Top 5 Album Releases August 2022

Top 5 album releases - August 2022

By Philippe Martin 07/09/2022

Many great albums were released in August, so it was difficult to break it down to the best 5 projects. All of them have great lyrical content, amazing production and they all showcase the growth of very talented artists. With that being said, here are the best albums of August 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.

JID - The Forever Story
The Game - DRILLMATIC Heart vs. Mind
Larry June - Spaceships on the Blade
Danger Mouse & Black Thought - Cheat Codes
Meechy Darko - Gothic Luxury
Honorable Mentions

JID - The Forever Story

What a long wait it has been for JID’s fans as four years have passed since his highly acclaimed project “Dicaprio 2”. It was an artistic high for the Dreamville member, but with his new album “The Forever Story”, he improves almost everything from his singing, his rapping delivery, and his production choices. There may not be as many bangers as his last effort provided, but there are quality ballads and introspective moments that can overshadow any party song. Running at 59 minutes, the album feels like it covers everything JID wants to talk about, ranging from family history to accepting certain realities about growing up. It feels and sounds personal as he goes into precise details when storytelling about his siblings and growing up in a poor neighbourhood.

“Raydar” and “Dance Now”, the first tracks of the record, are high-energy storms that put you in the mood to get things done while painting a picture of someone who has been through a lot. Then comes the amazing song “Kody Blu 31”, where the Atlanta native slows down to sing his heart out and deliver the most vulnerable verse of the album in the second half of the track. “Sistanem” is impressive, so be sure to read our top songs of the month for more details. Labelmate Ari Lennox is featured on “Can’t Make You Change”, a melancholic ballad about relationships. The project finishes with the moody track “Lauder”, and it’s a great closer for a complex album from one of the best artists making music right now.

Released 26/08/2022

The Game - DRILLMATIC Heart vs. Mind

The Game is back with a 2 hours long album that contains everything the Compton MC is capable of offering: strong verses, many features, and more name drops than a loud radio station. As the title indicates, there are elements of Drill Rap that Game explores with some great results. Tracks like “Burnin’ Checks” with Fivio Foreign or “K.I.L.L.A.S.” with Cam’ron show that the veteran artist is more than capable of sounding like he’s from New York. On the other hand, he sounds more focused on the West Coast sounding songs like “Change the Game”, “Fortunate”, and “Stupid”.

The production is very diverse with Hit-Boy producing some of the best beats of the album and DONTMINDIFIDUKE handling many bangers like “Talk To Me Nice” and “No Man Falls”. The biggest issue with the album is the long runtime, making it very difficult to appreciate the project in a straight listening session. The good news for the Los Angeles artist is that the songs stand on their own, adding a solid collection of songs to an already impressive catalogue. After 20-plus years of making music, it feels like The Game still has a lot to say and his versatility keeps things fresh for his new listeners.

Released 12/08/2022

Larry June - Spaceships on the Blade

This is the biggest release of Larry June’s career, proving that his formula for painting a luxurious lifestyle with healthy habits can pay off. After many mixtapes and commercial releases, the San Fransisco artist reaches new heights with “Spaceship on the Blade”, where he excels at every turn. With features from 2 Chainz, DUCKWRTH, Syd, Curren$y, The Alchemist, and Babyface Ray, it could be easy to lose focus from the main protagonist, but it fortunately never happens in the 54-minute runtime. Larry’s charisma and energy are always at the center stage, especially on the singles “In My Pocket” and “Private Valet”.

The production is solid and pushes the sound that The Freeminded Records boss has been cementing himself in since 2018. The very talented producer Cardo, a frequent collaborator of June, appears once again to provide that timeless West Coast vibe. “Don’t Check Me” and “Another Day, Pt. 2” are in the same lane, creating a cool soundtrack for car rides along the coast. “Brand New Machinery” is Larry’s best effort at creating a radio-friendly single that can make the ladies dance. It shows that he is ready to take risks to evolve his catalogue and reach a wider audience. Overall, the album is a blast from start to finish and it’s a great place to begin if you just discovered Larry June’s music.

Released 19/08/2022

Danger Mouse & Black Thought - Cheat Codes

Having nothing left to prove at this point, Danger Mouse and Black Thought can do whatever they want, but they still innovate and bring the bar higher with this excellent new project “Cheat Codes”. Creating the perfect blend between old-school and modern music, Danger Mouse is a master when it comes to producing profound and timeless-sounding beats. Paired with the lyrical sharpness of Black Thought, they make a duo that is not to be messed with artistically.

Raekwon makes a pleasant appearance on “The Darkest Part”, a song that showcases a vocal sample looping gracefully from start to finish. The single “Because” with Joey Bada$$ and Russ is the easiest song to listen to and decipher for less experienced listeners who just want to discover what real hip-hop is about. Adding to an already impressive list of collaborators, A$AP Rocky and Run the Jewels absolutely destroy the instrumental of “Strangers” with clever punchlines.

Released 12/08/2022

Meechy Darko - Gothic Luxury

Meechy Darko, the very underrated rapper from the Flatbush Zombies collective, is ready to show what he can accomplish on his own, and the result is more than satisfying. “Gothic Luxury” may be his first solo album, the New York native is no amateur when it comes to lyrical complexity, flow switch-ups and authentic charisma. He sounds focused on delivering a quality LP that can survive the test of time. To reach that goal, he recruits Dot Da Genius to executive produce and he collaborates with some of the best artists that hip-hop has to offer, with features from Freddie Gibbs, Black Thought, Denzel Curry, Busta Rhymes, and Kirk Knight.

The Beast Coast MC is far from average, letting his distinctive voice echo on the opening track “CURSED”, where he raps about the difficulties of life and the weight of expectations casted upon him. Released as the first single, “Kill Us All (K.U.A)” is a great example of Meechy trying to bring his philosophical or political ideas to the front stage, never sacrificing his high-impact energy or his cut-throat cleverness. “The MoMa” and “Lost Souls” are the best collaborations of the project, showing how the experienced rapper can bring his peers into the mix to produce something greater than just a simple rap song. Both tracks are truly impressive on the lyrical side. Black Thought, a god MC among men, has a solid verse and Denzel Curry sounds at the top of his game as he delivers a contagious hook.

Released 26/08/2022

Honorable Mentions

DJ Khaled – GOD DID

Another summer means another DJ Khaled project. This one is a more focused effort than his last albums, featuring some of his best work since 2016’s “Major Key”. The song “GOD DID” is amazing and Khaled still brings the best out of Future on “BEAUTIFUL” and “BIG TIME”.

Released 26/08/2022

Roc Marciano & The Alchemist – The Elephant Man’s Bones

Even after so many years, Roc Marcioano and The Alchemist still feel the need to show why they are respected within the hip-hop community. With this new 14 track album, they create a grimy mob soundtrack worthy of the third rap renaissance.

Released 26/08/2022

Jay Worthy & Harry Fraud – You Take the Credit, We’ll Take the Check

The Compton native is in rare form and he still surrounds himself with some of the best producers in the game, resulting in amazing projects like “You Take the Credit, We’ll Take the Check”. Just to name a few, the album features Larry June, Curren$y, Kamaiyah, Ramirez, and Conway the Machine.

Released 05/08/2022

Mach-Hommy & Tha God Fahim – Dollar Menu 4

This new project by the very talented and frequent collaborators Mach-Hommy and Tha God Fahim is in the same lane as the three previous entries in the “Dollar Menu” series. It’s dark and moody, with some rare harmonies that create a contrast with the aggressive lyrics.

Released 26/08/2022