Every year-end brings its share of rankings, but the one published by Rolling Stone has a particular flavor. The magazine gathered fourteen figures who, each in their own way, made their mark on the year: artists capable of capturing the spirit of the moment, sometimes shaping it, or simply embodying it with an authenticity that goes beyond their artistic field.
There are no stream counts or best-selling charts here. The goal lies elsewhere: to spotlight voices—musical or otherwise—that resonated strongly in 2025. A mix of pop, hip-hop, comedy, film, performance, alternative culture... in short, a fluid panorama that is hard to confine to a single genre.
Here is an overview of the fourteen voices selected by Rolling Stone.
1. Lady Gaga
The top spot goes to Lady Gaga, an essential figure in modern pop. Since her debut, she has moved between sonic experimentation, all-encompassing performance, and embraced vulnerability. In 2025, she returns with an energy that reconnects with spectacle without losing the emotional depth that has defined her career.
Gaga remains that chameleonic artist whose voice—whether sung, performed, or expressed publicly—continues to cut through the cultural tumult.
2. Marc Maron
A change of pace with Marc Maron. Comedian, actor, podcaster: he has shaped a singular way of speaking to the world, balancing introspection, raw lucidity, and sometimes abrasive humor.
Seeing a non-musical artist ranked so highly in a list dedicated to “voices” clearly shows that speech has become an art form in its own right.
3. Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny has become a global phenomenon without ever conforming to dominant conventions. Reggaeton, Latin trap, pop, Caribbean textures... he explores, blends, transforms.
He embodies the shift in an industry where the English language is no longer necessary to dominate the global map.
4 and 5. Clipse (Pusha T & Malice)
The return of Clipse, the duo made up of Pusha T and Malice, feels almost like a generational event. The group remains associated with an ultra-precise hip-hop aesthetic: minimalist beats, sharp lyrics, and uncompromising urban storytelling.
Their appearance on this list acknowledges the undiminished power of their writing and their ability to become relevant again in a saturated musical landscape.
6. Rachel Sennott
Rachel Sennott embodies a particular kind of voice: hybrid, somewhere between comedy, film, performance, and writing. Her presence here shows that cultural influence is no longer limited to musicians or established directors.
She represents a generation for whom artistic expression is a complete ecosystem: acting, attitude, social media, improvisation.
7. Joe Budden
The story of Joe Budden is one of the most surprising in hip-hop. A respected rapper who then became a podcaster and an essential voice in cultural commentary, he demonstrates that a career can be radically reinvented.
His way of debating, raising sensitive issues, and analyzing rap culture shapes much of today’s conversation.
8 and 9. Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg
The duo of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg has influenced American humor for more than a decade. Their blend of raunchy comedy, satire, and pop-culture storytelling extends far beyond film.
Their presence on this list shows that laughter can be as powerful a cultural force as a guitar solo or a biting verse.
10. FKA twigs
With FKA twigs, creativity takes on an almost mystical dimension. Dance, singing, performance, art direction: she builds a complete universe in which every gesture matters.
A figure of the avant-garde, she remains one of those defining what music and performance could become, rather than what they are.
11 and 12. Trey Parker & Matt Stone
The creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, wield irreverence as a major art form. Their often radical social satire works like a magnifying mirror of the times.
Their place here recognizes the power of political humor that can be as unsettling as it is enlightening.
13. Ryan Coogler
Ryan Coogler has become one of the leading voices in contemporary cinema. His narrative approach and his way of depicting complex identities and dense atmospheres go far beyond entertainment.
In a world where images carry as much weight as sound, his presence makes perfect sense.
14. Cole Escola
A queer artist, performer, and actor, Cole Escola rounds out the list with an entirely distinctive energy: irreverent, theatrical, and at times surreal.
Their absolute artistic freedom, offbeat humor, and ability to bend cultural reality explain their place in this ranking. A singular voice that leaves a lasting impression without ever seeking consensus.
Why this selection is worth checking out
This ranking reveals a profound shift: contemporary culture is no longer compartmentalized. The boundaries between music, film, comedy, performance, and cultural analysis are disappearing.
What matters now is perspective, the gesture, vision.
The artists mentioned—from Lady Gaga to Cole Escola, including FKA twigs and Joe Budden—appear to have nothing in common, yet they all tell one side of the story of 2025.
Conclusion
“Voices of the Year” does not seek to determine the best artists, but rather those whose voice truly resonated this year.
Fourteen journeys, fourteen ways of speaking to the world. A panorama that is sometimes contradictory, often unexpected, but always alive.
Ultimately, a list that closely resembles the era it describes: multifaceted, fluid, creative.
Sources
- Rolling Stone — “ Voices of the Year: 14 Artists Who Met the Moment in 2025”
