The year 2022 was a megahit in the world of hip-hop as music lovers witnessed the return, emergence, and growth of some of the most popular and favorite artists. From Drake to Travis Scott to Kendrick Lamar, each star made a mark in the music industry this year, sweeping listeners along with the groove of their beats, and each listener has picked their favorite.
10/10
‘Laughing So Hard, It Hurts’, Mavi
This year’s October witnessed the artist Mavi’s doleful a cappella being united with the beats of producers like Dylvinci, Monte Booker, and Wulf Morpheus. The album highlights the artist’s struggle with the death and grief that Covid and social epidemics brought with them. Mavi in this project compels listeners to acknowledge all their emotions but also to hold on to hope and appreciate the gift of life that enables people to feel anything at all.
9/10
‘I NEVER LIKED YOU’, Future
‘I NEVER LIKED YOU’ is Future’s tenth album and he holds back nothing as he bemoans his broken relationships, portraying himself as the ultimate victim. He blends together pumped-up beats, traps, hi-hats, and R&B samples in this fan-favorite project. The single ‘WAIT FOR U’ from the album, featuring Drake has gained an impressive audience.
8/10
‘Traumazine’, Megan Thee Stallion
In ‘Traumazine’, Megan Thee Stallion provides a peek into the various emotional ups and downs of her psyche for three years through 18 songs. The single ‘NDA’ received major acclamations from listeners as the artist unapologetically spilled all the beans about her struggle. ‘Red Wine’ and ‘Budget’ are two more standouts from the album that have gained immense attention for their versatility.
7/10
‘King’s Disease III’, Nas
Nas dishes out his best in the 3rd iteration of his album. ‘King’s Disease III’ revives the strength and musical chemistry of the artist. Songs like ‘Once a Man, Twice a Child’ and ‘Get Light’ give the album a softer edge. The album once again establishes the musical greatness of Nas and builds listeners’ anticipation for his next releases.\
6/10
‘Heroes & Villains’, Metro Boomin
Having gained a reputation for dealing in hypnotic synths, percussion, and complex effects through collaborations with stars like Future, 21 Savage, and Migos, Metro Boomin has taken the hip-hop scene by storm with his album ‘Heroes & Villains‘. The album is accompanied by a 6-minute long short film that appears similar to Matt Reeves’ The Batman, with the flame-emitting truck driven by a manic driver played by Lakeith Stanfield, and Morgan Freeman acting as the philosophical guardian, donning his famous “God-role” as he advises the hero, Young Metro.
5/10
‘Ramona Park Broke My Heart’, Vince Staples
Through this 5th studio album ‘Ramona Park Broke My Heart’, Vince Staples pays tribute to the Californian neighborhood in Long Beach that defined the artist’s upbringing. Be it the brilliant ‘When Sparks Fly’ or Ty Dolla $ign-collaboration ‘Lemonade’, the artist successfully captures the essence of nostalgia. He also experiments with some of his most -radio-popular songs to date.
4/10
‘Elephant Man’s Bones’, Roc Marciano and Alchemist
The smooth lyricism of Marcipairs brilliantly with the ethos and jacked drum sequence of Alchemist in their September release. The album experiments and explores new lengths to which they can take their music and creates a blazing musical chemistry in ‘Elephant Man’s Bones’
3/10
‘The Forever Story’, J.I.D
J.I.D plays the adroit storyteller in his album ‘The Forever Story’, which features an all-star ensemble of guests like Lil Durk and 21 Savage. The artist tells his own story and muses over the complexities of life through the album. It is an elegy to the people and experiences that made him the man and artist that he is today.
2/10
‘It’s Almost Dry’, Pusha T
The fourth solo album by Pusha T creates the perfect recipe for a successful rap career in his album ‘It’s Almost Dry‘. Each song bears the artist’s hallmark ingenuity and is a fiery boost to his hip-hop fame. The song ‘Neck and Wrist’, where he collaborates with Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams is already one of the most streamed and loved rap hits of the year.
1/10
‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers’, Kendrick Lamar
After a musical drought of five years from the artist, Lamar released his 18-song album ‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers‘, which almost immediately became a chartbuster. It showcases the artist’s contemplation about the changes that took place in his life during the last few years, from fatherhood to dealing with the pandemic. Tracks like ‘Purple Hearts’, featuring Summer Walker and Ghostface Killah, ‘We Cry Together’ and ‘N95’ truly made the artist stand out among the lot.
What remains to be seen is what 2023 will bring to the table and whether it will be enough to be at par with the stellar performance of this year. But that is something only time will tell.
Check out For More News Updates on Google News
