Top 10 Rap Albums Of 2022
What up one & all. If you’re reading this, congratulations. You made it through to the end of the year. And honestly, is it just me or are cats not spouting that same old bullshit about this being the worst year ever? Maybe we’ve all collectively agreed nothing is gonna top 2020 for a while. 2021 was bad but ultimately not as bad. 2022 ain’t even competing. Even musically, this was a good ass year that don’t deserve to be put next to the past two. Drake, SZA, Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar. All heavy hitters that actually dropped finally and we’ve still got Rihanna to look forward to. So naturally, everybody’s doing they year-end lists. And of course I waited until the last possible moment in case we got another Whole Lotta Red situation. So now that it is the last possible moment, let’s get into it. These are my favorite rap albums of 2022.
These are my opinions and don’t reflect on nobody else. Crucify me on Twitter about how JID ain’t on here @plzsaythebento …
10. Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Kendrick Lamar
Release Date: 5/13/22
Features: Blxst, Amanda Reifer, Sampha, Taylour Paige, Summer Walker, Ghostface Killah, Kodak Black, Baby Keem, Sam Dew, Tanna Leone & Beth Gibbons
Favorite Tracks: “N95”, “Die Hard”, “Rich Spirit”, “Count Me Out”, “Silent Hill”, “The Heart Part 5”
I’ve already talked about this album here and kinda here. Kendrick Lamar returned after 5 long years of social injustice just to tell us not to wait for him. Admittedly, this album made it onto this list due more in part to its concept than its execution. This record reminds me a lot of Kanye West’s The Life Of Pablo with how scattered it is sonically. But thematically there is a very focused throughline. Rather than blatant social commentary, Kendrick Lamar used this project to offer us a sobering look in his mirror. This is a very mature project along the lines of JAY Z’s 444 and had it been trimmed down to a more concise, cohesive listen it would’ve ranked much higher but ultimately that would’ve been missing the point of the record. Nobody is going to agree with and appreciate every side of Kendrick Lamar, but it’s that outlier perspective that makes him one of the dopest writers of our time.
9. Feed Tha Streets III, Roddy Ricch
Release Date: 11/18/22
Features: Lil Durk & Ty Dolla $ign
Favorite Tracks: “Favor For A Favor”, “Twin”, “Aston Martin Truck”, “Get Swept”, “Fade Away”
Roddy Ricch had one of the most vicious sophomore slumps in recent memory. After one of the most impactful debut albums of the last few years, hype was exceptionally high for Roddy’s second outing in album form. But even before that had dropped, he’d teased the third installment of the Feed Tha Streets mixtape series that had put him on to begin with. Such a momentous debut had fans and onlookers hoping he’d continue to elevate his sound but when that second album hit, it didn’t, and a return to form like this is exactly what Roddy Ricch needed. And boy is it a return to form. Compton’s most antisocial rap-singer does not reinvent the wheel with FTS3 but what he does is deliver on the promise of the first two tapes, giving us the best installment in the series. There are hardly any skips and while it is not his most introspective work, the more personal lyrics stick out thanks in large part to the sincerity of his melodies. Roddy Ricch isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
8. Megatron, BabyTron
Release Date: January 24th, 2022
Features: GTP DaiDoe, DaBoii, Glockboyz Teejaee
Favorite Tracks: “Letter To Cornelius”, “Peachtree”, “Area 51”, “Mr. Do The Dash”, “Hustle Junkie”, “December 1st”
I knew Michigan was gonna make it on this list but honestly it was Babyface Ray’s FACE album at first. BabyTron was a dark horse for me this year. I’d first heard of him back in 2019 when I first caught onto the explosive wave of Michigan rappers with a knack for bluntly-delivered comedian-level punchlines over their unique brand of fast, booming trap production. Cat was funny but he didn’t stick with me enough then to separate himself from the pack. But when he dropped his “Emperor Of The Universe” video on Lyrical Lemonade in the Spring, I really didn’t know what to think. I just kept running it back. It felt like something special, something fresh. I went to check out this project since it was his most recent, and to my surprise he hadn’t just caught lightning in a bottle that one time. He really built his own lane on cheesy yet memorable samples flipped in that signature Michigan vibe, tales of his Unky, and even words of motivation in between his disappointed-sounding digs at the opps. Of all the artists on this list so far, BabyTron is the one with the most personality, so it’s no surprise he became my favorite freshman on this year’s XXL cover. While he dropped again on Halloween, it’s still this tape I keep running back to when I’m getting ready to go out or start my day. Only time will tell if he can one-up this light-hearted look into the life of BabyTron.
7. I Got Issues, YG
Release Date: 9/30/22
Features: Mozzy, D3szn, Duki, Cuco, J. Cole, MoneyBagg Yo, H.E.R., Roddy Ricch, Post Malone & Nas
Favorite Songs: “Issues”, “Baby Momma”, “Toxic”, “Maniac”, “No Love”, “No Weapon”, “Killa Cali”
YG came out the gate with a classic debut album. NEVER FORGET. However it’s been quite some time since he’s recaptured that same spirit. 2014’s My Krazy Life was a narrative; it followed a day in the life of a Compton gangbanger and brought with it the Mustard sound that dominated the radio that year. I know you seen the Tik Toks. Because of that, YG appeared to morph into a singles artist over time. He’d pop up for a feature whenever somebody wanted some authentic West Coast flavor and he’d pop up with some big features for some huge singles of his own. YG acknowledged this himself, calling this album an update on his life. It really shows. While it may lack the skits and narrative focus of his debut, this album is even more personal. The attempts at a huge radio single are there but overall it’s a more mature look at the life of YG. While it’s not exactly a therapy session, you can see YG making the connections a traumatized person might do in therapy. It shows off the culture he came up on, while not turning a blind eye to the downsides of that same culture. Even beyond that, the production on this project really does it’s part to hold it all together. YG might not be the most lyrically gifted rapper, but his focus on the topics he discusses and his overall bluntness elevate what could’ve been just another West Coast rap album into one of the best albums of the year.
6. 7220 (Reloaded), Lil Durk
Release Date: 3/11/22(?)
Features: Future, Gunna, Summer Walker, Morgan Wallen
Favorite Songs: “Computer Murderers”, “AHHH HA”, “No Interviews”, “Barbarian”, “What Happened To Virgil?”, “Grow Up/Keep It On Speaker”, “Blocklist”, “Difference Is”
Lil Durk’s late-career resurgence is really the shit of legends. The past few years, he’s felt like a new artist entirely, even though true fans know that he’s been grinding consistently since 2013’s “Dis Ain’t What U Want”. His first album since his collaborative project with Lil Baby, 7220 feels like the culmination of all of Durk’s hard work these past couple years specifically. Listed here, we have the first re-release of the project. I have to say that because he re-released this joint like 5 times. But while the final deluxe clocked in at 30-sum odd tracks, it felt bloated an honestly took away from the moment for me. Not that this was ever the most cohesive listen or had any type of plot. I’ma give it to you like this, it’s really just an album full of bangers. Durk’s main versatility comes from his ability to deliver hard ass gangsta rap and balance it out with the painful melodies that really made him a household name. There really ain’t much more to say about it than that. It’s just that Lil Durk has really gotten that good at his sound. Whenever I just needed some hard hitting 808s, crazy hi hats, and maybe a little bit of honesty, I ran to Durkio. Friday night pre-game? Lil Durk. Sunday morning cleaning the crib because nobody cleans up after they self on Saturday nights? Lil Durk. Found out I got blocked again? Lil Durk. This joint played in the background of many Super Smash Bros. matches. And that’s not even to mention how infectious and inescapable “What Happened To Virgil?” was. I think Virgil would be hella proud.
5. $oul $old $eparately (Bonus Edition), Freddie Gibbs
Release Date: 9/30/22
Features: Kelly Price, Offset, MoneyBagg Yo, Rick Ross, Anderson .Paak, Raekwon, DJ Paul, Pusha T, Musiq Soulchild, Scarface, Big Sean, Hit-
Boy, ScHoolboy Q, Jadakiss
Favorite Songs: “Too Much”, “Feel No Pain”, “Rabbit Vision”, “PYS”, “Dark Hearted”, “Grandma’s Stove”, “Big Boss Rabbit”, “4 Thangs”, “Gang Signs”
Originally, I was gonna just list the original version because this was just that cohesive of a project and I hate how bonus tracks can sometimes ruin that. But two of the bonus tracks have been in heavy rotation since way before this album dropped and really solidify it’s spot in my top 5 rap albums this year. That said, to begin with this isn’t the most consistent listen, but it is cohesive. Or the other way around. I don’t know it’s honestly kinda weird to try and put into words. In breaking away from his signature one-producer efforts, Freddie Gibbs delivered a versatile rap album that’s packed with the same amount of heart and soul you’d expect from him at this point. Me personally, I’ve never been a big Freddie Gibbs fan. I always knew and admitted he could rap his ass off and playlisted a song or two here and there, including those two aforementioned bonus tracks, but it just felt like something was missing for my ears personally. But seeing him bare his soul all the while showcasing his versatility as an MC and as an artist left this becoming one of my favorite albums of the year. This album really sold me on Freddie Gibbs, no pun intended. He brings a new flavor to the radio-dominated trap sound while also being able to spit on more traditional sounding hip-hop alongside true legends. “Dark Hearted” ALONE was easily one of my favorite songs of the year from the first time I heard it. $oul $old $eparately shows that Freddie can give us records for radio as well as introspective records and rap his ass off on both in perfect balance. He’d probably have that Grammy if it wasn’t for Nas. If he keeps this up, I still see one in his future.
4. B.I.B.L.E., Fivio Foreign
Release Date: 4/8/22
Features: KayCyy, Quavo, Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Queen Naija, Coi Leray, Chloe, A$AP Rocky, Lil Yachty, Lil Tjay, Yung Bleu, DJ Khaled, Vory, Polo G, Blueface, Ne-Yo
Favorite Songs: “Through The Fire”, “What’s My Name”, “For Nothin”, “Slime Them”, “Feel My Struggle”, “Whoever”, “Can’t Be Us”
The biggest criticism I saw against Fivio Foreign’s debut album was that he should’ve included more New York drill rappers on it. Fivio himself explained that the album came out the way it did with the intention of expanding the sound of drill. And that’s exactly what he did. The executive production from Kanye West really shows. I was expecting to like Fivio Foreign’s debut album, but I wasn’t expecting to love it this much. Even back in 2019 I preferred Fivio to his contemporaries in the NY drill scene, including the late Pop Smoke. But ever since he dropped the best feature of 2021 on DONDA’s “Off The Grid”, expectations have been high. I think Kanye really brings the best out of Fivio Foreign. What could’ve been a good album full of run-of-the-mill drill bangers surrounding a true hit or two turned into a sonically cohesive and larger-than-life drill experience. The haunting choirs, the big booming bass, everything about this album felt big. This album made me care about getting sturdy. The songs were just that good. What Fivio has over pretty much everybody else in the scene is his own maturity. You may not think of maturity when you hear the name of the guy who rhymed “shitting, pooping” twice, but Fivio’s in his 30’s and able to really reflect on his journey. He sees the blessings he’s been given to even make it to this point and that shows all throughout this album. He even ended the album with a more traditional New York rap sounding song. As drill continues to blow up through Tik Toks, I think we’re going to really see the influence of this album for years to come.
3. King’s Disease 3, Nas
CHEATING…
3. KING’S DISEASE 3, Nas
Release Date: 11/11/22
Features: N/A
Favorite Songs: “Ghetto Reporter”, “Thun”, “Michael & Quincy”, “30”, “Hood2Hood", “WTF SMH”, “Once a Man, Twice a Child”, “Beef”
Okay but seriously how is Nas this good this late in his career. It really does feel like cheating to even include this album on this list. I’d honestly much rather show love to the new crop of acts but it just goes to show how much hip-hop is evolving not just in the hands of the youth but overall. Truth be told, I’m not consistently running back to this project. I don’t know if I even threw any of the songs off this album in a playlist to enjoy like the other 2 King’s Disease projects. But that’s not what I think an album is for. The purpose of an album is to delivery a solid listening experience. And what a listening experience it was listening to this project for the first time. Even having known that Nas is really back, and has been back for years, this one felt like a true event. This is really a trilogy? He really dropped that Magic joint JUST TO FEED THE BUZZ? He really wasn’t bluffing when he said that. It’s so dope to hear Nas reflecting on his beef with Hov, and then making a whole song from the point of view of beef. If that doesn’t sound like something he would’ve already done in his “prime” then I don’t know what is. KD3 is a masterclass in maturing in rap as much as it is a masterclass in rap itself. Hit-Boy delivers some of the hardest soundscapes of his career and Nas just comes and acts like he ain’t entering his fourth decade as a GOAT candidate. I think more time needs to pass so I can accurately evaluate this trilogy (plus the lil mixtape or whatever, comparatively speaking of course). But every time I’ve revisited this project, I’m blown away at how Nas graduated from a ghetto reporter in his early days, to a more refined diary writer at his current age. It really feels like you’re looking into the mind of one of the greatest to ever do it on this project, and whether or not I’m constantly spinning it has nothing to do with what it is. Easily one of the best rap albums of the year.
2. It’s Almost Dry, Pusha T
Release Date: 4/22/22
Features: Kanye West, JAY Z, Pharrell Williams, Kid Cudi, Lil Uzi Vert, Don Toliver, Nigo, Labrinth, & No Malice
Favorite Songs: “Brambleton”, “Let The Smokers Shine The Coupes”, “Neck & Wrist”, “Rock N Roll”, “Call My Bluff”, “Scrape It Off”, “Hear Me Clearly”
Even earlier in his career during his time with the Clipse, Pusha T has always been a very good rapper. Many times he’s even been a great rapper. But these last two albums of his signify that we are NOW in the prime of Pusha T. I’d argue his last album - 2018’s DAYTONA - is his best work. Completely produced by Kanye West, it’s a true classic. The only rap album that beats it that year is Nipsey Hussle’s long-awaited debut album Victory Lap (I said this at the time as well, not just retroactively). So for two albums in a row, I’d say Pusha T ended up with the second best rap album of the year. Now that’s not to say anything negative about Pusha T and his work. That’s an incredible feat especially when you consider that I’ve got a different rapper ahead of him each time (spoiler, just in case you thought Nipsey dropped posthumously this year or something). Given those statistics, you could say that Pusha T might be the best rapper alive right now. It’s been four years since that classic album, and rather than try to completely one up it with Kanye, he brought in the Pharrell, the man that made him a household name to begin with. Well partially. Just as Pusha T is one half of the Clipse, Pharrell is only one half of the Neptunes. But my point is that he basically gave us what a Clipse album might be like 20 years after their classic debut. Initially, I spun the Kanye produced tracks more and generally liked his half better. But now 8 months later I find myself returning to the Pharrell joints more. This album was such a big moment that it drives conversations like that. Push knew what he was doing in the era of Verzuz, so much so that just a few days after the initial release he dropped two more versions with altered sequencing subtilted Pharrell vs. Ye & Ye vs. Pharrell respectively. Overall, this record really just sounds different. It restores that feeling of “wtf?…..whewwwwwww” of Clipse’s early days, but the difference is Pusha T has become a much better rapper. He was never whack, but his devotion to his topics have yielded immaculate results. He hasn’t just stuck to his guns, he’s polished them.
It’s Almost Dry would’ve been rap album of the year like he said it was if it weren’t for one more release this year. But before we get into that let me list some honorable mentions… I’m sure you’ll notice a theme.
I NEVER LIKED YOU, Future - Great album from Future but he’s at the same stage in his career as Drake. His best work is (mostly) behind him and it’s hard not to compare it. The only song that feels like a new Future song is “Wait For U”, but that alone honestly makes it a forgivable record. I hope he continues to push forward because I love Future’s glory days and it doesn’t seem like the torch has completely been passed yet.
ANYTHING WITH 21 SAVAGE ON IT - 21 Savage is the real casualty of this list, because he really belongs here. With his output this year, had he released a solo project it likely would’ve made it. I was torn between Her Loss with Drake and Metro Boomin’s Heroes & Villains, but ultimately as a full project neither one felt like they outshined the projects I’ve named. Heroes & Villains would’ve made it if Metro expanded beyond the usual suspects for features, inviting comparisons to their older (and mostly better) work. Her Loss definitely has its moments despite being an obviously immature record, but that immaturity might have held it back. 21’s maturity and musical growth have made him one of my favorite rappers in recent years, and its here in shorter bursts. 21 was really in his bag this year and if he didn’t tie that bag to other artists, he’d have made the list.
SNOFALL, Jeezy & DJ Drama - The Snowman recaptured a lot of that early magic he and DJ Drama used to revolutionize the mixtape game with back in the 2000’s. This is the best Jeezy project in years.
Wasteland, Brent Faiyaz - I know it’s not a rap album, but I initially had this one the list. Top 5 even. I just couldn’t find a way to word the requirements of this list to include just this album. Then I woulda had to put SZA, Weeknd & Beyonce somewhere too. While it’s not as good as his 2020 EP F*ck The World, Wasteland is an incredible album from one of R&B’s leading voices finally fully escaping the underground.
Personally, this year I really re-evaluated my relationship with music. I’m almost 30, and ever so cautious of the energy I let have an impact on me. Honestly more than even new music, I mostly listened to Nipsey Hussle (for motivation) and Sade (for relaxation). I just wanted more mature music. You gotta keep the devil in his hole, feel me? Man was I happy when early in the year one particular record delivered everything I wanted from a rap album in 2022.
1. RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART, Vince Staples
Release Date: 4/8/22
Features: Mustard, Lil Baby, Ty Dolla $ign
Favorite Songs: “AYE! (FREE THE HOMIES)”, “DJ QUIK”, “MAGIC”, “WHEN SPARKS FLY”, “SLIDE”, “PAPERCUTS”, “PLAYER WAYS”, “MAMA’S BOY”, “BANG THAT”, “ROSE STREETS”, “THE BLUES”
This list is just an excuse so that I can talk about this album because y’all niggas slept so hard. It’s not your fault though, who the fuck is Vince Staples? I think this album answers that question perfectly. You may know him as that nigga with the funny tweets and the occasional phone call on the Joe Budden podcast, but this year he really cemented himself artistically outside of his head-turning personality. It’s wild how somber and reflective his music is when you consider him as an entertainer off wax but his fire ass self-titled album last year really had me curious what he would be bringing to the table this time. As fate would have it, that shit was just a stepping stone to this masterpiece. It has everything the YG album I mentioned earlier has, BUT BETTER. Better raps, better beats, more introspection, more maturity, better transitions, fitting skits, more focus.
Thematically, the album examines how Ramona Park (the neighborhood in Long Beach, CA that Vince Staples grew up and gangbanged in) really did break his heart and affects him as a young adult. He takes an honest look at how life as a Long Beach Crip have made it hard for him to love anything outside of his comfort zone of life in the streets. Rapping about how it has affected his relationships with women (“only bringing flowers to the homie’s grave”), his relationship with death (“always searching for a bag, barely had the time to grieve”), his relationship with money (“money made me numb”) and more, life in the set has become an addiction in and of itself and the only time he actually feels safe or feels anything at all. It even features one of the best written songs of the year with “When Sparks Fly” a love song personifying his gun and exploring his relationship with it not unlike Nas himself as I mentioned earlier.
The production through and through has no skips either. It’s predominantly West-Coast inspired with hand claps, that funky synth bass from the Bay, Dr. Dre-inspired pianos and whistling synths, but it’s mostly very muted and understated to match his numb, melodic delivery. Vince gets catchy with his melodies without pouring autotune all over his vocals, and lyrically shows just how well he is capable of rapping if he were to not care about making a memorable song. And this album is memorable song after memorable song. There are no skips. The transitional skits play well with the production. Features are rare, leaving the focus squarely on Vince and where’s at both physically and mentally. A lot of albums feel like therapy sessions these days. Vince’s feels like a revelation that he might need it, with all of the accompanying resistance and instrusive thoughts that come with it. Despite that, at just 41 minutes it flows so well that I’ve run the album front to back more times than I can count since it dropped in April. And since then there has never been any doubt in my mind about rap album of the year. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.