It is now 2025, and the music scene is already buzzing with fresh talent ready to make their mark in the industry. From genre-defying musicians to eclectic storytellers, the next wave of artists is taking notes from veterans on how to captivate fans with their unique styles and sounds. Whether they're crafting catchy hooks or going viral on TikTok with music covers, these 21 artists are the ones you'll want to keep an eye on. So, get ready to add these artists to your playlists, because these are the names that we believe will make a splash in 2025.
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Following the shocking news of Hulk Hogan’s passing, wrestling legend Dustin Rhodes, known to millions as Goldust in WWE, took to social media to share a deeply personal and provocative reaction: “Hospitals truly kill people. I really do mean that.” Rhodes’ blunt statement stunned many fans, but those who know his story saw the pain behind the words. His father, the iconic Dusty Rhodes, passed away in 2015, aged 69, after a fall at home led to hospitalization for kidney failure. After his father's passing, Dustin shared a contemplative response on WWE's YouTube channel to discuss the legacy his father left behind. The news of Hogan's death comes just a month after reports suggested he was on his "deathbed" after undergoing a neck procedure back in May. Hogan's reps denied that was the case. In June, US Weekly reported that Hogan had also undergone a "pretty serious heart surgery and was doing well afterward." Dustin’s connection to his brother Cody Rhodes, now a top WWE superstar and face of the company’s next generation, is unbreakable. The Rhodes family legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of pro wrestling history, and seeing another legend like Hogan pass has clearly hit close to home. While Goldust and Hulk Hogan never had a headline-grabbing rivalry, they did share the ring once. It occurred in WCW in 2000 when Dustin Rhodes matched up against Hogan. Although their paths didn’t often cross in the squared circle, Hogan and the Rhodes family were part of the same larger-than-life era that helped define pro wrestling for decades and catapult the sport into society's zeitgeist. Rhodes’ comment about hospitals might not sit well with everyone, but it speaks to a raw and honest pain felt by someone who has seen too many legends, both personal and professional, fade away in similar fashion. The sport of wrestling has endured more than its fair share of lives cut short. As tributes continue to pour in for Hogan, Rhodes’ reaction serves as a powerful, if somber, reminder of the real human emotions behind the wrestling personas.
Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Shake Milton has found a new home. More news: Lakers’ Luka Doncic Has Reportedly Already Agreed to Massive Contract Extension With LA Days after the Lakers waived him, Milton will take his talents overseas. The 28-year-old is signing a two-year deal with Partizan Belgrade in Serbia. Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews shared the news via X. More news: Lakers Insider Urges Team to Make Major Change to Starting Five Milton spent most of the 2024-25 season with the Lakers after being acquired in a trade in late December from the Brooklyn Nets. Milton was reportedly in advanced talks to sign with the team as early as Thursday morning. The two sides were discussing a possible deal, and both parties came away satisfied with the talks. The former 2018 second-round pick will take his talents overseas for the first time in his professional career. Milton started his career with the Philadelphia 76ers after he was drafted and traded by the Dallas Mavericks. He has played for five other NBA teams, including the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Nets, and the Lakers. In 30 games for the purple and gold this past season, Milton averaged 3.9 points per game, 1.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.3 steals per game while shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from beyond the arc in 11.5 minutes of action. He started in one game for the Lakers. Overall, in his NBA career, Milton has played in 359 games, averaging 8.1 points per game, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from 3-point range. The Lakers waived Milton in order to make room for former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart. More news: Lakers Confident in Luka Doncic Signing Massive Long-Term Extension: Report For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
The Boston Red Sox have plenty of firepower at their disposal that would interest opposing teams ahead of the trade deadline. Despite this, it recently was reported that the Red Sox are expected to keep their outfield intact for now, at least. While this is the case, FOX Sports made an unlikely suggestion that the American League East rival Toronto Blue Jays would be a solid landing spot for Jarren Duran. "The Blue Jays, who lead the Yankees by three games in the AL East, should operate like a legit contender. Acquiring Duran would fortify that status," FOX Sports said. "Last offseason, Toronto made a presumably cost-effective and high-impact move by signing former Baltimore Orioles outfielder/designated hitter Anthony Santander — who blasted 44 home runs in 2024 — to a five-year, $92.5 million deal. Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, Santander hasn't played since May 29 due to a shoulder injury and boasted a .179/.273/.304 slash line before going down. "Furthermore, center fielder Daulton Varsho has missed the last two months due to a hamstring injury and struggled to get on base beforehand. Acquiring Duran could help Toronto replenish some of the production that both Santander and Varsho's absences have vacated. Duran would provide slug and somebody who files around the basepaths to a plausible offense but one that could use more slug; while Toronto entered Wednesday second in MLB with a .332 on-base percentage, it was also 12th with a .407 slugging percentage. At full force, Duran, Varsho, George Springer, Davis Schneider and Santander — who was the team's designated hitter before going down — would make for an outfield depth chart of multiple players who are adept at playing multiple spots." Maybe this is true, but Duran is under team control for a few years. Why trade a fan-favorite within the division? This can be ruled extremely unlikely.
Training camp is underway for the Washington Commanders. The team held their first official training camp practice this week as they gear up for another deep playoff run. The Commanders will be going from the hunter to the hunted in 2025, so the team must come together to put the best product on the field early in the season. A large piece of that is wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who has already begun to hold out of camp after doing the same for minicamp as he searches for a contract extension from the front office. It has been a frustrating process, but the team is hopeful to come to terms with their franchise-wide receiver sooner rather than later to keep the cohesiveness of the team together. Daniels Not Worried Following Wednesday's practice, McLaurin's quarterback, Jayden Daniels, expressed whether there was any concern within the Commanders locker room. "It's just business in the NFL. We know Terry's working, we don't really have to worry about him doing any of that, but at the end of the day he's still one of our brothers." It doesn't seem like the Daniels or any of the other Commanders are all that worried about McLaurin's absence. This isn't the first time an NFL player has held out due to contract negotiations. It's just how the business side of things works. There's confidence that something will get hashed out between the two sides to keep McLaurin in Washington, and Daniels addressed how he is going to make up reps with his star wideout during his absence. "Yeah, I mean, just constant communication and watch film, whenever that time is. But other than that, I mean, me and Terry built a rapport and it all stems from the relationship built off the field and being on the same page and checking both of our egos for the betterment of the team." McLaurin and Daniels quickly built a rapport last season, becoming one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in the league on one of its top offenses. There shouldn't be much drop-off, if any, despite McLaurin missing time, but as Daniels repeatedly said, it's all about communication. "I mean, I talk to Terry like if he was here, just checking up on him, but at the end of the day that's just the relationship we have on and off the field." The Commanders are poised for yet another solid season in 2025, and they would love to have McLaurin in the fold for it. With pressure mounting on both sides, it will be interesting to see what kind of contract the Commanders wind up giving McLaurin to retain his services.