Rebel is the debut mixtape by British rapper EsDeeKid. It was released through XV and Lizzy Records on 20 June 2025. It features guest appearances from fellow rappers Rico Ace, Fakemink, and Fimiguerrero, while its production was entirely handled by Wraith9.
Although considered a mixtape, Rebel became Spotify’s most streamed hip-hop album globally during November 2025. The mixtape has been credited with popularising the UK underground rap scene and introducing the Scouse accent to international listeners.
Composition Rebel is heavily influenced by EsDeeKid's experimental cloud rap sound, with elements of trap and jerk. Throughout the mixtape, the music is marked by synthesizers and reverb-heavy beats with 808s, while EsDeeKid raps about drug use, nightlife, and relationship woes.
Critical reception
In a review for Pitchfork, Olivier Lafontant rated Rebel a 6.6 out of 10, writing that the mixtape gives only a small insight into EsDeeKid's true character, but sees him depict a heavy, "hard-nosed lifestyle of streetlit debauchery", making him one of the hottest faces of UK rap.
Year-end lists + Year-end lists Publication List Rank Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 2025 38 Complex UKBest Albums of 20258 NMEAlbums of the Year 202548 Crack The Top 50 Albums of 2025 2 Complex The 35 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2025 26
Track listing All tracks were produced by Wraith9.
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Rebel Chart (2025–2026) Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) 13 Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA) 2 Canadian Albums (Billboard) 12 Danish Albums (Hitlisten) 20 German Hip-Hop Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 2 Irish Independent Albums (IRMA) Note: Select 28-Nov-25 on the date selector. 1 Lithuanian Albums (AGATA) 1 Norwegian Albums (IFPI Norge) 11 Portuguese Albums (AFP) 22 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) 94 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 12 Swedish Hip-Hop Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 1 US Billboard 200 23 US Independent Albums (Billboard) 3 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 5
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for Rebel Chart (2025) Position Icelandic Albums (Tónlistinn) 90
Certifications
References