Top 5 album releases - July 2022
By Philippe Martin 05/08/2022
Summer vacations are in full effect at Rap Nerds, meaning the articles for June and July will be shorter than usual. It doesn’t stop good music from being released and waiting to be discovered. With that being said, here are the best albums of July 2022.
This list contains many independent placements from artists that dropped great albums and some mainstream releases that fairly deserve the attention they have been getting. Let us know in the comments what you think about these and if any other albums deserved to make this list.
- Westside Gunn - Peace “Fly” God
- Joey Bada$$ - 2000
- Wiz Khalifa - Multiverse
- Conway the Machine & Big Ghost Ltd - What Has Been Blessed Cannot Be Cursed
- $uicideboy$ - Sing Me a Lullaby, My Sweet Temptation
- Honorable Mentions
Westside Gunn - Peace “Fly” God
The Griselda leader is back in full effect with this short and sweet art piece featuring the very talented rappers Estee Nack and Stove God Cooks. Released after the Paris Fashion Week, Westside says that the whole project was recorded in just two days with producers Don Carrera, Conductor Williams and Madlib. Listening to the project from start to finish, you can feel that it’s simple and raw, with all the rappers spitting straightforward verses about rising to success and the production team using classic-sounding samples with very limited drum loops.
Westside takes the backseat on most of the songs, as Estee Nack and Stove God Cooks handle longer verses with deeper lyrics. For example, “Jesus Crack”, the first song after the introduction, finds the Buffalo native appearing after only 3 minutes, letting his peers establish the mood. With that being said, Westside Gunn’s charisma is undeniable as he keeps the violent bars and the rough attitude at an all-time high. The best song of the project is “Big Ass Bracelet” for the incredible vocal performance by Stove God and the flawless beat by Don Carrera.
Released 08/07/2022
Joey Bada$$ - 2000
After a 5 year pause from releasing an album, the Pro Era leader is back in rare form to satisfy his devoted fan base. With “ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$”, Joey masterfully delivered a project that revolved around the ideas he wanted to pass along to the new generation of listeners, speaking of racism, education, and police brutality. This time around, the Brooklyn native seems more relaxed and focused on crafting simple songs that either make him shine lyrically or create a particular vibe.
The production from Statik Selektah, Erick the Architect, Chuck Strangers, and Kirk Knight is cohesive and a perfect example of why New York deserves its flowers for being one of the best cities on Earth for nurturing Hip-Hop. The tracklist is almost flawless, with only “Welcome Back” sounding out of place compared to the rest of the songs. With features from Larry June, JID and Westside Gunn, Joey Bada$$ masterfully joins forces with rappers that compliment his sound, without stealing the focus from his greatness. Highlights include “Where I Belong”, “Zipcodes”, and “Survivors Guilt”, the latter being one of the best songs of July 2022.
Released 22/07/2022
Wiz Khalifa - Multiverse
Wiz Khalifa has nothing more to prove to his long-time loyal fan base. He went from an internet sensation to a very successful commercial artist with many hits on radio and even more with the stoner community. The cannabis kingpin is now back with an album full of surprises, that sees him explore different sounds and vocal deliveries. For the most part, it all sounds great as he seems comfortable with singing and opening up on delicate subjects, something that he rarely used to do with his previous projects. Wiz has a new sense of maturity that is beautiful to witness, especially on tracks like “Memory Lane”, “Homies”, and “Nobody Knows”.
Rest assured, the fans looking for party tracks and brain dead moments will love “Bad Ass Bitches” and “Iced Out Necklace”. These two songs are straight up bangers, full of dumb lines and loud 808s. These cuts are fun, but it’s the incredible track “We Don’t Go Out To Nightclubs Anymore / Candlelight Girl” that steals the show for being artistically unique. With the same soulful vibe, “Mirror Love (Groove 2)” and “Like You (Groove 3)” are exciting glimpses of Wiz trying out a style inspired by the 70s with the use of extravagant keys and strings. Overall, this is the best Wiz Khalifa album since 2016’s “Khalifa”.
Released 27/07/2022
Conway the Machine & Big Ghost Ltd - What Has Been Blessed Cannot Be Cursed
For their third collaborative album together, Conway the Machine and Big Ghost Ltd keep the quality of the music on the same standard they have established with 2020’s “No One Mourns the Wicked”. Big Ghost’s beats are gloomy and deep, creating an incredible space for Conway’s verses to sound grandiose. The Drumwork Group leader looks like he’s having fun, with a lighter mood than his February album of the year candidate “God Don’t Make Mistakes”. Now off Shady records, Conway is pushing his music without the help of a major record label, letting the art spread by itself.
Talking of independent talent, his Drumwork signee Jae Skeese brings a hungry energy to every song he’s featured on. The chemistry between him and Conway is astonishing on “Sunday Sermon” as they trade bars about their street life achievements. On “Scared II Death” there is a great verse from the veteran rapper Method Man. It brings a nice balance between new and older artists, putting Conway right in the middle of the show. With “Big Drum”, the project closes with the most ambitious song on the tracklist, featuring five rappers at the top of their art. The very talented 7xvethegenius makes her male peers feel little in their shorts as she delivers bars confidently with no remorse for her opposition.
Released 01/07/2022
$uicideboy$ - Sing Me a Lullaby, My Sweet Temptation
The notorious and depressed cousins Ruby da Cherry and $crim are back with another album full of dark themes and intense beats. $uicideboy$ have now gained millions of followers and established themselves as a reference in the horrorcore niche. With “Sing Me a Lullaby, My Sweet Temptation” the duo solidifies their position while lyrically exploring the idea that maybe drugs are hurting them more than healing them. It shakes the foundation of the drug filled themes that they have been pushing for the past years, but it doesn’t sacrifice the energy or the production quality.
With the excellent “1000 Blunts”, they slow down to deliver their message more efficiently and on “Ashes of Luxury”, they both sound like they had enough of the constant drama surrounding their lives. “Resistance Is Useless” and “$uicideboy$ Were Better in 2015” both showcase great production from $crim, as he uses funny samples and hard-hitting snares. Ruby still is the better rapper, with a variety of flows and vocal deliveries that keep the listener wondering what the next verse will sound like. With this new album, the New Orleans group keeps on proving why they are a force in hip-hop that deserves to be respected.
Released 27/07/2022
Honorable Mentions
Kota the Friend – MEMO
Lengthier then his “Lyrics To Go” projects, “MEMO” is proof that Kota the Friend can hold his own for a complete album and shine for his subject matter and musical cohesiveness.
Released 08/07/2022
DJ Premier – Hip Hop 50: Vol. 1
The veteran New York producer is putting the spotlight on his hometown with a collection of 5 songs filled with boom-bap beats and hard verses from respected rappers like Nas, Lil Wayne, Slick Rick, and Remy Ma.
Released 15/07/2022
Mozzy – Survivor’s Guilt
The Sacramento artist has released this excellent album just before going in prison, giving him credibility in regards to the choice of lyrics. The negative effects of the street life can be felt from start to finish, with songs like “Not The Same” and “Ain’t Really Real” showcasing Mozzy’s vulnerability.
Released 22/07/2022
Mac Miller – I Love Life, Thank You
Now on streaming platforms for the first time, this mixtape released in 2011 by Mac Miller is worth revisiting or discovering for new fans who weren’t around 11 years ago when he did a promotional campaign to gain Twitter followers. When he reached a million followers, this gem was released in anticipation for his first studio album “Blue Slide Park”.
Re-Released 22/07/2022
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