25 Essential Indian Hip Hop Songs of 2025

by Rahul
January 4, 2026

You don’t need to be a hip-hop head to appreciate great music, and that’s exactly what this list delivers.

At Desi Renaissance, we’ve focused on the songs that truly stood out in 2025 — not the ones pushed by trends or algorithms, but the ones that earned their place through originality, impact, and replay value.

These tracks cut across styles, regions, and sub-genres, blending lyrical depth, sonic innovation, and raw emotional honesty into a playlist that speaks to every kind of music lover. To keep things fresh and diverse, we’ve included only one track per project, spotlighting the most powerful and distinctive voices across the scene.

While we did a similar list for 2024, this year’s edition comes with a key difference: it’s ranked. This is our definitive top 25 Indian hip-hop songs of 2025.

Whether you’re discovering new artists or revisiting familiar names, this isn’t just a rap list. It’s a snapshot of Indian music at its most bold, creative, and alive.

1) Mauké – Dhanji, Dishaan

The fifth track from The Pursuetist House Vol. 1, a first-of-its-kind experiment in India — a creative residency that evolved into a fully formed EP. In classic Dhanji fashion, he delivers with confidence and unpredictability.

This is the standout track from the project, and it shows what’s possible when artists are given the space to create naturally, without the pressure of delivering “the next hit.” The result feels free, focused, and fully realised.

Dhanji has always been known for his distinct flows and cadences, and he remains one of the few artists who genuinely doesn’t sound like anyone else. “Mauké” is a perfect example of that uniqueness — especially his second verse, which feels like the final stamp on an already strong record. The hook is incredibly catchy and lifts the entire song, with additional vocals from Sarah Black and Bharg adding just the right texture. Dishaan’s production deserves special mention too, creating open pockets that let Dhanji do exactly what he does best.

2) Guldasta – Seedhe Maut, Hurricane

If we were ranking our list last year, Red would have easily taken the top spot — it’s still one of the best Seedhe Maut songs ever, in our opinion. SM returning at number two this year says everything about their consistency. They don’t just release frequently; they rarely miss.

“Guldasta,” from their mixtape DL91 FM, stayed on repeat for most of the second half of 2025. It’s a deceptively simple song that highlights just how versatile Calm and Encore really are. There’s an ease to the track — nothing feels forced, yet everything lands.

It reminds us of Chalo Chalein, their 2020 collaboration with Ritviz, a song that surprised us back then because it showed a side of Seedhe Maut we didn’t expect at the time. “Guldasta” evokes that same feeling. For us, it’s one of their most underrated tracks — a perfect example of how a song can sound commercial without losing the essence of the artist or the genre.

3) Ambulance – Ikka, Sez on the Beat

If Blood Is Better Than Tears was Ikka enduring the storm, FUBU is him charging into battle — and Ambulance is the sharpest proof of that firepower.

The hook — “Don’t call an ambulance when I die, call a Benz” — flips death into a statement of legacy and dominance. With Sez on the Beat’s production and Ikka’s effortless delivery, it’s an addictive, loop-worthy anthem built to stay in rotation.

Ikka’s verses are stacked with punchlines and cultural references, from Freddy Krueger and Lex Luger to Goku and Akira.
The outro of the beat is a gem in itself, closing the track with finesse.

4) Farebi – Chaar Diwaari, Raftaar

This is one of those tracks that will likely land in a lot of people’s top five lists for 2025 — and for good reason. Chaar Diwaari is a compelling storyteller, and that strength extends beyond the music itself. The visuals accompanying “Farebi” elevate the experience even further, making it one of the standout music videos of the year.

Raftaar may not have released much last year, but when he shows up, he makes it count. True to form, he commands his verse with confidence and control, adding weight and polish to the track. His presence doesn’t overshadow the song; it sharpens it.

“Farebi” is a must-listen for any music fan, regardless of genre. Add to that one of the strongest hooks of the year, and you’ve got a record that’s hard to ignore.

5) Dua – Hardbone boy, Sinash

Hardbone is one of those artists we’ve been betting on for a while, and it’s been rewarding to see his growth — the man rarely misses. Whether it’s hardcore bars or melodic cuts, he’s been dropping bangers consistently, and Dua feels like a full-circle moment.

Inspired by Divine to start rapping, Hardbone now releases a single under Gully Gang: a milestone that underlines how far he’s come.

Alongside him, Sinash proves once again why he’s one of the scene’s most exciting names. Not just a producer but also a gifted songwriter, he brings both character and emotion to the track. Together, they deliver the kind of mainstream music that needs to be celebrated more — a record that signals their time is arriving.

6) Dalli – Bhaskar, Encore ABJ, RiJ

From his album Dalli, Bhaskar delivers one of the most emotionally complete pieces in his catalogue to date.

What makes “Dalli” stand out? It’s the way Bhaskar uses melody and confession in equal measure — embedding introspection into a sound palette that could easily go mainstream, yet remains indivisibly personal.

The production by Rijul is top notch, Encore ABJ with his verse shows once again why he is considered one of the finest writers in the scene.
But even with his strong performance, it’s the sound that lingers. Dalli is proof that vulnerability, craft, and replay value can co-exist, and when they do, the result hits different.

7) Ghar – Farhan Khan, Mehtab Ali Niazi, Deetocx

Closing out the first disc of Alif Laila, the song blends hip-hop, classical instrumentation, and deeply personal writing into something both intimate and expansive.

Mehtab Ali Niazi’s sitar isn’t just there for aesthetic, it speaks. The solo stretches like a memory you can’t fully hold onto, expressing the album’s emotional emptiness better than any lyric could.
It’s easily one of the boldest uses of sitar we’ve heard in the genre, turning the instrument into a second narrator rather than background texture.

Deetocx, who also produced Jawab De, is the quiet force here. If Mr. Doss is the backbone of the album, Deetocx is the thread holding its pulse together.
Ghar doesn’t just close Disc 1, it leaves you sitting with your own silence.

8) Phone Go Bling – Poetik Justis, H.H.B, Smokey The Ghost, Started Off Poor

Building off the momentum of his album Kala Pani, Phone Go Bling proves Poetik Justis isn’t just another voice, he’s a force pushing Desi Hip-Hop’s boundaries.

From the moment the beat hits, the track pulses with ambition: a catchy hook, sharp wordplay, and an edge that keeps you listening. What stands out? It’s how he takes the idea of “bling” — often a symbol of excess — and turns it into commentary.

HHB’s production gives the track its swagger. Smokey The Ghost delivers with his signature sharpness, but it’s Started Off Poor who steals the show, closing the track with a verse that cuts through the glamor and gets right to the wound.

This is the kind of commentary we need more of in Indian hip-hop: thoughtful, self-aware, and still just as replayable.

9) Mahabharat – Shikriwal, Yash Raj Mishra, ANA

Mahabharat feels like one of the album’s (Natya Alaapika) most fully realized statements. Built around a hypnotic blend of guitars and understated drums, it imagines everyday life as an endless Mahabharat—full of battles, betrayals, and shifting alliances.

The writing moves between personal disillusionment and broader observation, suggesting that the epic’s characters are still here in different forms, shaping the conflicts we face in families, friendships, and society.

What makes the track stand out is how it balances heaviness with beauty: the hook feels like a soft cry for something already gone, while the instrumental pulls everything into a trance.
It’s a song that lingers long after it ends, capturing the quiet exhaustion of fighting the same wars over and over.

10) Rakhlo Tum Chupaake – Arpit Bala, Adil

What really elevates Rakhlo Tum Chupaake is how deceptively groovy it is. The production leans into a jazzy pocket, with super tight drum programming that keeps the song moving even when the emotions feel heavy.

Add to that some of the finest guitar work on the entire album, tasteful and restrained, never flashy, always serving the song. There’s an interesting contrast at play: the music feels light and fluid, while the lyrics sit in guilt, distance, and careful reconciliation.

11) Who’s That – Siyaahi, DRV, yungsta, Acharya

This one was the biggest surprise for us on Siyaahi’s tape Sultanate, especially seeing DRV on the same track as Yungsta and Siyaahi. It wasn’t a combination we expected, but it works way better than you’d imagine.

For us, this might have the best hook and best beat on the entire tape. But the real highlight is the verses. Both DRV and Yungsta show up strong, staying in their lane and doing what they do best.

That said, Yungsta steals the track. His writing, his delivery, the emotional weight in his voice — it hits different. There’s confidence, and he doesn’t just rap the verse, he owns it.
This is the kind of track that makes you stop, rewind, and run it back again.

12) Devi – Farak

There’s a defining moment in most artists’ lives, and for Anand Mishra (Formerly known as Rhoat), it was stepping into the name Farak and releasing his EP Living Is a Dream — which, in our opinion, is the best EP of 2025. The level of thought poured into that project is evident in every track, and the writing reflects that care brilliantly.

If you’re drawn to vivid storytelling and lyrical depth, this one’s for you. Farak doesn’t just write songs; he paints scenes. He feels like a wordsmith in the truest sense, someone who understands the weight of language and how to use it with intention.

“Devi” is a tribute to the women who have shaped, loved, challenged, and healed Farak in their own ways. Anyone who’s had strong women play a defining role in their life will feel a deep connection to this track.

13) Yeh Zindagi Hai – King

King often gets unnecessary hate from the underground, but the truth is simple — he knows how to make good art. Dismissing music just because it’s mainstream says more about the listener than the artist.

With his EP Shayad Koi Na Sune, King delivered three emotionally rich songs, and Yeh Zindagi Hai stood out the most. It’s one of his best tracks yet, the kind that sticks to your playlist after the first listen.

Bharg’s production gives it the exact emotional weight it needs, making this a powerful and enduring release.

14) Those Dayz – Emiway Bantai

Emiway is one of the most polarizing artists in the scene, and often unfairly so. Narratives, controversies, and industry politics have overshadowed just how naturally gifted he is.

While not every release hits the same level, his willingness to experiment, reinvent, and push himself has always been undeniable.

Those Dayz is one of those moments where everything locks into place. The writing is reflective, vulnerable, and grounded in a lived reality familiar to anyone who’s grown up without privilege.

But the real magic is that the emotion travels beyond background or circumstance. Even those of us who didn’t share those struggles can feel the ache in the chest when the hook lands.

Memax’s production is warm and understated, giving Emiway the space to breathe, remember, and speak from the heart. There’s no performance here, just honesty. It’s a reminder that when Emiway slows down and lets the feeling lead, he delivers in a way only he can.

15) Back Benchers – Wamp, Boyblanck, Bhaskar

Wamp has been quietly stacking bangers for a while now, so when he announced his debut album, expectations were already high. “Back Benchers,” featuring two of our favourite new-school rappers from the NCR, stands out as the project’s most exciting moment.

In 2024, Boyblanck had an incredible run, dropping four strong projects. While 2025 wasn’t as release-heavy for him, every appearance reminded us why we’ve always rated his skill set so highly. There’s a rare balance in his writing — simple enough to stay accessible, but never boring or undercooked.

He keeps experimenting, but never pushes things so far that they become inaccessible, making music that most people can enjoy without it ever sounding too safe. That balance is one of his biggest strengths, and it’s a sound we believe will only continue to grow.

As for Bhaskar, he’s more than proven his potential this year. Between “Back Benchers” and his standout project Dalli, 2025 firmly established him as an artist to watch.

16) Gustakhi – SickLot, Parv Music, Badshah

This has to be one of the most unexpected collaborations of the year. We already knew SickLot and Parv were headed for greatness, but seeing a Badshah feature arrive so early in their journey was a welcome surprise.

What makes this track extra special is how effortlessly SickLot and Parv hold their own. At no point does Badshah overpower them—both deliver top-notch writing and confident performances that match the moment.

But the real unsung hero here is Starboi, whose beat is so irresistibly groovy you can’t help but bop along. It’s the kind of production that elevates everyone on the record.

Shoutout to Badshah for not treating this as just another collaboration—he shows up with genuine energy, making Gustakhi truly loop-worthy.

And trust us: the Agyakaari Boys are going much further in the scene. Both SickLot and Parv are phenomenal solo artists, but when they come together, it’s pure magic. If you haven’t explored their work yet, start with their mixtape Agyakaari, especially the title track—it’s the perfect showcase of their chemistry.

17) Buss Down – Kr$na, Raftaar, Phenom

Kr$na dropped his highly anticipated mixtape Yours Truly in May, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. It’s easily the strongest project he has released so far.

While it’s technically not an album, it still carries a cohesive story, woven together by the VOTP skits. Out of all the standout tracks on the tape, the one that impressed us most was Buss Down, featuring a stellar guest verse from Raftaar.

This track has some of the mixtape’s strongest composition and replay value, with Raftaar delivering pure fire.

As always, Phenom’s production is top notch. Personally, we love when Kr$na steps into this sound—and let’s not forget to appreciate how consistently he writes such memorable hooks.

18) P-Pop Culture – Karan Aujla, Ikky

The album’s title track isn’t built like a single — it’s a manifesto. Aujla weaves everyday Punjabi imagery into larger lessons on resilience, loyalty, and authenticity, turning simple lines into sharp metaphors for his career.

Powered by booming chants of “P-POP”, the track grows into an anthem before peaking with a soaring guitar solo and a crowd in unison. Just as it reaches its height, the sound fractures and glitches — a bold, restless finale that cements Aujla as the face of a cultural movement.

While Daytona stood out as our favorite cut on the album as part of the whole project, P-Pop Culture shines on its own as a statement track that showcases the best of what Aujla has to offer.

19) Dear Aditya – Badshah, Hiten

Badshah is rarely taken seriously as a rapper or lyricist, and that assumption has followed him for years — mostly because of how dominant his commercial catalogue has been. But every once in a while, he drops a track that reminds listeners there’s far more depth there than he’s usually given credit for. “Dear Aditya” is one of those moments.

Structured as a letter to his younger self, the song reads like lived advice rather than motivation-for-hire. Badshah reflects on ambition, family, betrayal, discipline, and fame with a clarity that feels earned, not aspirational.

Hiten’s restrained production keeps the focus firmly on the writing, letting the words breathe. “Dear Aditya” is proof that when Badshah chooses introspection over spectacle, he can still write with weight and conviction.

20) Blaze It Up – K!llswitch, Akki On The Mic

2025 has been a standout year for K!llswitch. He’s always been a rapper we’ve taken seriously, but what he’s accomplished with last year and more importantly with Blaze It Up feels especially noteworthy.

Not only has he dropped a pure banger, but it’s the story behind the song—and the mindset shift he shared in the documentary on his YouTube channel—that makes this release exciting.

You can sense the hunger and renewed focus in every bar.

The track itself has an incredibly catchy hook, and the writing from both K!llswitch and Akki On The Mic is top-tier. Their flow and delivery are exceptional.

This was our first time hearing Akki, and we’ll definitely be keeping an eye on what he does next—he shows serious potential.

We’re looking forward to seeing where this energy takes K!llswitch in the months ahead.

21) Farookh – shauharty, pakeezah

“Farookh” doesn’t try to be comfortable. From the moment pakeezah opens the track, it feels confrontational and theatrical, pulling the listener straight into shauharty’s world. The energy is chaotic, but never accidental.

shauharty’s writing moves between confidence and contradiction, ambition and insecurity, often within the same verse. There’s flexing here, but it’s constantly undercut by honesty — about identity, family, ego, and discomfort. Nothing is smoothed out, and that’s exactly the point.

What makes the track stand out is how intentional that messiness feels. The interruptions and tonal shifts reinforce a refusal to be palatable. Taken in context of the project, it’s no surprise we see Farookh as one of the finest mixtapes of 2025 — and this track is one of its most defining moments.

22) Paycheck – vichaar, Siyaahi, K!llswitch

vichaar dropped his EP VVVV on the very last day of June, and what a release it was. This is an all-out hip-hop banger of a project, with four tracks that showcase his range as both a rapper and a producer.

All the songs are produced by vichaar himself, and the production is top notch—especially the clarity of the vocals, which is the cherry on top. While That Shit Hard features a killer guest verse from Prathmesh, Paycheck stood out as the project’s highlight for us.

It has the best hook and beat on the EP, along with sharp verses from K!llswitch and Siyaahi. It honestly felt like Siyaahi was on a mission to completely eat this beat, his flow is pure fire from start to finish.

If you haven’t heard VVVV yet, start with Paycheck—you’ll see exactly why this track deserves a spot on this list.

23) Been On – Frappe Ash, toorjo dey, Encore ABJ

“Been On” feels like the emotional spine of Ice Cream Frappe. It’s a song about movement — money, progress, momentum — but never the glossy kind. From the opening lines, Frappe Ash frames success as something fragile, something that can melt if you don’t hold it carefully. The ice cream metaphor isn’t playful here; it’s survival.

Lyrically, this is Frappe at his most exposed. The verses move between ambition, exhaustion, paranoia, and gratitude, often within the same breath. Bars about growth sit right next to anxiety and self-doubt, making the track feel lived-in rather than performed.

Encore ABJ opens “Been On” with a verse that feels like a reckoning. The repetition of “mera” turns into a declaration of ownership — over body, mind, ambition, doubt — refusing to let success erase the person underneath it. It grounds the track in identity, giving the chaos that follows intention rather than spectacle.

24) Cause – Hanumankind, Rudy

Our favorite song from Monsoon Season. “Cause” is the emotional centerpiece — the beating heart of the tape. Rudy Mukta, a phenomenal R&B artist from Bangalore, delivers a soulful, aching hook that matches Hanumankind’s vulnerability.

Their chemistry seen previously in “Catharsis,” reaches its peak here. If there’s one track that captures Sooraj Cherukat the person, not just Hanumankind the rapper, this is it.

Kalmi’s production is masterful, easily one of his best on the tape. For an artist often known for his bravado, HMK’s performance here is unexpected and deeply moving.

25) Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki – OG Lucifer, GhAatak, Hurricane

“Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki” is one of the heaviest songs on this list — and that’s exactly why it belongs here.

Taken from Poore Dil Se!, OG Lucifer’s December 2025 release, the track distills everything that makes his writing so affecting: unfiltered vulnerability, lived pain, and an honesty that refuses to look away. Coming in a year where he also dropped Naala Paar, this song reinforces just how consistent and fearless his output has been.

What makes “Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki” hit so hard is its writing. Lucifer and GhAatak don’t dress the trauma up or soften its edges. Domestic violence, addiction, emotional neglect — these aren’t abstract ideas here, but memories spoken plainly, almost conversationally.

The hook is deceptively catchy, but it carries an ache that lingers long after the song ends, pulling the listener back into the verses each time.

Taken together, these songs tell the story of a year that refused to move in one direction. 2025 was about contrast — vulnerability alongside bravado, experimentation beside restraint, underground voices speaking just as loudly as established names.

This list isn’t meant to be final or universal. It reflects how we listened, what stayed with us, and which songs continued to reveal something new long after their first play.

If Indian hip-hop in 2025 proved anything, it’s that the scene doesn’t need to be boxed in to be understood: it just needs to be heard closely.