From Hanumankind to Seedhe Maut: 15 Rappers who stole the show in 2025

2025 was a big year for Indian hip-hop. Starting from massive album drops to breakout Bollywood moments and underground voices finally getting their due, rap was everywhere. Some artists dominated playlists, some pushed the culture forward, and others surprised us by switching up their sound. But, together, they made sure hip-hop stayed loud, relevant and impossible to ignore. Here are 15 rappers who truly stole the show in 2025.

1. Honey Singh: 2025 was nothing short of historic for Honey Singh. Dropping a massive 51-track album is no joke, and he pulled it off with style. Songs like Mashooqa, Chillgum and Sawal Puchdi were everywhere.

2. Hanumankind: Hanumankind kept raising the bar for Indian hip-hop this year. The Bengaluru-based rapper is known for mixing global rap sounds with a strong local flavour. 2025 marked a big milestone as he made his Bollywood debut with the powerful title track of Dhurandhar, bringing global-desi rap straight into the mainstream spotlight.

3. Seedhe Maut: Delhi’s favourite rap duo continued their strong run in 2025. Calm and Encore ABJ dropped DL91 FM, an album packed with sharp lyrics, heavy beats and that unmistakable Seedhe Maut energy. Their music still balances social commentary and personal stories in a way that feels honest and hard-hitting.

4. Divine: A true OG in the scene, Divine reminded everyone why he’s still at the top. After starting underground back in 2011, his journey has been all about raw stories and real emotions. This year, tracks like Aag and You & I (featuring Kalyani Priyadarshan) marked a solid comeback for him.

5. Karan Aujla: Karan Aujla proved once again that his rap game is just as strong as his pop side. His P-Pop Culture album turned into a big hit, and rap-heavy tracks like 7.7 Magnitude and Daytona stood out.

6. ThirumaLi: When Malayali Da dropped years ago, it felt personal to every Malayali listener, and since then ThirumaLi hasn’t slowed down. Vishnu M S, aka ThirumaLi, continues to shape Malayalam rap with humour, attitude and authenticity. His 2025 hit Kulasthree with producer ThudWiser showed a more introspective side of him that we absolutely love.


7. KR$NA: KR$NA stayed razor-sharp in 2025. Known for his technical skills and hard bars, he dropped his album Yours Truly featuring 15 tracks. Songs like Sensitive, Vibrator and Knock Knock quickly climbed the charts, proving once again that when it comes to lyricism, KR$NA rarely misses.

8. Badshah: Can you even talk about rap in India without mentioning Badshah? In 2025, he kept doing what he does best, dropping hits. Galiyon Ke Ghalib and Kokaina turned into instant chartbusters, reminding everyone why Badshah remains a hit-making machine year after year.


9. Asal Kolaar: Known for his raw, street-style Tamil rap, Asal Kolaar surprised us with a softer side in Commit, a romantic track featuring Priya Prakash Varrier. It was refreshing to see the rapper step out of his comfort zone.

10. Panther: Panther knows his strength, and he plays to it well. His lyrics are sharp, sometimes playful, and always confident. By mixing desi influences with a modern flow, he gave us tracks like Matter, Manwa, Bolo Bolo (ft. W.I.S.H) and other in 2025.

11. Reble: If you vibed to Run Down The City - Monica or Naal Nachna from Dhurandhar, you’ve already heard Reble spit fire. Hailing from Meghalaya’s West Jaintia Hills, 22-year-old Daiaphi Lamare is one of the most exciting new voices in Indian rap. Her sharp lyrics and fearless delivery stood out big time in 2025.

12. Paal Dabba: Paal Dabba keeps things simple, raw and real. There’s no overthinking in his music, just straight-up honesty. 2025 was truly his as he gave us tracks like Oorum Blood from Dude, God Bless U from Good Bad Ugly, En Seethai, Idi Mazhai, United by Hip Hop, and O Maara from Thug Life.

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13. Lush Curry: MTV Hustle Season 4 winner Lush Curry had a steady year with multiple releases. While he didn’t drop a full album, his EPs Empty Spaces and IYKWIM, along with singles like Change and Candy, showed consistency and growth in his sound throughout 2025.

14. Arivu: Arivu’s music has always hit hard, both emotionally and politically. He speaks about identity, pride and struggle in a way very few can. But this year, he turned the volume up even more with Powerhouse from Coolie, showing just how strong his rap game continues to be.

15. Bali: Wrapping up the list is Bali, who stayed active all through 2025. Let it be his singles like Bloodstream and Shameless or tracks on his Kala Khatta EP such as Sad Gaana and Kalesh, Bali kept experimenting and delivering tracks which were hit.

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