“2025 marked a year of increased collaboration among the Phoenix Hip-Hop community. I continued to play my small part in helping to bridge gaps and build relationships. From the Phoenix Psypher collab, the showcase with Frequency Moves or the Cactus Collabs series sponsored by IDDC Studios, every project was a deliberate effort to curate the evolving face of our scene and to connect artists with the hopes those new connections would foster new art like it did with the ilxtus & L.O.R.D. Maiya EP Chirodectes Maculataus. These two artists met at a PHX HipHop Showcase I put on in 2024. The words you’re reading now are the beginning of a new collaboration with Sunset-City who has been doing great work covering the community in parallel. We hope you enjoy this issue of the zine and that it inspires you to contribute to the community in 2026. Many of you reading this may be in the next issue!” – Written by Coby Montoya
Presented by Sunset-City & PHX HIP-HOP · Volume 1
Hall of Flame
January
The Waiting Room — Nat Gem · Spotify
The Outline — olqvD · released January 25, 2025 · Apple Music · Spotify
Arnam Palmer — ARNAM & Friends · released January 25, 2025 · Bandcamp
Lightwork — Dr. LaFlow · released January 7, 2025 · Spotify
February
Deporte De Sangre — ilxtus · released February 7, 2025 · Apple Music
WORD. — Maze Overlay · released February 14, 2025 · Bandcamp
March
Blame It On The Lord — DMonkz & Lord Ra · released March 20, 2025 · Spotify
April
All My Homies Hate Trump — Unorthodocks & Solute · Rarefied Air ·
May
Chirodectes Maculatus — EP by ilxtus & L.O.R.D. Maiya · Apple Music
D-Day — Terell Nego [Single] · Spotify
September
SPIRIT BOMB — Halal Boys · Bandcamp
October
Le Moine — DMonkz · Spotify
palac3. — fresco. · released October 12, 2025 · Bandcamp
Southwest Spooktown — ilxtus · released October 13, 2025 · Apple Music
Canvas — Apx Alx · Bandcamp
DOG EYES — Terell Nego · October 29, 2025 · Soundcloud
Music Videos of the Year
J-Hound x DeLa Preme — “First One Out”
L.O.R.D. Maiya x ilxtus ft. Gorgeous Jefe & Reco — “Top Off”
Unorthodocks x Solute — “Let It Rip”
Halal Boys — “Parmesean”
Halal Boys — “Night (Time Moves)” [Director’s Cut]
Artist Spotlight: Jamila (juh-me-luh)
Photographer · CoFounder @phoenix_psypher1 · Creative-Director @theinitiativerecords · Video-Production @treehouse.treehouse · Management @indi_clouds
Cofounder of Phoenix Psypher, Jamila helped create the movement that has become home for many Phoenix based hip-hop artists to build community and refine their craft.
In a city that often lacks spaces for rap and hip-hop artists to be appreciated, Jamila and Phoenix Psypher allow producers and rappers a space to both compete and collaborate as a community. Episode 1 was released on February 11th 2025, and they have made 10 videos in 365 days.
Artist Spotlight: Terell Nego
Dropping two projects and two music videos in 2025, Terell Nego has a growing catalog. With appearances at live shows and an album on the way in 2026, it feels a long time coming after a great run of features and single releases. Nego is a frequent collaborator with video producer @__itsjustdom__ and the Halal Boys. Dark Horse, Terell’s most recent album just came out on April 27th 2026, make sure you check that out.
Artist Spotlight: Halal Boys
The Halal Boys are not new here, but they had a huge 2025. From appearing on ARNAM PALMER, to dropping SPIRIT BOMB and SIX videos (not including features) on their channel, not slowing down at all. The Halal Boys run in 2025 in a nutshell paints the picture of Phoenix, where two unique individuals can come together to make something even more special, not taking away from their individuality.
Podcast/Radio Show of the Year: Gemwork Radio
“The Gemwork movement is about independent unity & ownership.”
Gemwork Radio has episodes released throughout 2025 with many prominent up-and-coming hip hop acts from throughout the valley including Indi Clouds, ARNAM Samples, Supreme85, J Hound, and many more. The episodes run long, many over three hours, giving plenty of space for independent artists to share their voice and be heard by an audience that resonates with their message. You can also check them out on Bandcamp with the moniker GEMWORK SOUND, hosting releases from Tek Tha Supah LAtin & Beatsmith Medore.
Valley Venues (& More)
Central Records
Purpose-built music cafe. To get in touch, shoot us an email: partyatcentral@gmail.com · 824 N Central Ave, Phoenix, Arizona 85004 · @central.records
Valley Bar
Venue & cocktail bar · open tuesday – sunday 6pm-2am · serving food from @condesaphoenix · 130 N Central Ave, Bsmt, Phoenix, Arizona 85004 · @valleybarphx
MySpace.Phx
DT Phx Gallery, Art & Sound Incubator · 120 E. Roosevelt · Curators: Feb. @nxoeed · Mar. @slushypresents · Apr. @thecovenphoenix · @myspace.phx
The Coven
“LGBTQ run and focused, but all are welcome. We are a Phoenix DIY venue. We book shows. We throw events.” OUR LINKTREE IS A PHX DIY USER MANUAL · @thecovenphoenix
TRILL HIP-HOP SHOP
Hip Hop’s Flagship Store · Records, Streetwear, Vinyl toys, Kicks & More · (602) 595-4510 · trillphx.com · @trillphx
Yucca Tap Room
Host of open-mic Mondays and located in the heart of Tempe, Arizona, Yucca Tap Room can host plenty of smaller events with its 165 person capacity · yuccatap.com/booking · @yuccataproom
The Marquee
Originally a screen print shop in a garage, it expanded its mission to include providing space for live performances around January 2024 · www.marqueetheatreaz.com · @marqueetheater
Grand Ave Records
Home to many legendary performances by Phoenix hip-hop artists in the early stages of their career to the present. · grandaverecords.com · @grandaverecords
Arnam Palmer — ARNAM, Solute, Lord Ra, Unorthodocks, Gorgeous Jefe & Dr. LaFlow
January 25th 2025 · 11 songs | 24 Minutes
Arnam Palmer is a collaborative effort from Phoenix hip-hop collective Rarefied Air and the debut from Rare Air producer Arnam · Bandcamp
96 Corolla — Pariah Pete & Jaywop
December 16th 2025 · Music Video | 3:05 Minutes
Shot by James Abers, Ivan Munoz · Colored by: Braxton Apana · Edited by: Xander Sol · Song produced by: Stravs · Recorded/Mixed/Mastered at: Kamp Recording Studios
While places like New York City, Buffalo, The Bay, Memphis, or Atlanta are famous for their unique sound, Arizona is harder to define and even harder to ignore. Constant collaborative efforts result in an energetic and diverse music scene without limits. This Zine captures the energy of 2025 Phoenix Hip-Hop documenting events, artists, albums, and music videos created by independent artists.
For more information on the artists included in this zine, please visit sunset1k.city [@sunset1kcity] and PHX Hip-Hop [@_phx_hiphop] for more coverage of Arizona based artists.
Without your support projects like this one would not be possible.
“The Kokopelli, a figure from the traditions of the Puebloan peoples of the Southwest, appears here as a symbol of music, community, and the spirit of gathering — values central to this collaboration.”
Published by Sunset-City © · Presented by PHX HIP-HOP © · Disclaimer: All rights for images portrayed in this Zine remain with their respective owners. No part of this zine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, by any means, including mechanical, electric, recording or otherwise without the prior permission from its creator. Unless you’re just printing it for funzies & not for commercial gain.
Thank you for reading!
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READ MODE BELOW!
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