The ultimate playlist for saying goodbye to 2025

It seems like people can’t escape hearing Kehlani’s “Folded” everywhere, from dance sequences to artist covers to remixes. On the track, Kehlani puts her vulnerability and feelings on display as she tries to move on after a breakup. Not only has the song earned Kehlani a couple of Grammy nominations, but it’s also become her first song to reach the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. 

Doechii’s “Anxiety” became an unexpected fan-favorite, as it was originally posted on her YouTube channel back in 2019. In early 2025, the audio started gaining traction on TikTok, causing the rapper to officially release it across streaming platforms. Using a sample of Gotye’s 2011 No. 1 hit single “Somebody That I Used to Know,” Doechii uses the track to show how her anxiety can at times get the best of her. 

After a crazy 2024 that was highlighted by a high-profile rap feud, it seems like Drake has been attempting to get back to the top of the hip-hop world. To help accomplish this, Drake teamed up with frequent collaborator PartyNextDoor on their joint album Some Sexy Songs 4 U, which featured the hit single “Nokia.” With the popular line throughout the song “Who’s calling my phone?,” Drake describes how he has several women who hit him up during a night of partying. 

Sometimes people need to find the magic in life, which is exactly what Lady Gaga is expressing on her single “Abracadabra.” With its electropop and dance sound, it’s a track the early Gaga fans were sure to love, and it showed as the song peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Latin superstar Bad Bunny kicked the year off with the release of his sixth album Debí Tirar Más Fotos, which featured the single “DtMF.” On the track, Bad Bunny reflects on how he should have taken advantage of capturing big life moments more often, which includes taking more pictures to look back on memories. “DtMF” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.  

“Manchild” was the lead single off Sabrina Carpenter’s seventh album Man’s Best Friend. On the track, Carpenter describes the nuances of dealing with a man who’s immature. As she sings on the second verse, “Why so sexy if so dumb? / And how survive the Earth so long? / If I'm not there, it won't get done / I choose to blame your mom.”

At the top of the year, The Weeknd released his sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, which featured the single “Cry For Me.” Co-produced by The Weeknd alongside Mike Dean and Metro Boomin, the singer uses the track to reflect on a past relationship. As he sings on the hook, “And I hope you cry for me like I cry for you / Every night for you, take it easy on me, baby / 'Cause I tried with you, saw my life with you / End of time with you, now we're strangers.”

After a four-year hiatus, pop singer Justin Bieber released his seventh and eighth albums Swag and Swag II, which were led by the single “Daisies.” On the track, Bieber describes the admiration he has for his partner. As he sings on the hook, “Way you got me all in my head / Think I'd rather you in my bed / Whatever it is, you know I can take it / I'm countin' the days, how many days 'til I can see you again?”

Olivia Dean has been taking over social media feeds with her hit single “Man I Need.” Dean is all about needing reassurance that feelings between her and a potential partner are reciprocal, because she doesn’t want to waste any more time. As she sings on the second verse, “I'd like to think you feel the same way / But I can't tell with you sometimes / So, baby, let's get on the same page / Stop making me read between the lines.”

It’s hard to believe that brother duo Clipse went on a 16-year hiatus, but finally returned this year with their album Let God Sort Em Out. The lead single “Ace Trumpets” was produced by frequent collaborator Pharrell Williams, a track that finds the rappers describing their fashion sense and living a life of luxury. 

Soulful pop singer RAYE has been patient long enough waiting to find the love of her life on her single “Where Is My Husband!” As she sings on the first verse, “Why is this beautiful man waiting for me to get old? / Why he already testing my patience? / I only fear he taking time with other women that ain't me / While I've been reviewin' applications / Wait till I get my hands on him, I'ma tell him off too / For how long he kept me waitin', anticipatin.'”

Although Alex Warren had been releasing music independently over the last couple of years, 2025 was a huge year for him with the release of his single “Ordinary.” As the lead single of his debut studio album You’ll Be Alright, Kid, Warren uses the track to describe how he wants to be seen as the special someone to a lover, but understands the heartbreak that comes with that when his dream doesn’t come true. 

Pop star Taylor Swift released her twelfth album The Life of a Showgirl, which was led by the single “The Fate of Ophelia.” While the track references the character from Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Swift uses the track to describe someone dealing with heartbreak, a common theme in Swift’s music. 

If you logged onto Instagram or TikTok, it seemed like there was no escaping Chris Brown’s hit single “It Depends.” Joined by fellow R&B singer Bryson Tiller, Brown uses the track to describe how he’s ready to please a potential lover. Thanks to the song’s success across social media, “It Depends” peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

After a seven-year hiatus following her debut album Invasion of Privacy, Cardi B finally dropped her long-awaited sophomore album Am I the Drama? Led by the single “Outside,” Cardi uses the track to describe how she’s been dealing with infidelity, and now she’s ready to be single and have some fun of her own. As she says on the first verse, “Well, let's go wrong for wrong (What?), let's go lick for lick (Let's go) / If I can handle that (Uh-huh), let me see you handle this (Okay) / Do you how you do me, bet you we won't speak again / Favorite player from your favorite team, he in my DM.”

Three years after releasing his debut album Give or Take, R&B singer Giveon returned with his sophomore album Beloved. On the album’s lead single, he uses inspiration from ‘70s soul music in the production as he lyrically describes a relationship that ultimately wasted time but also served as a learning experience. As he sings on the second verse, “Is anything black and white / When you're barely 22? / Clung onto you like a shirt to a sweater / Hung onto you 'cause I didn't know better.”

Country singer Morgan Wallen teamed up with rising pop star Tate McRae on their hit single “What I Want.” On the track, the two describe how people may have trust issues when trying to love someone new. Wallen opens the track singing, “She said, ‘You don't want this heart, boy, it's already broke’ / Told me everything she touch just goes up in smoke / Only stay a couple nights, then she gon' be gone / I said, ‘Baby, you should know that's what I want.’”

British singer PinkPantheress released her second EP Fancy That, which featured the hit single “Illegal.” PinkPantheress uses the track to describe her love for buying and smoking marijuana. 

Chappell Roan is all about sexual pleasure on her hit single “The Giver.” As she sings on the second verse, “'Cause how I look is how I touch / And in this strip-mall town of dreams / Good luck finding a man who has the means / To rhinestone cowgirl all night long.”

Nearly a year after releasing his third album Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going, country star Shaboozey released the deluxe edition. He teamed up with fellow country singer Jelly Roll on the single “Amen,” a track that gives a protagonist’s view of dealing with inner demons. As they sing on the hook, “Forced to knock on Heaven's door / 'Cause mine ain't workin' anymore / Somebody say a prayer for me / All I'm askin' for is a little mercy, Amen.”

Rochelle Jordan knows how to make music that will put people on the dance floor. She did just that on her track “Ladida.” An instant standout on her album Through the Wall, Jordan uses the track to describe her work in the industry and dealing with any haters. As she sings, “Who God bless baby no man can curse like / Middles to the ones who never believed / Only with the ones who looked out for me / Got my wings now they're made by Versace / Got the whole world screaming ladi-dadi.”

Although Coco Jones has been releasing EPs over the years, the R&B songstress finally dropped her debut album Why Not More? Her single “On Sight” finds Jones showing that she’s always willing and ready for a sweet rendezvous with a lover, and she hopes that he’s all about action and not just talk. As she says on the hook, “I wanna lay with you all night (Wanna lay) / And after that, let me ride (Ride) / When you say it's on sight (Sight) / Don't lie.”

After a five-year hiatus, girl group HAIM returned with their fourth album I Quit, led by the single “Relationships.” On the track, the band describes how relationships aren’t always the easiest to navigate and can oftentimes be confusing if the individuals aren’t real and honest with each other. 

After releasing a few EPs over the years, Destin Conrad dropped his debut album Love on Digital, which featured the hit single “Kissing In Public.” On the track, Conrad is all about showing his love out loud for the world to see. As he sings on the hook, “Things don't change when I'm with you / It don't feel brand new / Hold my body / Don't hesitate when I kiss you.”

Pop star Miley Cyrus released her ninth album Something Beautiful which was led by her single “End of the World.” On the track, Cyrus stresses the importance of taking advantage of life’s moments. As she sings on first verse, “Baby, you've been thinkin' 'bout the future like it's already yours / Show me how you'd hold me if tomorrow wasn't comin' for sure.”

Following the July release of his EP The Summer That Saved Me, Odeal returned a few months later with The Fall That Saved Us. One of the instant standout tracks was the Wizkid-assisted song “Nights in the Sun,” in which Odeal imagines sweet and easy mornings with a lover. 

After a four-year hiatus since his last album Folarin II, rapper Wale returned with his eighth album Everything Is A Lot, which featured the hit single “Where to Start.” With a sample of SWV’s 1992 hit “I’m So Into You,” Wale uses the track to showcase how he grapples with love and commitment. As he says on the track, “I don't know what to call it, but l'm never callin' you a friend / I'm unthawin' this heart, I never thought that l'd ever use again.”

British singer Lola Young released her third album I’m Only F%&king Myself, which was led by the song “One Thing.” She uses the track to describe how she wants a night of pleasure with a lover. As she sings on the track, “You know where I wanna be, I want you right under me / Can you just live a little, let your hair down? / I'm screaming for you, I can't breathe, turn the light off, I'ma wet the sheets / There's plenty enough for me to go 'round.”

Nearly a year after releasing his previous album Chromakopia, Tyler, The Creator returned with his ninth album Don’t Tap the Glass. On the single “Ring Ring Ring,” Tyler describes the aftermath of a breakup and how much he misses his ex-partner. As he says on the pre-hook, “I know you said not to call you again, but I miss you / And I hope I can see you one more gin 'cause I miss you.”

Between the success of his hit song “Mutt” and collaborating with countless artists on their tracks, it’s safe to say that nobody is having a better year than Leon Thomas. To help capitalize on his visibility, Thomas decided to gift fans a new EP Pholks, which was perfect timing as he embarked on a national tour. One of the EP’s standout singles is “My Muse,” in which Thomas finds himself inspired by a beautiful woman.