	Cheque Day (ft. Daniel Son)	This is one of my most played songs of the year. Damn I love this beat and I love how the two emcess trade bars. This is the height of illness. From the album, Unholy Scriptures.
#17 – Asun Eastwood & MK Ortiz	Debaucherous Diary	This is one of the more personal tracks from the album, Ask God For Help . The beat is a sublime canvas for Eastwood to put his thoughts and perspective.
#18 – Sayzee	Cha Cha	Yes. It’s another Machacha sighting! This time flipping two beats for one of the dopest joints on Sayzee’s #1 album…Word On The Street Is God Wants You Dead.
#19 – Slaine & Statik Selektah	Coka Grillz (ft. Paul Wall & Ill Bill)	It’s the return of La Coka with a twist. Selektah hits us with a sick bass line while Slaine, Ill Bill, and none other than Paul Wall drop verses. this song hits just right. Off the album, A New State Of Grace.
#20 – Snotty & Goodphella	Nobody’s Safe	Last track from The Blue Carpet album and it just sticks with you. That beat, the lyricism, and the chorus make this joint a sure shot for the year. Umbreall over everything!
#21 – The Expert	A Different Reality (ft. Milc)	The flow off of this track is impossible to ignore. I had never heard of Milc before this but I definitely know now. These bars over this etheral production is godly. Off of Vivid Viisions
#22 – Mickey Diamond & BigGhost	WTF	We all wait with baited breath until the end of the year for the Mickey Diamond and BigGhost collabo and they did not disappoint with the ill Wolf Tickets. This is my favorite track from the album.
#23 – Elcamino	London Gatwick	Elcamino has made ALOT of music over the years but by far his opus is his album MINO. And the toughest track from this album featured a trip to London. Watch how he executes!
#24 – A-F-R-O & 60 East	Corners	This duo was back at it creating dope music in 2025 and this was one of my favorite story telling tracks of the year. Definitely check out their album At The Sideshow 2: Art House
#25 – K.A.A.N. & DJ Hoppa	Breaking Bad (ft. Coyote)	These two collaborators were literally out in 2025 cooking up something special yet again for the masses, offering this ill and frenetic track to the masses off of their fantastic album, Anger Management
#26 – Rasheed Chappell & Mickey Blue	No. 9	Another banging and memorable track from an extraordinarily talented artist…backed by banging yet spaced out production from Blue. Off of the Speer VIllage Alum album.
#27 – Eto & NicoJP	G#	NicoJP laces something dark and ominous for Eto to lace his elite pen game upon! The two lay down the rules of land in a commanding way. Off of Sicilian Codes.
#28 – Skyzoo	Pardon Me	I have said this many times but you can hear it EVERY time he flows…consummate emcee and rhyme writer with a voice that stand distinct. Off of the Views Of A Lifetime album.
#29 – Maze Overlay	Deaf Confessions	He’s always dropping something personable and relateable that puts things in perspective for the listener. His easy going flow really connects here. Off of the album, Word.
#30 – Skanks the Rap Martyr & Ruste Juxx	essential bars	essential bars…and that’s exactly what you get this single. Damn…these emcees bring solidified fire to the mic over some really nice production from UG. Off of the Live From Crow Hill album.
#31 – Ferris Blusa & Observe Since 98	In Gawd We Trust	This is the perfect combination of emcee and producer. They did something very unique with their project, Let Go And Let Gawd. Intertwining soul and lyricism seamlessly.
#32 – Lil Dee	Up All Night	We’ve seen lots of videos and freestyles of Lil Dee ripping up mics and now you get the album, Danny James…and this song stands front and center with his menta
#33 – Lord Juco	Hiatus	Nobody puts the soul into music quite like Juco and that’s on full display here. He gives you that unique conversational style like he’s talking to you through the track. Off of Sweet Nothings!
#34 – BlackLiq & Dub Sonata	10 Black Commandments	Blackliq put his own twist on the commandments as it pertains life and music. He’s dropping knowledge to artists every where. Don’t miss! Off of the extremely personaland dope Much Given, Much Tested.
#35 – Fuzzy Ed	Fragments Of Life (ft. Copywrite and Tone Spliff)	Favorite track off of the album, The Way Home. The strings, the drums, the scratching, and the way Copywrite flows so viciously over it all!
#36 – Ryu	Hang Time (Ryu To The Rescue)	I love how this leads the album Medium Raw. Ryu shows that his craft and lyricism are still sharp and the production has that vintage SOB flavor. Love it!
#37 – Napoleon Da Legend & Dub Sonata	Humble Pt 2	Love how Dub Sonata laced this beat…so damn beautiful And our emcee laces some introspective lyricism refelcting on life. Off of Soul Vs. Math.
#38 – Substance810 & Josiah The Gift	Pay The Price (ft. DJ Grazzhoppa)	Damn this song goes hard. The bars and the beat are phenomenal alone but Grazzhoppa take this joint next level with the scratches. Off of You’re All Welcome.
#39 – FuHandz	Done Different (ft. Planet Asia and Terror Van Poo)	Producer FuHandz linking up with venerable PA Medallions and TVP was the sure shot…love this beat and how he rocked it. Off of same titled project…Done Different.
#40 – Vega7 The Ronin & Machacaha	Quoth The Raven	Wish we had more from Vega7 in 2025 but what we did get was potent! And once again Machacha on the boards! Off of The Ghost Orchid
#41 – Fresh Daily & Parental	Plaid Patterns (ft. Awon & Debonair P)	It’s in the name…fresh. It’s a refreshing listen from a pair of really talented emcees. Off of These Things Take Time
#42 – Landon Wordsell & Es-K	Grudges	Another highly slept on emcee and project from this year hitting you from the heart. Off of Remember To Breathe.
#43 – Aesoprock	Opossum	Everyone feels this way at some point in their life or day. Aesoprock hits the nail on the head. Off of I Heard It’s A Mess There Too
#44 – B1 The Archtect	Find Out (ft. Daniel Son)	I know you slept on this one. This track is like fire in the darkness, and c’mon Daniel Son does not miss. Off Of Heads Or Tails.
#45 – Machacha	Wish You Hell (ft. Waterr x Andre Desaint)	Machacha. We will talk more about him soon. This is the perfect combo on this track. Off of The Formula: 250
#46 – Joell Ortiz	Ambidextrous	Very few as polished on the mic as Ortiz. And he shows his tenacity and dexterity yet again here. Off of Love, Peace & Trauma
#47 – Blame One & Preed One	Reach The Dust	Cuts by DJ TMB push this one over the top for 2025. Pure hip hop. Off of Road Map.
#48 – The Bad Seed	50	Seed isn’t just getting older but he’s getting better with time as you can hear on this banger producer by Murda Megz off of From Us With Love.
#49 – Griffen	Servititude (ft. Squirt ILL)	Addressing the state of music ownership in the illest possible way with a chorus that sticks in your head. Off of the effortless pen 2.
#50 – Shylow	Ya Timez Up	The first part of this song was pretty dope, but when the second verse hit with the drums it was a wrap. Off of The Contingency Plan.

Favorite 10 Albums In 2025

Artist	Album	Note
#1 Sayzee & Lupara	Word On The Street Is God Wants You Dead	First…best title for an album ever! Secondly the content matches the cover. I thought time and time again where this album would sit on a list of recommendations…and it’s undoubtedly first. The Lupara gang lace you not with just 14 beats but likely 28 as they so some impeccable switch ups. And Sayzee makes each snare worth it’s weight in lyricism. Canada brought it in 2025 and Sayzee with the crown.
#2 Fashawn & Sir Veterano	All Hail The King 2	Rarely do sequeals surpass their predecessors. This is true in literature, movies, and music. Typically. Not true here. Producer and emcess deliver a master class of emceeing and production…lacing you with dope track after dope track. This is exceptional music!
#3 Asun Eastwood & MK Ortiz	Ask God For Help	I said this in the description of one of the singels I reviewed for this project…growth. This album is about growth. It is the maturation of time, experience, and talent. There are no flaws in this album. Eastwood brings an elevated pen while Ortiz showcases some of the best produciton in 2025.
#4 M-Dot & Confidence	Library Of Sound	This M-Dot’s best album to date in my opinion. The work put in with one producer (Confidence) gives this album a distinct sound where each song belongs and yet is distinctive. perfect audible canvas where one of our favorite emcee’s thoughts can live.
#5 Eddie Kaine & Machacha	Crown Me Kaine	When I heard this back in early 2025 I knew this is a record that would wind up as one of the best that year. Kaine’s intensity and talent is magnified overe these beats from Machacha. Also has one of the best songs of the year…(more later)
#6 BlackLiq & Dub Sonata	Much Given, Much Tested	This is probably one of the most personal releases of 2025 as our emcee really delves into his own experiences, growth, and missteps. He does so skillfully over some really diverse production from oune of our favorites.
#7 – Substance810 & Big Trip	The Guillotine	This release was unrelenting. Nine tracks that delievered without fail. Everything about this release was dope. The beats all hit. The rhymes and the chemsitry are on point. A few tracks longer and this one might have claimed the top spot. Savage.
#8 – Ferris Blusa & Observe Since 98	Let Go And Let Gawd	Blusa has been prolific with his music…releasing several dope releases each year. But this album just sounds and hits different. It sounds like perfect chemistry between producer an emcee. Performed like it was live in Redio City Music and captures lightning in a bottle.
#9 – The Bad Seed	From Us With Love	Seed has blessed us with a lot of dope music over the decades. But as far as projects go, this album produced by Murda Megz is among his most impressive in my eyes. Hardest album of the year imo.
#10 – Supreme Cerebral	Son Of Hannibal	Supreme Cerebral has been crafting music and albums for a long time…but this album…backed by beats from Swab…hit hard and left an imprint for the duration of 2025.