New Music Friday Recap – July 25, 2025: Pop Bombshells, Hip-Hop Bangers & A Whole Lotta Vibes
- Jessica Ramirez
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
What do a trap queen, a Pulitzer rapper, and a glitter-drenched indie poet have in common? They all dropped heat this New Music Friday — and your playlist might not survive it.
This New Music Friday, July 25, 2025, is not the time to sleep in or “catch up later.” The pop and hip-hop worlds collided in the most delicious chaos imaginable, serving up albums, EPs, collabs, and singles so fire, your playlist probably spontaneously combusted.
Hit shuffle, and let’s rewind the tape on the best drops from this gloriously stacked day.
Tyler, the Creator Absolutely Didn’t Miss with Don’t Tap the Glass
Tyler, the Creator once again proved he’s operating on a different astral plane. His new album, Don’t Tap the Glass, dropped earlier this week but was still dominating every curated playlist on Friday. Think hip-hop meets house music with a generous dash of existential dread and chaotic genius. Tracks like “Mommanem” and “Forklift Ballet” had fans questioning reality and their own sense of rhythm.
It wasn’t just a release; it was a statement piece. Tyler’s album felt like the Louvre got possessed by a rave DJ.
Jessie Murph Got Unhinged (in a Good Way) with Sex Hysteria
Oh, you wanted vulnerable baddie energy? Jessie Murph delivered it with Sex Hysteria, her sophomore album that dropped last week and rode the Friday wave like a pro. Featuring trap-pop anthems like “Blue Strips” (ft. Sexyy Red) and the sublimely deranged “Touch Me Like a Gangster,” Murph basically rebranded emotional instability as a flex.
If Taylor Swift and Lil Durk had a chaotic Gen-Z niece, it’d be Jessie Murph on this album.
Clipse + Kendrick Lamar = Instant Classic
Clipse returned from the hip-hop graveyard with “Chains & Whips”, a hard-as-nails single from their upcoming album Let God Sort 'Em Out. And who joined them? None other than Kendrick “Pulitzer” Lamar.
This track sounded like it was recorded in a diamond mine under pressure — vintage Clipse lyricism, Kendrick’s nuclear verse, and Pharrell’s eerie production made it the street-certified anthem of the weekend.
Travis Scott’s “Dumbo” Was Big, Loud, and Unapologetically Weird
It wouldn’t be a Friday recap without La Flame. Travis Scott dropped “Dumbo” as part of the JackBoys 2 rollout, and it was as chaotic as it was addictive. The bass hit so hard your AirPods filed for workers comp. Scott’s been leaning back into psychedelic rage mode, and this track was all about flexing like you’ve got Birkins for breakfast.
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist Cooked Alfredo 2
Yes, they really did it again. The long-awaited sequel to the Grammy-nominated Alfredo finally landed. Alfredo 2 was pure noir rap—smooth, haunting, laced with lyrical haymakers. Alchemist’s beats hit like dusty soul loops dug out from a mafia basement, while Freddie rapped like a man on trial for murdering every other emcee.
Pitchfork called it essential listening, and for once, they weren’t being weird about it
Pop Went POP! – From Mariah to Tyla
Let’s pivot to the glitter and hooks. This New Music Friday brought sugar, spice, and certified bops in the pop sphere:
Mariah Carey, Shenseea & Kehlani teamed up on “Sugar Sweet” — a summer anthem so catchy it practically filed for Hot 100 citizenship.
Tyla dropped her Dynamite EP and reminded the world that R&B still has an afrobeat pulse. Sexy, sad, and danceable — all in under 20 minutes.
Fitz and the Tantrums returned with Man On the Moon, perfect for anyone who missed the indie-pop synth era and owns three pairs of colored Ray-Bans.
24kGoldn’s Icarus EP was half Gen-Z existentialism, half pop-rap daydream. It’s what you blast when you’re crying in a Tesla but still hot.
One More for the Indie Kids: Indigo De Souza’s Precipice
This one’s for the “sad but vibing” crowd. Indigo De Souza’s Precipice dropped with emotional knives wrapped in glittery guitar fuzz. It’s indie-pop with teeth — beautifully fragile and perfect for staring out rainy car windows while rethinking your entire situationship.
If your Spotify Release Radar didn’t melt from the sheer volume of bangers this week, you may need to update your algorithm. July 25, 2025, gave us a buffet of genre-blending brilliance, from Tyler’s brain-melt of an album to Jessie Murph’s millennial meltdown pop, plus trap gods, comeback legends, and pop divas colliding in the best way.
Hit that queue button, hydrate, and dive back in. You’ll need stamina for next week.
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