Best hip hop albums of 2022

2022 has been another great year for hip-hop.The genre continues to house some of the most boundary-pushing and innovative music-creating artists today, creating its own thriving universe of derivatives and subgenres.Kung Fu His Kenny returned after his five-year hiatus Mr Morale and The Big Steppers, And veterans like Black Thought and Nas are back with standout projects.

It’s also been a great year for both female and queer artists, even though the genre has historically been male-dominated and at times exclusive.Lil Nas X returns with “Late To Da Party.” And newcomer GloRilla made his mark in 2022 with the standout hit “FNF” (When There were even more hesitant hip-hop heads saying they would “play her on the aux”). We were also blessed with the surprise return of 2022 Mercury Prize winners Little Sims. No, thanks, Continuing her great releases. But who else made our list, let’s focus on the 10 Best Her Hip-Hop Albums of 2022.

10. Flohio,From the bottom of my heart

On the debut of FLOHIO out of heartThe music combines elements of retro video game synth soundtracks and drills. grime and house. “Feel Alive” is a straight-up banger with a spacey, arcade-inspired beat that’s one of the album’s highlights. But behind the booming soundscape lies her most vulnerable rapper, and this album, like FLOHIO’s phantasmagorical “Highest,” thrives on grief, heartbreak, and exhaustion. Was born.they treated me like the chosen one who stuck me in the ceiling.”

Listen to FLOHIO’s Dazed heartbreak playlist here.

9. Freddie Gibbs$OUL $OLD $EPARATELY

Gangsta Gibbs is one of the most respected rappers of the last decade. His collaborations with The Alchemist, Kenny Beats and Madlib have been acclaimed by hip-hop heads and critics alike, and his street stories of his life’s raw, unfiltered and , more recently his personal struggles and criticisms of the government and the prison system. From the emotional, breezy and honest “Grandma’s Stove” to the party starter “Too Much,” there really is something for everyone. $oul $old $individually. Arguably Gibbs’ strongest work came from his single-producer collaborations, but the album is excellent, with some great beats provided by Madlib and Kaytranada. He often refers to himself as “the greatest rapper alive”, and on such a standout track as “Rabbit Vision” it’s hard to argue against that.His lyrical depth and skill There are very few things that can compare to your physical skills.

8. Raikeli 47, shape up

Opening song “Chiddy Bang” shape up, Set the scene for the rest of Leikeli47’s latest album. The production is raw, sometimes minimal, drum-heavy, and repetitive “Chingalingalinheard in “New Money.” The Brooklyn rapper understands the importance of dynamics, demeanor, and vocal inflections in creating compelling performances. Leikeli47 also shows her versatility on record, replacing the ground-shaking 808 with more traditional R&B cuts on softer, soulful cuts like “Hold My Hand” and “Baseball.” The rapper shows her lyrical depth and range on the album, showing her boastful and vulnerable side across her 13 tracks on her album.

7. flow milli, are you still here

At just 20, Flo Milli arrives with his debut mixtape Ho, why are you here? It sounds as confident and comfortable as a veteran who has been in the game for years. Her fluid, breezy flow, coupled with her witty, self-proclaimed lyrics, made her one of the most promising young rappers for a while. Are you still here, ho?

Miri displays her chameleon abilities throughout the record, playing Miami bass on “Hottie” featuring Detroit rapper Babyface Rae while she goes on the indie pop-inspired “Pretty Girls.” It sounds like you are at home. Sometimes it changes, but it never focuses. Stay with the ridiculous one-liner – “I’m the type to let my sugar daddy pull out my teeth’ – scattered throughout the album.

Read Flo Milli’s profile here.

6. Jessi, universal credit

When universal credit, Jessi has cemented himself as one of the most charming new rappers in British hip-hop. Talentedly worded Jessie delivers stories that relive anecdotes of anger, alienation, grief and escapism, and a vivid retelling of austerity Britain. I am painting a portrait. The album doesn’t stick to the usual hip-hop tropes that quickly dominate the charts, instead opting to weave together sounds from both sides of the pond to create a quivering, atmospheric soundscape. Perfect for Jeshi’s concrete verses. Featuring multiple contributions from Obongjayar and Fredwave, universal credit It’s fascinating listening.

Four. Little Sims, No, thanks

Little Sims have released their latest album. No, thanks, announced just days before its release, with little promotion earlier this month. Her incredible run of her three albums has placed her in the upper tier of rap artists of this generation. problem. Inflo spearheaded the production of the project, providing a luscious backdrop for strings, choruses and keys. sometimes i can be an introvert Very great. In the opener, “Angel,” Simz spits out a sharp, deft bar.I refuse to board a slave ship / Give me all my masters and lower your wages,” opposes the greed and power of major labels.throughout NTY, Sims continues to address racism, her mental health, and the music industry with highly intelligent and emotional lyrics.

3. Denzel Curry MELT MY EYEZ SEE YOUR FUTURE

When Denzel Curry first burst onto the scene with his 2015 hit “Ultimate,” he stood out as a true original with his aggressive, punk-inspired delivery and energetic live performances. As we switch to 2022, there will be no Soundcloud-era Denzel. This is another, more contemplative and observant artist. Replacing the moshpit bangers with slower, more reflective cuts like the opening “Melt Session #1,” he looks inward and confesses:I understand why you have to grow even though you have grown,” When “Accountability, I am responsible/For all my actions, I packed them into these monologues.”

Die-hard fans can rest easy knowing he hasn’t lost his trademark rasp as he transitions into a new era in his career. MMESYF It also makes way for the kind of track that spotlighted Curry, like the excellent “Ain’t No Way,” featuring 6LACK and Rico Nasty.

The shift in stylistic production choices is obvious. Curry’s delivery seemed perfect for a harder, more aggressive beat, so he hired artists like Thundercat, Karriem Riggins, and Robert Glasper to create smooth, jazz-inspired tracks that flowed throughout the album. Decisions may seem like failures. But Curry has shown versatility by making the switch seem effortless, and his restraint has proven to be one of his greatest strengths.

2. earl sweatshirt, disease!

Earl Sweatshirt likes to keep things simple. His last two studio albums – disease When some rap songs – both came in under 30 minutes, but one of the rapper’s greatest strengths is his awareness of using brevity as a means to hone his craft.in a short visit diseasehe did everything in his power toHigh cost of living Don’t cross the picket line and get the virus/Wild cats have them in bondage, stay inside/Know I’m out of the bushIn an effortless flow exploring his newfound paternity and surviving the pandemic.

Handled by frequent collaborators such as The Alchemist and Black Noi$e, the album’s production is more direct than avant-garde collage. SRS, showing sophistication in his ear for the beat. Things switch between off-kilter traps and drumless loops, providing just enough balance to keep things engaging.From the often youthful rap heard on Earl’s early albums Doris, his lyrical gift was palpable, standing above his peers with witty duality, tricky tropes and stumbling expressions. Since then, Earl has gone from strength to strength, refining his style so that the abstract coexists with the literal. Using detailed and sometimes unusual imagery, he transformed his anguish and inner feelings into a truly memorable bar like standout track. Earl’s spitting “tabla rasa”,Light leaks through the familiar track foliage/You know it’s real even when it feels bad/Resilient like they built black.”

1. NAS, King’s Sickness III

Nas’ discography has been mixed over the course of his 30-year career. morbid For some more inconsistent releases like 2018 Nasir. with King’s disease series, but Nas found himself in the Renaissance and sounded at his most enthusiastic years. A new relationship with rapper Hitboy played a role in this, bringing cohesion to his last four projects. This was the downfall of his previous work. He playfully admits it in “For the First Time”.

Throughout the album, Nas uses every lyrical muscle he has, so the spotlight is firmly on him. On album highlight “Once a Man, Twice a Child,” he raps:Wisdom and ignorance are alike / Peace needs war / By the time you see the stars in the sky they’re already burnt / In the same way these men shine but burn out” Naz has always had an old head on his young shoulders, but his years have brought introspection and a sharpness of mind.

From traditional boom-bap strewn across the record to the final drill beat heard on “Reminisce” to the drumless soul loop, the underground NY scene embraces the production of “WTF SMH” KDⅢ Varied, but never boring. The ever-evolving New York rap he feels like a love letter to the scene (ironically, Hit-Boy hails from the West Coast). Even if Nas steps down today, his discography has cemented him as (probably) the greatest rapper of his generation. of King’s disease The trilogy is an excellent chapter in his oft-mythologized story, with the third entry doing it’s best last.

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