The end of August 2025 brought a tidal wave of new music across genres, with hip-hop and R&B at the forefront. Friday, August 29th, marked a significant release day, seeing highly anticipated albums from Joey Bada$$, Sabrina Carpenter, and influential singles from artists like Ella Mai, all contributing to a vibrant tapestry of contemporary sound. Beyond these marquee releases, the week’s trending stories included Billboard’s definitive look at the top hip-hop songs of the 21st century, offering a broader perspective on the genre’s enduring impact.
Joey Bada$$ Returns with ‘Lonely At The Top’
Joey Bada$$ cemented his status as a modern hip-hop icon with the release of his fourth studio album, ‘Lonely At The Top’, on August 29, 2025. Originally slated for an earlier August debut, the Brooklyn native navigated label setbacks to deliver this highly anticipated 11-track project. ‘Lonely At The Top’ features a star-studded lineup, including collaborations with Westside Gunn, A$AP Ferg, Ty Dolla $ign, and Rome Streetz, among others. The album boasts production from a roster of acclaimed beatmakers such as Statik Selektah, Chuck Strangers, and Boi-1da, promising a rich and varied sonic landscape. Tracks like “DARK AURA” and “STILL” were precursors to the album, showcasing Joey’s continued lyrical prowess and thematic depth as he explores fame, solitude, and self-awareness. This release marks his first full-length project in three years, following his acclaimed 2022 album ‘2000’, and comes as he prepares for his “Dark Aura Tour” with Ab-Soul and Rapsody this fall. Joey also recently clarified his artistic intentions behind his lyrical sparring with West Coast MCs, emphasizing it was purely in the spirit of hip-hop competition.
Sabrina Carpenter Ascends with ‘Man’s Best Friend’
In the pop sphere, Sabrina Carpenter continued her meteoric rise with the release of her seventh studio album, ‘Man’s Best Friend’, on August 29, 2025. Co-produced with frequent collaborators Jack Antonoff and John Ryan, the album is primarily a pop affair, infused with elements of disco-pop, funk, R&B, and synth-rock. The project features 12 tracks, building on the momentum of her chart-topping lead single “Manchild,” which previously dominated charts in Ireland, the UK, and the US. The album also includes “Tears” as its second single, released concurrently. Carpenter’s artistic evolution is evident in the album’s diverse instrumentation, which includes banjo and various live solos, reflecting a band-like creative process. ‘Man’s Best Friend’ follows her highly successful, Grammy-winning 2024 album ‘Short n’ Sweet’, signaling a confident new chapter for the pop superstar.
Ella Mai Explores Relationships with “Tell Her”
Adding to the day’s R&B offerings, Ella Mai collaborated once again with her longtime producer Mustard for the single “Tell Her”. Released on August 29, the track is characterized as a confident, slow-burning R&B anthem that delves into themes of loyalty, reassurance, trust, and emotional clarity within relationships. “Tell Her” marks Mai’s first release since her 2024 EP ‘3’, and showcases her continued ability to deliver relatable and emotionally resonant narratives over Mustard’s signature smooth production.
A Week of Diverse Releases and Hip-Hop’s Legacy
The August 29th release slate was rich with variety. Westside Gunn dropped his highly anticipated sequel, ‘Heels Have Eyes 2’, a 12-track project that continues his fusion of music, art, and wrestling culture, celebrated with “Westside Gunn Day” in Buffalo. Hip-hop legend Rakim, who recently received a Peabody Medal, released ‘The Re-Up’, a collaborative album with producer Big Ghost Ltd., featuring the track “Not To Be Defined”.
Meanwhile, D Smoke unveiled his third studio album, ‘Wake Up Supa’, on August 26th, featuring collaborations with Snoop Dogg and Lucky Daye, further solidifying his unique voice blending English and Spanish narratives. On the single front, DJ Snake and Don Toliver joined forces for “Something Wrong,” a track hinting at the expansive sound of DJ Snake’s upcoming album ‘NOMAD’. NBA Youngboy and Post Malone also released the collaborative single “BROTHER”. A notable piece of news from the week was the delay of Erykah Badu and The Alchemist’s joint album, ‘Abi & Alan’, which was originally slated for August 29th but was postponed at the last minute, causing confusion among fans and artists alike.
Billboard’s Hip-Hop Retrospective and Chart Buzz
Adding industry context to the week’s new music, Billboard released its definitive ranking of the Top 10 Hip-Hop Songs of the 21st Century. The list highlighted the genre’s most impactful tracks, with Lil Nas X’s “Industry Baby” topping the specific hip-hop songs ranking, followed by hits from Macklemore, Post Malone, and Kendrick Lamar. Separately, Billboard also recognized The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” as the number one track on its Top Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs of the 21st Century chart, underscoring the song’s unprecedented chart longevity and cultural resonance.
Conclusion
August 29, 2025, proved to be a monumental day for new music, showcasing the diverse talent and evolving sounds within hip-hop, R&B, and pop. From Joey Bada$$’s introspective return to Sabrina Carpenter’s polished pop evolution and Ella Mai’s soulful reflections, the releases offered a comprehensive snapshot of the current musical landscape, further amplified by significant industry discussions on hip-hop’s storied past and present.
