Clipse's Let God Sort Em Out reunited brothers Pusha T and Malice for their first full-length project in 16 years, produced entirely by Pharrell Williams.

Commercial success

• The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart.

• It sold 118K equivalent units in its first week of release.

• It debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart.

Cultural impact

• Clipse performed "Ace Trumpets" on A COLORS SHOW.

• The duo made their NPR Tiny Desk Concert debut, performing a mix of deep cuts, new songs, and classics.

• Clipse announced the "Let God Sort Em Out Tour," their first US tour in 15 years.

Critical response

• The New York Times described Let God Sort Em Out as "a clear continuation of the work they did in the 2000s that made them favorites of street-rap realists and internet-fueled curio seekers." Read full review

• Consequence stated that the album carries the MCs "far beyond the finite walls of the 'coke rap' subgenre, balancing 'the contrasting weights of prayer and pain'." Read full review

• "A well-executed album occasionally weighed down by its grandiosity," is how Variety described it, noting "unfailingly sharp rapping, but dented by heavy-handed self-mythology and intermittently sterile Pharrell Williams beats." Read full review

Sabrina Carpenter's seventh studio album, Man's Best Friend, follows her breakthrough record Short n’ Sweet and marks her producer debut alongside collaborators Jack Antonoff and John Ryan.

Commercial success

• Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

• Earned 366K equivalent units in its first week.

• Certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Cultural impact

• The album's cover art, depicting Carpenter on her hands and knees with a man grasping her hair, caused an uproar online and alternate versions were spun up as a result.

• The pop star held album listening parties in LA & NYC where 26 fans were given an exclusive listen.

• The music video for the single 'Tears' takes inspiration from The Rocky Horror Picture Show and features Oscar nominee Colman Domingo.

Critical response

• The Guardian described Man's Best Friend as "these songs are disarmingly complex, almost weaselly in their ability to make intricate, unconventional structure sound effortless" Read full review

• Rolling Stone noted that Carpenter "has few peers these days when it comes to turning some of the most uncomfortable or even painful feelings when you’re crying over an ex into giggle-worthy treats." Read full review

• The Washington Post characterized the album as "a pop album that feels as zesty, clever and cathartic as stand-up comedy." Read full review

Lady Gaga's seventh studio album, MAYHEM, marked a return to her pop roots, alongside an iconic & theatrical visual campaign. The spontaneous recording process saw her "take helm of [her] style and claim it passionately" as both a songwriter and producer.

Commercial success

• Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 219K equivalent units.

• Certified Platinum by the RIAA for 1M units sold in the U.S.

• Topped album charts in 23 countries and accumulated over 5B streams on Spotify.

Cultural impact

• Gaga headlined Coachella 2025, which featured a 5-act night-at-the-opera style performance.

• She served as host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live, performing songs from MAYHEM.

• The music video for 'The Dead Dance' was directed by Tim Burton.

• She launched the 'Mayhem Ball' world tour, featuring 87 shows across four continents and winning multiple Shorty Impact Awards.

Critical response

• Metacritic noted MAYHEM is a "testament to the power of constant reinvention that isn’t pandering," proving Lady Gaga "remains an artist in constant motion." Read full review

• Pitchfork described MAYHEM as a "massive attack of good vibes" designed to remind listeners why they fell in love with her in the first place. Read full review

• The Guardian praised the album as "a fabulous return to her freaky first principles," noting its "wholesale return to dancefloor freakiness." Read full review

Leon Thomas's second studio album, MUTT, marks his transition from a behind-the-scenes writer and producer to a front-line artist. An expanded deluxe edition, subtitled 'HEEL,' was released featuring new tracks new collaborations, including Big Sean.

Commercial success

• MUTT peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart, marking Thomas's first top 10 entry on that chart.

• Lead single "Mutt" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, giving Thomas his first No. 1 as a performer.

• The titular track spent 18 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart and reached 500M streams across various versions.

Cultural impact

• Leon Thomas made his live television debut as a recording artist performing "Mutt" on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.'

• Landed an appearance on the iconic NPR Tiny Desk Concert series.

• Thomas announced the 'Mutts Don't Heel World Tour' across North America and Europe.

Critical response

• Watch This Globe noted that Thomas draws from R&B, soul, hip‑hop, and psychedelic textures to sculpt a project that challenges both expectations and conventions of modern R&B. Read full review

• The Culture Crypt observed that this "canine-fuelled sophomore album from Leon Thomas dives deep into the complexities of relationships and identity, all wrapped in a unique sound that fuses R&B with jazzy soul and rock, while subtly venturing into experimental territory." Read full review

• RGM highlighted that Leon Thomas used "very unique samples and snippets from different movies and music that really stand out in the album." Read full review

Justin Bieber's seventh studio album, SWAG, was surprise-released, marking his first project since March 2021 and first without former manager Scooter Braun by his side.

Commercial success

• Debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 163K equivalent units (9K more than his previous album).

• 16 of the album's 21 tracks landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

• The album cleared 1B streams on Spotify, the same for each of his seven albums.

Cultural impact

• SWAG accumulated four nominations for Bieber with Bieber nabbing performance nods for both 'Daisies' & 'Yukon.'

• Promoted the release with billboards bearing the word 'SWAG' in Reykjavík and other cities worldwide.

• Producer Dijon earned two GRAMMY nominations, including Producer of the Year (Non-Classical), for his work on the album.

Critical response

• Rolling Stone's Rob Sheffield stated that "the musical energy and imagination here is Bieber at his most confident." Read full review

• Pitchfork noted that "for most of its 50-plus-minute runtime, Bieber appears, finally, entirely unencumbered." Read full review

• Slant Magazine noted "a few gems in this swag bag, including 'Butterflies'—with its infectious blend of shimmery guitars, reverb-doused vocals, and shuffling drum loops." Read full review