Best Rap Albums of 2022
By Philippe Martin 24/12/2022
As we approach the end of 2022, we look back at the greatest musical released on the hip-hop scene. Some amazing artists like Kendrick Lamar and Boldy James had an incredible year, releasing some of their best material to date and expanding their fan base.
With that being said, here is the list of best albums of the year. We have taken one record per month, highlighting the 12 best albums that deserve your attention. Also, be sure to also check out the top songs of 2022. Enjoy!
- January: The Weeknd – Dawn FM
- February: Conway the Machine - God Don’t Make Mistakes
- March: Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez See Your Future
- April: Pusha T - It’s Almost Dry
- May: Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
- June: 070 Shake - You Can’t Kill Me
- July: Joey Bada$$ - 2000
- August: JID - The Forever Story
- September: Nicholas Craven & Boldy James - Fair Exchange No Robbery
- October: Westside Gunn - 10
- November: Nas - King’s Decease III
- December: Metro Boomin - HEROES & VILLAINS
The Weeknd – Dawn FM
Released 07/01/2022
Two years after releasing “After Hours”, The Weeknd is back with another album to cement himself as the modern king of pop. Only limiting us to label his music with one word would be a mistake as he explores synth wave sounds with electronic beats with influences of hip-hop. Abel Tesfaye creates something unique with this concept album and it’s very hard to stay indifferent in front of an artist that evolves so much with every album release. He literally takes us on a ride with a radio station formula that enlists the Canadian actor Jim Carrey as its host, a very nice touch for any fan of the actor.
Read the rest of the article in the January Best Album Releases.
Conway the Machine - God Don’t Make Mistakes
Released 25/02/2022
This is the first and last album from Conway the Machine on Shady Records, and it doesn’t disappoint at all. Eminem was wise to sign the Griselda emcee, as Conway is a lyrical predator on every track he rhymes on. With his new album « God Don’t Make Mistakes », he opens up about past traumas and experiences that took him to the place he is today. It’s heart-ripping to hear him talk about the loss of a child on the track « Stressed », or about the shooting that left him paralyzed on the title track. This vulnerable side of his character was not often shown in his music, making this album refreshing for returning fans.
Read the rest of the article in the February Best Album Releases.
Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez See Your Future
Released 25/03/2022
The Florida artist Denzel Curry is finally ready to reveal his fifth studio album and it does not disappoint at all. He mixes all the best elements of his existing art with fresh new ones to deliver a project that fits perfectly into his growing catalogue. For example, the banger « X-Wing » is a classic Curry song with rapid flows and a contagious hook referencing Star Wars. On the other hand, we find songs like « Melt Session #1 (ft. Robert Glasper) » and « Mental (ft. Bridget Perez & Saul Williams) » that showcase Denzel in a different mood.
Read the rest of the article in the March Best Album Releases.
Pusha T - It’s Almost Dry
Released 22/04/2022
The G.O.O.D. Music president is officially back with one of the best albums of the year. He recruits his longtime collaborators Ye and Pharrell Williams for a 12-song LP that is sure to be a reference in the “coke rap” sub-genre as one of the masterpieces of our times. He already released the amazing singles “Diet Coke”, “Neck & Wrist (feat JAY-Z & Pharrell Williams)” and “Hear Me Clearly (with Nigo)” and the rest of the songs blend in perfectly to give a cohesive listen from start to finish. The first track “Brambleton” is an absolute banger with Push delivering lines with deadly precision over the savage beat by Pharrell. “It’s Almost Dry” marks a tour de force for the king of cocaine rap as he sets the bar higher than ever before for his competition.
Read the rest of the article in the April Best Album Releases.
Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Released 13/05/2022
Kendrick Lamar, one of the most prolific artist of the past 10 years, keeps on getting better with age as he releases his new project under a double LP format with 18 excellent songs. “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers” marks a new level of introspection for the Compton emcee. He takes the listener on a wild ride of emotions with subjects ranging from depression, abuse, public perception, and self-love. It’s not an accessible listen as both records combined time in at 73 minutes, but it deserves a full attentive listen to fully appreciate Kendrick Lamar’s beautiful art and courage to put all his soul out on the line.
Read the rest of the article in the May Best Album Releases.
070 Shake - You Can’t Kill Me
Released 03/06/2022
The G.O.O.D Music artist 070 Shake keeps on getting better with time as she releases her long-awaited second studio album “You Can’t Kill Me”. Mixed by the legendary Mike Dean, the record feels like a space odyssey inside Shake’s mind as she touches on subjects like heartbreak, self-love and maturity. The singles “Skin & Bone” and “Body” represent well the mood and the overall production quality we can find on all the other songs on the project. Compared to her last album “Modus Vivendi”, this new LP is more cohesive from start to finish. Apart from some drum patterns, there are few elements of hip-hop, leaving more space for slower ballads and pop experimentation.
Read the rest of the article in the June Best Album Releases.
Joey Bada$$ - 2000
Released 22/07/2022
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.
Read the rest of the article in the July Best Album Releases.
JID - The Forever Story
Released 26/08/2022
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.
Read the rest of the article in the August Best Album Releases.
Nicholas Craven & Boldy James - Fair Exchange No Robbery
Released 30/09/2022
After much anticipation from the underground scene, the fans can finally listen to the new collaborative full-length project from Nicholas Craven and Boldy James: “Fair Exchange No Robbery”. Including the very good singles “Power Nap” and “Scrabble”, the album is a 10-song effort that plays on the powerful rule of quality over quantity. Every song feels like they belong in both artists’ respective catalogues, marking an artistic high for the Montreal producer and the Detroit rapper. The artwork is especially gratifying for any Canadian that will recognize the maple syrup can that is found in all the respectable households from the Northern country.
Read the rest of the article in the September Best Album Releases.
Westside Gunn - 10
Released 28/10/2022
Finishing on a grandiose note for the 10th mixtape in the “HWH” series that he started ten years ago, Westside Gunn does what he knows best: curating incredible music. Shorter than 2021’s double album format, this project uses the same formula as the Buffalo artist recruits exceptional talent and then brings the best out of them. Stove God Cooks has many features and his presence is fundamental to the core of “10”. Just like the “Peace Fly God” project from July, the production is grimy, but celebratory at the same time. Including his son FlyGod Jr. on the same-titled song, the production team is composed of The Alchemist, Pete Rock, Denny Leflare, Conductor Williams, and Montreal’s own Mike Shabb.
Read the rest of the article in the October Best Album Releases.
Nas - King’s Decease III
Released 11/11/2022
The veteran rapper is back for another entry in his very successful “King’s Decease” series where he teams up with Hit-Boy on the production boards. They are a great duo, where Nas can bring his experience and natural charisma and where Hit-Boy can bring his work ethic and diverse creative range. The third entry solidifies what they have established since the first instalment in 2020, but with a twist as there are no features on the album, letting the New York artist operate on his own terms. The 49-year-old sounds very focused and hungry like he still has something to prove after 30 years in the music industry.
Read the rest of the article in the November Best Album Releases.
Metro Boomin - HEROES & VILLAINS
Released 02/12/2022
Part of a trilogy, this new album and the second entry in Metro Boomin’s vision is building upon 2018’s “Not All Heroes Wear Capes” in almost every way. The meticulous production is more focused, putting to shame any generic mainstream beats and delivering an epic collection of trap sonics that feel out of this world. The featured artists consolidate that idea by being consistent with their topics, performances, and attitudes. Future, Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Young Thug, and 21 Savage are present on multiple songs, creating a nice cohesion in the tracklist. This gives other artists like The Weeknd, Chris Brown, John Legend, and Young Nudy a chance to shine individually when they appear throughout the 48-minute LP.
Read the rest of the article in the December Best Album Releases.