Former U.S. President Barack Obama has released his annual list of favorite songs, movies and books for 2025 — and reggae and dancehall are entirely absent from his 30-track music rotation.
Obama shared the list on social media, writing: “As 2025 comes to a close, I’m continuing a tradition that I started during my time in the White House: sharing my annual lists of favorite books, movies, and music. I hope you find something new to enjoy — and please send any recommendations for me to check out!”
Obama’s year-end playlists have become a cultural touchstone, frequently spotlighting global sounds and helping elevate African, Caribbean and alternative artists. In recent years, reggae and dancehall appeared consistently, making their absence this year particularly noticeable.
The 2025 playlist spans pop, hip-hop, indie, Latin, K-pop and soul along with several Nigerian artists up front, including Burna Boy’s Tatata featuring Travis Scott and Olamidé’s 99 with Daecolm, Seyi Vibez, Asake and Young Jonn, signally his continued attention to music from Africa.
Last year, Skillibeng appeared on both Barack and Michelle Obama’s summer and year-end playlists alongside Jump by Tyla.
Since 2019, Obama frequently highlighted reggae and dancehall, helping introduce the genres to wider global audiences. Past selections included Toots and the Maytals’ 54-46 and Koffee’s Toast in 2019; Koffee’s Repeat with J Hus and Don’t Walk Away with John Legend in 2020; Spice’s Go Down Deh featuring Shaggy and Sean Paul and Protoje and Koffee’s Switch It Up in 2021; Koffee’s Pull Up appearing twice in 2022; and Funky Kingston by Toots & The Maytals on his 2023 summer playlist. No reggae acts made the 44th President’s 2023 Year-End playlist.
