The 10 Best Caribbean Albums of 2025: Critic’s Picks

For every certified rude boy, there’s a gentleman who understands the value of catering to the ladies. Enter D’yani, the Spanish Town-hailing loverman who finally followed up years of local buzzy, loved-up hits with his debut EP, Move. Between the Afro-dancehall feel of “Lock N Key,” a slick Afroswing flip of Kelly Price’s “Love Sets You Free” and the contemporary R&B bent of the title track, Muse establishes D’yani as a dynamic vocalist who can manipulate his timbre and delivery to match any vibe. Above all, the seven-song set flaunts the fast-rising star’s versatility, which helps each of his women-dedicated odes feel fresher than the last.

Must-Listen Track: “Ambience”

Aiesha Barrett, daughter of the late Aston “Family Man” Barrett, notched a career milestone when her poignant “Jamaica Strong” track was selected as the official song for the Dec. 12 benefit concert of the same name. Nonetheless, the most important stop on her road to that milestone was the September release of Reggae Dolly, her third official project. Comprised of 10 tracks produced by JJ Wizzle and Jermaine Crooks, Reggae Dolly finds Barrett delivering infectious R&B-infused reggae that hinges on her melismatic vocals and decidedly woman-first, youth-forward lyrical approach. By the time she closes the project with a steamy dancehall bop in “Options,” Barrett rightfully positions herself as one of the West Indies’ rising reggae princesses.

Must-Listen Track: “Toxic”

Armanii broke through in a major way this year, winning the dancehall impact award at August’s Caribbean Music Awards and performing at Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Live concert in September. With just a few days to spare, the young Jamaican singer shared his official debut studio album, putting a cap on the biggest year of his career yet. From breezy reggae love songs (“Lose Your Love”) to Afropop-infused party tracks (“U A Gwan”), steamy dancehall-R&B duets (“Balcony,” with Jada Kingdom) and pensive anthems of encouragement (“Champion”), Armanii crafted an album that doesn’t just announce the arrival of a new star, it also invites audiences to explore the full range of his versatility.

Must-Listen Track: “Lose Your Love”

Before the late 2010s breakthrough of Skillibeng, Popcaan held it down for global dancehall culture in the wake of Kartel’s 2014 incarceration. To close out the year, St. Thomas Parish-born artist shared Nothing Without God, his first full-length release since 2023’s Best Mood. Anchored by a spiritual throughline that’s more concerned with gratitude and faith than crass dancehall lyrical motifs, “Nothing Without God” earned a whole new layer of meaning when it arrived shortly after Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamrock. From the unwavering “God Nah Leave” to the all-surrendering “Preserve Me,” Popcaan’s latest LP marks the beginning of a new, more mature chapter for the star.

Must-Listen Track: “Soldier”

At the top of the year, Machel Montano gave Kartel his money for 2025’s first major Caribbean music moment. On Jan. 13, the Trinidadian music icon performed NPR’s first-ever soca Tiny Desk set. That performance ended up being just one of the career highlights that came out of One Degree Hotter, the King of Soca’s latest LP. Led by “Pardy,” the song that clinched him his 11th Trinidad Carnival Road March victory, One Degree Hoter finds Montano compiling some of his most infectious, waistline-moving tracks of the year, including the Ayetian-assisted “Truth & Balance” and the Full Blown-produced “The Truth.” In between international collaborations with Ne-Yo and Davido (“Fling It Up”), Montano still found time to connect with the local scene, teaming up with steam queen Lady Lava (“Pepper Vine”) and fellow Trini icons Bunji Garlin and Mical Teja (“Home Is Where the Heart Is”). Four decades into his career, Machel Montano just keeps getting hotter.

Must-Listen Track: “Fallen Fetters” (with Skinny Fabulous)

For his official debut album, Royal Blu chose to honor his Spanish Town roots. An enjoyable 14-track set that tumbles through roots reggae, lovers rock and echoes of dancehall, Spain Root lays Blu’s soul bare. “Little Brother,” the album’s moving final track, finds him crooning about putting the God-fearing lessons of his childhood to practice as an adult. “I just waah fi be di best bro to my bros/ That sometimes I get lost in the lifestyle that I chose,” he muses over somber brass and plaintive guitars. A lovingly crafted portrait of his home that leaves room for intimate moments of reflection, Spain Root flaunts Blu’s impressive storytelling skills.

Must-Listen Track: “Life from Kingston” (with Protoje)

Dominican bouyon drew many major looks this year, and Trilla-G is one of the fastest-rising stars from that scene. Take Me As I Am, the Dominican singer’s debut full-length album, succinctly relays the allure of bouyon: pounding drums, relentless tempos, domineering vocal performances and rhythms that blend new tech with the island’s folk music roots. Grenadian soca star V’ghn breathes new life into a remix of the title track, Jamaican dancehall-R&B singer Stalk Ashley brought some slinky sensuality to “Nobody,” and “Kyoné Me” reminds us that good music knows no dialect barriers. Tied together by his endlessly danceable melodies, Trilla-G’s debut LP leaves us no choice but to take him as he is.

Must-Listen Track: “Blue” (with Ridge)

After five long years, Lila Iké finally shared her proper debut full-length album. Aptly titled Treasure Self Love, the 11-track set finds the Jamaican star looking herself in the mirror and placing her heart and soul under a microscope. Iké’s breakthrough came courtesy of her timeless voice and always timely lyrics; she makes the kind of music any generation can listen to and hear themselves in. As much as she taps contemporary cross-genre stars like R&B singer H.E.R., rapper Joey Bada$$ and dancehall superstar Masicka, Iké also incorporates elements of reggae pillars like Peter Tosh, Patra and Garnett Silk, underscoring her commitment to honoring the genre’s roots and keeping its essence at the forefront.

Must-Listen Track: “Brighter Days”

There’s a reason Bad Bunny won Latin Caribbean artist of the year at August’s Caribbean Music Awards. And it’s essentially the same reason Roc Nation and the NFL tapped the global superstar to headline the Super Bowl LX halftime show: He’s simply making some of the best music of the decade.

Debí Tirar Más Fotos is the stunning culmination of all of Bad Bunny’s previous efforts in its bold, nuanced exploration of what it looks like to hone and honor a conscious, border-transcending community in an era of late-stage capitalism, relentless gentrification and nefarious colonialism. Year-defining bangers like the title track and “Nuevayol” find balance in introspective, incisive cuts like “Lo Que Le Pasó A Hawaii,” and those more political tracks nicely contrast with stunning love songs like “Baile Inolvidable.” From his incorporation of plena and salsa to his collaborations with local PR talent like Chuwi and RaiNao, Bad Bunny crafted his strongest album while offering a playbook for how to lift your entire community as you enjoy your own time in the stratosphere.

Must-Listen Track: “Café con Ron” (with Los Pleneros de la Cresta)

After a nearly decade-long hiatus, Chronixx reemerged with a brand new album that went back to basics. Executive produced by Grammy-nominated SAULT leader Inflo, with Chronixx self-penning all 17 songs and playing various instruments across the record, Exile is a musical manifestation of the very action its title suggests. The album is a complete about-face from the general tenor of contemporary Caribbean music and towards the soulful, jazz-inflected roots reggae of the 1970s. Inflo meticulously arranges Chronixx’s (and his team’s) nuanced instrumentation into an undeniably raw soundscape that recalls the heartfelt verve of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ 1978 Kaya LP. From the doo-wop flourishes of “Sweet Argument” to the old-school, Supercat-esque delivery on “Market,” Chronixx’s malleable voice skips between styles, maintaining authenticity and honesty at every turn.

A completely solo affair, Exile hinges entirely on Chronixx’s voice and pen; both of those instruments carry an unmistakable, hard-fought resilience that grounds standouts like “Hurricane,” an eerily timely chant, and “I and I,” a disarmingly meditative prayer. Exile also features nearly 10-minute-long songs, repetition-reliant hooks and emphasis on analog instrumentation — it’s that rejection of radio’s influence that allows Chronixx to take such a big swing with this album. Exile is difficult and imperfect, much like exile itself — but in that struggle, there are lessons to be learned and beauty to behold. As Chronixx sings at the end of the title track, all that matters is that “they will see, I’m still alive.”

Must-Listen Track: “Market”