Beyoncé, ‘Industry,’ Larry David and 17 Other Reasons to Tap In This Year

In some ways it still feels like we’re all in a 2025 mindset thanks to Awards Season, which kicked off last weekend and will really get underway this coming Sunday with the Golden Globes. But in the midst of debating the great and mid movies of last year, it’s time to look forward to the bounty that a new calendar year of pop culture will bring.

20. Doechii — I’ll be honest: As fantastic a mixtape as 2024’s Alligator Bites Never Heal is, “Anxiety,” Doechii’s big single of 2025, did absolutely nothing for me, to the point of slightly dulling my anticipation for her debut album proper. Then she dropped “girl, get up.” at the buzzer right before New Year’s Eve and I felt silly. The beat knocks (a brilliant flip of “What Happened to That Boy” courtesy of Jay Versace, who continues to slowly but surely assert himself as a force to be reckoned with), the verses are razor sharp, SZA’s in her bag on the hook and it still only feels like a warm-up record. I’m sorry I doubted you, Swamp Princess.

19. American Love Story — Ryan Murphy is burnt out at this point—all empty calorie provocation and no bite, sensationalist with no substance—but the story of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette feels like it could return him to his sweet spot. It’ll be the first Murphy project I tap in with since he cast Clive Owen as Bill Clinton.

18. A$AP Rocky, Don’t Be Dumb — As a millennial of a certain age who was outside during the summer of “Peso,” I will never write Rocky off, even coming off of endless delays and his weakest album to date. And you have to give credit where it’s due: He could easily be microwaving the sound of some of his biggest hits, but instead he’s [perhaps too] committed to sonic exploration that at the very least promises an interesting listen. A couple of years ago Rocky told me he’d locked in heavy with Metro Boomin’ for this album, if that’s still the case then we could have a hell of a comeback on our hands.

17. Drake, Iceman — This may come as a shock to the crazed Stans, but you can be critical of an artist’s output, agree he lost a beef, enjoyed that loss even, and still be curious about where he goes from here. Unfortunately for Drake, there’s a lot riding on this one for obvious reasons—and I won’t front as if I won’t be pressing play the minute this drops to see how it pans out.

16. Beef, season 2 — This has the potential to be a Q2 sleeper…I feel like everyone got excited about the casting—Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny, Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan—and has since collectively forgotten that a new Beef season was waiting in the wings. The first season was such a thrill ride (that honestly probably would’ve been even more culturally significant if it was released weekly but I digress); I can’t wait to see how Lee Sung Jin tries to match—or top—it.

15. The Adventures of Cliff Booth – I’m holding myself to at least one OptimismTake per year and as I’ve said on the record previously, I’m choosing to believe the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood not-sequel that will not be directed by Quentin Tarantino but instead by the seemingly wayward David Fincher will be good. Maybe even great. And if it isn’t, please respect my privacy.