Over the past year, it’s become clear that Original Filipino Music isn’t merely thriving — it has evolved, expanded, and reshaped the cultural landscape of our country with nearly every release, every performance, and every chart milestone that has affected Philippine pop culture.
Though in the midst of this breakthrough moment for the Philippine music scene, what makes this year remarkable isn’t just the outstanding commercial success or the streaming numbers, but the diversity of stories being told. We’re witnessing how some of OPM’s most compelling voices are becoming the emotional anchors of a generation in real time, with their songs serving as the soundtrack for the daily lives of millions of Filipinos nationwide.
We have R&B crooners like Arthur Nery who unravel vulnerability with every falsetto run; rappers like Shanti Dope and HELLMERRY who carry the weight of their city with every bar; bands like December Avenue and Cup of Joe who turn heartbreak into communal healing; and even rising vocalists like Earl Agustin who transform small moments into sweeping anthems. Each of these different artists offers a different lens into Filipino life — sometimes tender, sometimes explosive, always deeply felt.
To honor the breadth of their impact, Billboard Philippines has curated the ultimate playlist puts the spotlight on the Top Artists of 2025, featuring not just on the songs everyone knows, but also on the tracks that deserve to be heard — the deep cuts, the experimental edges, the quiet triumphs buried between the singles. For the real magic of OPM doesn’t only lie within the hits that dominate the charts, but it’s also in discovering the ones that should.
HELLMERRY
Need To Know Hit: “My Day”
Underrated Gem: “BAE”
Following his appearance as part of Billboard Philippines’ Hip-Hop Class of 2024, HELLMERRY’s continuous rise within the scene this year feels less like an arrival and more like an eruption — a sudden, unavoidable force that has reshaped the sound of contemporary Filipino rap. By embracing his gritty, confident, and unfiltered nature , he has become one of the most magnetic voices in the scene precisely because he never shies away from raw truth.
It’s no surprise that “MY DAY” is the track that transformed him from a name to a phenomenon, because it’s swaggering without being careless, commanding without being overbearing, and could easily be noted as a victory lap merely disguised as a flex. The production slaps, the delivery burns, and the hook lingers long after the bass fades. It’s the kind of track that validates the grind he’s been on, and the one that listeners return to when they need the same jolt of self-belief.
But if “MY DAY” is the achievement, “BAE” serves as the very blueprint that got him to where he is today. This track reveals a more reflective, hungry side of HELLMERRY — with the innate passion and drive reflected in a track that’s all about infatuation and desire. Still, it captures the promising nature of who he was and how he’s evolved into the storyteller he is today with the understated but powerful nature right there on display.
Earl Agustin
Need To Know Hit: “Tibok”
Underrated Gem: “Basin Puhon”
Earl Agustin has been the quiet storm of OPM for years — subtle at first, but quite impossible to ignore once he takes hold. With a voice that glows with sincerity and a pen that knows exactly where to strike, he has quickly become one of the year’s most essential young balladeers, albeit in his own special way. While the lyricism of his music captures the ache and wonder of love in its most delicate forms, it’s the suave and funky nature of his music that gives it a special touch that sets it apart from dozens of other artists here today.
Of course, “Tibok” is the song that turned millions of casual listeners into believers of Agustin’s craft. Warm, romantic, and aching with vulnerability, it’s a masterclass in how simplicity can be emotionally devastating, as he leans into every word as though he’s revealing a secret only the listener is meant to hear — which is exactly why the track resonated so powerfully.
On the other hand, “Basin Puhon” explores longing from a different angle — quieter, more introspective, tinged with the soft hope of “maybe someday.” Though it hasn’t reached the same heights as his other notable hits, Agustin’s delivery here is feather-light yet deeply affecting, capturing the bittersweet calm that comes with waiting for something you’re not sure will ever come. It’s undeniably a standout that deserves far more ears.
December Avenue
Need To Know Hit: “Saksi Ang Langit”
Underrated Gem: “Ahon” feat. Morissette
Even after nearly two decades, December Avenue are still recognized as one of OPM’s most enduring emotional anchors. The band’s ability to translate heartbreak into communal healing is (still) unparalleled — and in 2025, their music continues to bridge generations, offering comfort, nostalgia, and catharsis all at once.
Their renowned chart-topper, “Saksi Ang Langit,” is a testament to their staying power, given its haunting yet melodic nature that blooms with the kind of emotional familiarity that only December Avenue can conjure. Even years after its release, it continues to find new life among fans who see their own stories reflected in its sweeping arrangement and aching refrain.
But their latest single, “Ahon,” reveals a different facet of the band — one uplifted by Morissette’s soaring vocals and a message rooted in resilience. It’s a song about rising despite the weight of the world, blending two powerful artistic energies into one cathartic anthem that deserves way more recognition. Underplayed and underappreciated, it’s a reminder that December Avenue’s depth goes far beyond heartbreak.
Shanti Dope
Need To Know Hit: “City Girl”
Underrated Gem: “Industriya”
Having been an essential shaping force in Filipino hip-hop, Shanti Dope continues to prove why he’s one of the most influential artists of his generation. His storytelling remains sharp, his delivery fresh, and his instinct for cultural pulse unmatched. For even in 2025, he’s still pushing the boundaries of what Pinoy rap can be.
His 2022 hit, “City Girl,” is a sleek, addictive display of Shanti’s ability to translate modern youth culture into sound. Effortlessly cool and rhythmically sharp, it blends swagger with melodic smoothness — the kind of track that makes you want to replay it the moment it ends (which is something that’s allowed it to climb all the way up the Philippine charts, even three years past its release). It’s undeniably Shanti at his most accessible without losing any of his edge.
Yet one of his latest singles, “Industriya,” dives into heavier territory, revealing the grind behind the glamour. At its core, it’s a gritty, razor-edged portrait of hustle, navigating the pressure, the politics, and the persistence needed to survive in the scene — giving Shanti the perfect avenue to express his skills as a storyteller. Even with how underrated the track is, it reminds us who Shanti Dope is in his purest form, which is incisive, unflinching, and relentlessly honest.
Arthur Nery
Need To Know Hit: “Isa Lang”
Underrated Gem: “Palayo Sa Mundo” featuring Jolianne
Since making a name for himself in the early 2020s, Arthur Nery and his voice continue to be a soft revolution in OPM — a tender fusion of neo-soul, R&B, and breathtaking vulnerability. Few artists can make heartache sound this beautiful, and even fewer can do it with such consistency after all this time. And in 2025, he (still) remains one of the country’s most defining modern romantics.
His 2021 hit, “Isa Lang,” embodies the very best of Arthur and his work: smooth, emotional, and rooted in the quiet devastation of unrequited love. It’s the type of song that lingers in your head, warm in tone, but heavy with feeling, thus warranting deeper and continuous rumination. Now being recognized as a contemporary classic of sorts, it’s become a staple of both heartbreak playlists and late-night confession sessions.
Yet “Palayo Sa Mundo,” his collaboration with Jolianne (and one of his newer releases this year), offers something even more intimate. Their voices intertwine like parallel confessions, painting a picture of two souls trying to retreat from the beautiful chaos of the world together. It’s dreamy, delicate, and quietly stunning — becoming one of Arthur’s most overlooked tracks to date.
Cup of Joe
Need To Know Hit: “Multo”
Underrated Gem: “Hayaan”
In just a few years, Cup of Joe have mastered the art of weaving emotion into melody — crafting songs that feel like coming-of-age moments captured in three to four minutes. With a sound that blends nostalgia, warmth, and lyrical earnestness, they’ve earned their place as one of the most resonant bands of the year.
Surely everyone is aware that “Multo” is the track that catapulted them into mainstream consciousness and is irrefutably the biggest Filipino song of the year. Atmospheric and emotionally loaded, it balances longing with mature lyricism, and stands as a song that grows deeper with every listen (thus resonating with millions in the process) — and one that perfectly defines Cup of Joe’s signature blend of tenderness and storytelling.
But even with the breakthrough of “Multo” and their debut album Silakbo, it’s easy to forget the string of earlier gems that have gotten them to this point in their career. Enter “Hayaan” — a gentler, more reflective gem that warrants more attention. Poetic and understated, it captures the ache of letting go — not out of defeat, but out of love. Its sincerity hits quietly yet powerfully, proving that some of the band’s strongest moments still lie outside their headline-making singles.