Month: December 2025

If this year taught us anything, it’s that fans have the final say on which artists, albums, and genres owned the culture in 2025. The conversations they were having on social media and in group chats mattered just as much as any critic-approved list.

As you can see from the chart below, artists under the Warner Music Umbrella drove massive audience interest, no matter the genre. But one stands out above the rest despite some in the establishment fretting over more outdated snapshots of the industry.

UPROXX Studios Senior Director, Editorial and Content Strategy Philip Cosores has a clear message when it comes to those claiming that the sky is falling when it comes to rap. “Rumors of hip-hop’s demise have been greatly exaggerated,” he says. “After news went viral that no rap songs were in the Billboard Top 40 for the first time in 35 years, many proclaimed the death of hip-hop. But on YouTube, the genre is still as dominant as ever, and a direct way to reach a massive audience.”

There’s a lot to get excited about when it comes to other major genres, as well, according to Cosores.

“Let’s also shout out the impressive numbers put up by pop artists — often the quickest way to reach young, female audiences — and rock, which is underscored by massive catalog longevity and younger artists like Twenty One Pilots. We expect these genres — along with the strengthening reach of R&B and country — to continue to drive music culture in 2026, with hip-hop due for a rebound in perception to match reality as it continues to dominate the platform.”

Let’s unpack that last point a little by looking at some of hip-hop’s most undeniably influential artists — is Pooh Shiesty and recent UPROXX Visionaries artist, Gunna. These two rappers are decisively shutting down the “hip-hop in decline” narrative. Pooh Shiesty landed the highest-charting solo song of his career with “FDO,” outranking holiday behemoths like Mariah Carey to deliver the kind of moment that reminds you how rap hurdles the mountain of classic holiday music with audiences in search of counter-programming. Gunna, meanwhile, took his Wun World Tour to the next level, selling out his North American leg while creating real community with his philanthropic Wunna Run Club stops.

Genre breakout NBA YoungBoy’s Make America Slime Again tour reportedly crossed $70M, sold 500,000+ tickets, and did it after five years off the road for the artist. Andscape’s David Dennis Jr. has described him as an artist who has “harnessed his vulnerability, myth-making, and authenticity to become a deity for teens and 20-somethings, who hang on his every word.” It’s all proof that the hip-hop genre (which being propelled by these and other WMG artists) is on a growth trajectory powered by an unbreakable connection with audiences.

Take a look at the full chart below.

As we continue to unpack year-end YouTube data around Warner Music Group artists (who UPROXX exclusively represent in deals for channel sponsorships), we wanted to take a look at the top-performing artists and explore the narratives that help explain their dominance.

In 2025, the artists who established themselves as top performers on the year-end charts didn’t rely on releases alone; they built experiential ecosystems around their projects.

For Benson Boone and NBA YoungBoy, viral festival performances and large-scale tours transformed successful projects into immersive universes that lived beyond release day and the typical half-life for buzz. Who can forget Boone’s instantly iconic back flips at Gov Ball or his cover of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” with the band’s legendary guitar player, Brian May, at Coachella? How about the passionate response from fans to NBA YoungBoy’s blockbuster tour?

For Teddy Swims and Ed Sheeran, keeping the party going meant fresh releases and smart ways of refreshing celebrated hits, such as Sheeran’s Netflix One Shot walking concert special through New York City after the release of Play. Swims’ I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Complete Edition) followed the January release of I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2), giving fans the gift of his constant presence on the charts and playlists.

Speaking of a constant presence, let’s give flowers to Cardi B, an artist who stayed hyper relevant for 7 years between album releases. Cardi eventized her sophomore effort, Am I The Drama?, with viral moments on social, buzzy music video drops, seamless brand deals, and smart collabs on that spectacular album. We can’t wait to see how she keeps momentum alive in 2026 as she goes out on tour.

Take a look at the chart to see what other artists kept hold of their spot on the charts.

The end of the year means a chance to look back and then plot a course into the future — which is what we did as a part of our year-end YouTube audience report. This series is spread across four articles examining the top performing Warner Music artists (a roster that UPROXX Studios represents exclusively) and their music videos on YouTube. The chart below shows the videos that most resonated with both global and US audiences, showcasing the talents of some of the worlds biggest stars. These names are safe bets going into the new year for brands looking to buy into consistent music culture movers.

Let’s take a look at a few of these artists and their success stories to find out why.

Long-beloved mainstay Ed Sheeran had a superlative year with his “Sapphire” video leading the Warner Music Group year-end global charts, proving he still has plenty of staying power this far into his illustrious career. Besides the release of his new album, Play, Sheeran also dropped his One Shot special on Netflix, showing him playing and hanging out with people all through New York City.

Up-and-comers are making waves, too. Keep an eye on Alex Warren (#2 on the global chart and #1 on the US chart), Jisoo (#3 & #5 on the global chart), and sombr (#4 on the global chart), whose goings-on increasingly sway the tide of the industry at large. The calendar may foreshadow further buzz surrounding those three. In Q1 of 2026, Blackpink’s world tour comes to an end, which could pave the way for Jisoo to drop new music. At the Super Bowl, all eyes will be on Warren, who is set to be part of the pre-game festivities. Lastly, there’s the Grammys, which will expose sombr (and Warren) to an even bigger audience thanks to their Best New Artist nominations.

Warren also enjoyed some crossover success, drawing eyeballs on TikTok and on Netflix’s Love Island, driving growth to his YouTube channel and to his status as a music personality outside of his releases. Speaking of crossovers, beloved multi-hyphenate Jack Black had a viral hit with his bite-sized Minecraft movie song “Steve’s Lava Chicken.” On the soundtrack front, Charli XCX’s music for Wuthering Heights is something to keep an eye on in 2026.

Another artist to bet on in 2026 is Kehlani. She’s already a beloved veteran in her space, but she had a major mainstream breakthrough this year with “Folded,” her first top-10 single. She also joined the narrative of Cardi B’s massive comeback album Am I The Drama? with a feature on “Safe.” With more exposure than ever and proven abilities, it wouldn’t be surprising to see her further her ascent in the new year.

Check out the year-end rankings below.

Few people have been as busy as Fred Again.. lately. In September, he started a rollout of new songs for his ever-evolving USB project, releasing fresh tracks and delivering high-energy live shows on a weekly basis. Even when the initial run finished, Fred went ahead and announced another one, set for early 2026.

Even amid all that, he still found an hour to sit down with Instagram for a recent episode of their new long-form interview series “Ask It Anyway.” It launched with Tyler, The Creator earlier this year and now Fred is the second-ever guest.

In a chat hosted by Ezra Collective’s Femi Koleoso and also featuring a group of young musicians, a lot of ground was covered. Perhaps the most impressive portion was when Fred was tasked with putting a new song together in just 13 minutes. He had a vocal and some choice sounds to start with, but he was still started a long way from the finish line. The end result wasn’t quite a full song, but it sounded fantastic, and Fred likely could have gotten it all the way with not much more time allotted.

As for the actual conversation, Fred had some fascinating nuggets to share. Early on, he discussed how having multiple outlets for his music diversifies what he’s able to do and how much he can release, saying:

“Having the record like USB where it’s just tunes that I’m making for my USB, it doesn’t need to be some deep album statement always. And then I’ve also got albums, so there’s a few different like avenues I get to put tunes out in. Or like, make an ambient record with Brian [Eno], or something like that. From, like, 20 to 28, I reckon probably 0.0001 percent of the things I made came out, and now I reckon 1 percent comes out, so that’s great.”

Also on the note of productivity, he spoke about how making music every day, regardless of how he’s feeling, is a critical part of his creative process:

“One thing that’s I’m really happy to have learned the lesson of is… Let’s say you feel rubbish one day or one week or one month, and you keep showing up, and you make something that you don’t… you’re showing up for the sake of showing up and just trying to get some ideas down, and you’re not feeling good about it. And you just leave it there, and then in a month’s time or whatever, you’re feeling a bit better and you listen back to some of those ideas and you’re like, ‘Actually, this one is good.’”

He added, “I’ve now had this enough times where something I truly love has come out of a moment that felt totally unmagical. Something I truly love and I’m really connected to in a way that feels really meaningful, has come out of a moment that didn’t feel that at all. And so then at that point, you’re like, ‘Okay, great, I might as well just keep showing up, then.’”

Finally, he offered some more advice, which boils down to keeping it simple:

“If you are someone who’s more production-based, I would really recommend trying to commit to two synths and five plug-ins that you’re going to use for the next four years and just save yourself all of that headspace and all of that wasted time comparing whether this compressor sounds slightly better than this compressor. Like… fix the chorus. It doesn’t matter whether the [laughs]… I really, really feel this.”

There’s a lot more than that in the illuminating conversation, so check out the full video above.

Turks and Caicos is the #1 private destination in the Caribbean, which says a lot about the destination and the luxury you can experience there. The Turks and Caicos Islands have set aside dozens of protected areas including National Parks, nature reserves, sanctuaries and various historical sites, making it one of the most unique vacation spots in all of the Caribbean.

If paradise had an address, it would be Grace Bay Club in Turks and Caicos. This oceanfront escape is where barefoot luxury meets impeccable service, with powder-soft sand and water so clear it feels unreal. From chilled welcome cocktails to sunset dinners that look straight out of a movie, every moment here feels like it’s designed to spoil you. Whether you’re craving total relaxation, or a touch of island glam, Grace Bay Club delivers it effortlessly and with an Aperol Spritz in hand (if you wish).

If you don’t know what a one row beach is, just know it’s the cream of the crop. Grace Bay Club is a rare “one-row beach,” which means every suite and villa sits directly on the oceanfront, with nothing built behind or blocking the views. In other words, no second row of rooms or garden-view categories—just uninterrupted turquoise water and toes-in-the-sand access from every spot on the property. It’s like front row at your favorite concert, but elevated.

Golf lovers can tee off just a few minutes from the resort at the award-winning Provo Golf Club, known for its palm-fringed fairways and ocean breeze. Grace Bay Club can arrange tee times and transportation, making it easy to add a round of island golf to your sun-soaked itinerary.

WHY IT’S AWESOME

Here’s what vacation looks like for me based on my choice of beverages: iced latte in the morning, Aperol Spritzes in the afternoon and espresso martini at night. Luckily for all of us, Grace Bay Club has all of this and so much to do in between all your beverage choices and sunscreen applications.

And when I tell you the gift shop is reason alone for a visit, trust and believe. This is literally the best boutique I’ve ever seen at a luxury resort. They’ve got miniature Birkin bags (obviously not authentic) and the best clothes from brands like Zimmerman, Solid & Striped and more. It’s so good, I probably wouldn’t have even been upset if my luggage got lost for a few days.

And get this: Grace Bay Club just got nominated for Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2026! How cool is that?

IN-HOUSE FOOD + DRINK

Once upon a time the Caribbean was known only for its crystal blue water, but thanks to resorts like Grace Bay Club, the area is becoming known as a destination with exquisite dining.

Don’t miss out on Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar, the resort’s star oceanfront spot right next to one of the Caribbean’s longest bars (a whopping 90 feet of fun). After a relaxing day on the beach, dive into a freshly revamped menu packed with top-tier sushi, Japanese-inspired delights, and drool-worthy Wagyu dishes served à la carte. Trust me, these are absolute must-tries!

Keep reading to learn about the hotel’s new boat service, exclusively for hotel guests to dine at Grace Bay Club’s sister properties easily and effortlessly.

AMENITIES

• 55-inch HDTV with streaming
• Free Wi-Fi
• Luxe mini-bar
• Lavazza coffee makers
• Air conditioning + blackout curtains
• Plush robes & slippers
• In-room safe, iron, hairdryer
• Individual climate control
• L’OCCITANE Bath Amenities
• Walk-in Rainfall Shower
• Desk/Office Space

ROOM TYPES

Each suite and villa feels like its own little sanctuary, complete with ocean views, luxe details, and a calm, coastal palette. Spacious balconies practically beg you to linger with a cocktail before heading to dinner, and the modern Caribbean design brings together sophistication and barefoot ease. Whether you’re in a romantic suite or a beachfront villa, every detail whispers relaxation.

Every room spanning their 11 acres boasts oceanfront accommodations and if you’re traveling with a large group, check out the resort’s Estate Section, complete with five bedrooms, plenty of gathering space, a gourmet kitchen, and two balconies.

THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 15 MINUTE WALK

Walk down the beach and hop aboard the brand-new Princess Grace for a boat day with friends (or strangers). The custom-built 65-foot catamaran offers private charters, where you’ll enjoy fresh sushi, veggie burgers and more. And the more is the best part: stunning views, prosecco and local beer. If chartering a boat for the day is out of your price range, jump aboard the sunset cruise for $150/person. Be on the lookout for JoJo the Dolphin, a local bottlenose dolphin who has grown quite famous amongst locals and visitors alike.

These charters often include fresh seafood and sushi, all curated by Grace Bay Resorts’ exquisite culinary team. Depending on your excursion, the copious amounts of fresh seafood can double as dinner, so by girl math standards, it’s basically free. Hands down, this is the most sophisticated island-hopping experience I’ve ever had, and it beautifully showcases the natural beauty of Grace Bay’s renowned beaches and marine life.

THE BEST THING TO EAT/DRINK WITHIN A $20 CAB RIDE

You already know I’ll gladly pay a cab driver to take me in search of the island’s best espresso martini, and I found it at Grace Bay Club’s sister property Rock House.

Lucky for you, you won’t need a cab for this espresso martini rec, thanks to their brand-new boat services, designed to provide a convenient way for guests to travel between sister resorts for dining and other experiences, exclusively for resort guests.

At Rock House you’ll likely find a DJ paired with stunning sunset views, European vibes, the best dressed people on the island, and of course the best espresso martini. Expect a Mediterranean inspired menu with small plates, gourmet pastas, a vast wine selection and making it even easier, this entire evening excursion can be charged back to your hotel room.

BED GAME

The beds at Grace Bay Club are exactly what vacation dreams are made of — soft, cloud-like linens that practically demand you sleep in. Morning coffee tastes better when you’re wrapped in sheets this cozy, with the sound of the ocean just steps away.

Rating: 9/10

SEXINESS RATING

Caribbean vacations should always be sexy, and Grace Bay Club doesn’t disappoint. Book a private charter for the most romantic part of your entire trip.

Rating: 8/10

THE VIEWS & PICS SPOTS

For those can’t-miss photos, start your morning at the resort’s infinity pool where the turquoise water blends seamlessly with the sky. Sunset cocktails at Infiniti Bar deliver the ultimate golden-hour glow, while the beach walkways lined with palms make the perfect backdrop for that effortlessly chic island OOTD shot. Every corner of the resort looks like it was designed for your camera roll.

BEST SEASON TO VISIT

There is never a bad time to visit paradise, but if you’re looking for a super slow and quiet time, September is your best bet (albeit a little too slow for me). Other than that, if you visit Turks and Caicos between December and April you’re usually treated to perfect beach weather without the intense summer humidity, making it ideal for poolside lounging or sailing at sunset.

IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING

Don’t @ me, but it’s the basic hair dryer for me. Even the swankiest hotels seem to forget that women want (no, scratch that) DEMAND a powerful blowout. The place was lovely and super open to feedback, so I’m betting they’re swapping them out right this second.

BOOK HERE

Book your Turks and Caicos luxury vacation directly on the hotel’s website.

It has been a long, long, long road to ASAP Rocky’s upcoming album Don’t Be Dumb. In 2022, he said the project was finished. In July 2023, he indicated it’d be out soon. It was later given a summer 2024 release date before getting pushed back to the fall. Towards the end of 2024, it was given an approximate release window of early 2025.

That brings us to late 2025 and the album is still not out yet. Finally, though, it appears it’ll be here soon. Last week, Rocky took to Instagram to reveal the cover art, created by Tim Burton, and the project’s January 16, 2026 release date.

Burton also said in a statement:

“I loved working with an artist like Rocky — it was a great collaboration. He spoke to me about his alter egos and I just drew my interpretations of them. He told me he wanted to make being a dad cool again, which was beautiful, even though I’ve never been able to achieve that myself.”

Rocky and Rihanna recently celebrated the birth of their third child, Rocki.

Meanwhile, Rocky previously said of Burton, “I sat and I played the album for Tim Burton, and he was f*cking with it heavy. […] He was rocking his head and he’s like, ‘Wow! I didn’t know you made that kind of music!’”

Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. It looks like this sneaker year just doesn’t want to quit. Not only is this a pretty strong week, next week is even better, which leads us to wonder — where the hell was this energy during the summer? Why did the big brands decide to wait until the last few weeks of the year to bring the heat? Don’t they know we’ve already spent all our holiday money?

We have so many questions! By now we have to assume your holiday shopping is done, which means it’s officially time to start buying gifts for yourself again, budget be damned! Here are this week’s best sneakers and where to find them.

Brain Dead x Adidas Techwondo

Price: $180

The LA streetwear brand Brain Dead have teamed up with Adidas for a new futurist take on the Taekwondo, dubbed fittingly, Techwondo.

The chrome brushed sneaker feature a leather upper with synthetic overlays, and city-ready cold cement construction that bonds the sole to the upper, boosting the flexibility and feel.

The Brain Dead x Adidas Techwondo is out now for a retail price of $180. Pick up a pair via the Adidas CONFIRMED app or aftermarket sites like GOAT.

Palace x Air Max Dn8 Safety Orange and Particle Grey

Price: $200

London skatewear brand Palace is bringing its playful vibe to the Dn8. The sneaker takes visual cues from other Nike models, like the TPU stripes and liberal use of Safety Orange recalling the AM Plus and classic Nike SHOX color blocking.

The Dn8 tends to have a futuristic, alien-like look about it (very much by design), so we appreciate that Palace brought a bit of playfulness out of this super serious silhouette.

The Palace x Air Max Dn8 Safety Orange and Particle Grey is out now for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT.

Nike Book 1 What The (Sail and Magic Ember)

Price: $170

Now that the Book 2 is officially a thing, the Book 1 is ready to get weird. And what better way to get weird than by filtering the sneaker through Nike’s weirdest sub-series, the “What The.” The What The Book 1 pulls together panels from older Book 1 colorways and fuses them together in a mismatched mess that works way better than you think it might.

The Nike Book 1 What The is out now for a retail price of $170. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT.

Nike Air Force 1 Baroque Brown and Desert Moss

Price: $120

Looking for a dusty and earthy AF-1? Look no further than the Baroque Brown and Desert Moss, a sneaker that’ll likely go down as the most crunchy Air Force 1 we’ve ever seen? City streets and subway terminals? THat’s the AF-1 of old, this iteration looks like it was designed to trek through a hiking trail.

The sneaker sports a bouclé upper with a beaded swoosh outline, big fuzzy laces, and a speckled black midsole. The sneaker is just three colors, brown, hot pink, and black, but it uses each expertly, making this one of the most eye-catching sneakers of the year.

The Nike Air Force 1 Baroque Brown and Desert Moss is out now for a retail price of $120. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT.

Nike Air Jordan 8 White and True Red (Bugs Bunny)

Price: $215

The legend has returned! The Jordan 8 White and True Red (as Nike is calling it) is a re-release of what Jordan heads dub the “Bugs Bunny,” (it’s why MJ and Bugs are closely associated, pre-Space Jam) an early ‘90s classic from Jordan’s imperial era. First debuted during the ’92-’93 championship season, the sneaker sports a leather upper with suede accents, and a mix of white and gray tones with red and black contrast points.

It’s a classic Jordan and probably the best the AJ-8 has ever looked.

The Nike Air Jordan 8 White and True Red is set to drop on December 20th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $215. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT.

Nike G.T. Future Metallic Silver

Price: $200

If you’re looking for the most tech-forward sneaker you can find from Nike, the G.T. Future is the shoe for you. Nike latest silhouette, the G.T. Future features a bouncy and responsive Air Zoom Strobel sole with CushIon 3.0 foam, designed for court play with a molder upper that looks like it was carved out of a giant rock.

Right now the popularity of the G.T. Future remains to be seen but we’re psyched to watch this story unfold.

The Nike G.T. Future Metallic Silver is set to drop on December 20th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT.

Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.

Minor Threat were active for a mere three years in the 1980s, and yet, in that short window, they had an indelible influence on hardcore music. The band’s Out Of Step and self-titled EPs are considered landmark works in the genre, and the group’s song “Straight Edge” was even part of the inspiration for the “straight edge” movement that promotes refraining from drugs, alcohol, and other vices.

As Uproxx’s Joypocalypse explains in a new video, the band also set the foundation for the DIY aspects of the hardcare genre.

She says:

“Hardcore through the lens of Minor Threat: fast, harder to co-opt, more accessible. Short, fast, and direct songs, their goal always feels like getting their point across, no excess. No rockstar fantasy to be found, and speaking of fantasy, lyrically, they stayed away from that, more so grounded in personal accountability and change, alienation, frustration. Loud and blunt, there’s not a lot to decipher here.”

That straightforwardness extended to their operations, too, as Joy explains, “Minor Threat kept everything direct, even in the way they ran their band. They did everything themselves. Even down to their label. Dischord Records, the label they signed to, a DIY label founded by two members of Minor Threat. No middleman and also more accessible music because through Dischord, they could keep their prices down.”

She concludes, “Minor Threat showed what you can achieve through DIY and also the impact you can leave in a three-year time span.”

Check out the video above.

With just days left until Christmas, we’re officially in the annual dry season of new music releases. For the most part, artists are taking the last few weeks of the year off, laying low and relaxing. Kali Uchis had one more thing to say before bidding farewell to 2025, though, as today (December 19), she shared “Muévelo.”

The song is actually a fan favorite. It stems from the Orquídeas era and fans first heard it as a leak, but recently, there have been calls on social media for Uchis to officially share the full track. Uchis listened and here we are.

Uchis wrote on Instagram, “for my final act of self love this year i will release this song bcoz prior to tonight it was a demo leaked against my will!!! k disfruten y k la persona k se detuvo a leer esto Dios lo proteja siempre a ti y tu familia Amén.” That last part roughly translates to, “Enjoy, and may God always protect you and your family, especially you, the one who took the time to read this, amen.”

Listen to “Muévelo” above and find Uchis’ upcoming tour dates below.

Kali Uchis’ 2026 Tour Dates: The Sincerely, Tour

02/08/2026 — São Paulo, Brazil @ Vibra São Paulo
02/10/2026 — Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Movistar Arena
02/12/2026 — Santiago, Chile @ Movistar Arena
02/15/2026 — Lima, Peru @ Costa 21
02/18/2026 — Bogotá, Colombia @ Movistar Arena
02/21/2026 — Monterrey, Mexico @ Auditorio Banamex
02/22/2026 — Guadalajara, Mexico @ Auditorio Telmex
02/25/2026 — Mexico City, Mexico @ Palacio de los Deportes
08/02/2026 — Des Moines, Iowa, USA @ Hinterland Music Festival

Kendrick Lamar and SZA spent a lot of time together this year on the Grand National Tour, with SZA co-headlining the North American and European shows, while Kendrick then handled a handful of South American and Australian concerts himself. The two just couldn’t end the year without getting together one more time, though.

Top Dawg Entertainment hosted the 12th Annual Christmas Concert in Los Angeles last night (December 18), and while Kendrick is no longer with TDE, he still has love for his former label: He made a surprise appearance at the event. At one point, he joined SZA on stage and the two performed their hit “Luther” (here’s a video).

The event also featured Ab-Soul, Doechii, Isaiah Rashad, Jay Rock, Lance Skiiiwalker, Ray Vaughn, Schoolboy Q, SiR, SZA, and Zacari.

Meanwhile, the second part of the event, the toy drive, is going down today. Toys were donated by attendees of the concert as admission to the event. The drive runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT at 11251 Compton Ave in Los Angeles.

SZA and Kendrick both made their mark on music in 2025, aside from their tour: “Luther” was one of the year’s ten most-streamed songs on Spotify and on Apple Music, too.