The AllMusic 2022
Year In Review
Rap and hip-hop continue to evolve from the streets and through the rest of the world, and genres clash into each other in newly energizing ways. Black Thought and Danger Mouse (pictured), Lupe Fiasco, Leikeli47, Kid Cudi and Kendrick Lamar all make appearances on our favorite rap and hip-hop albums of the year.
21 Savage / Drake
Her Loss
At its most inspired, this collaborative album between mainstream rap Goliaths feels like a casual and experimental mixtape.
Benny the Butcher
Tana Talk 4
The third album from this Griselda affiliate balances out his tales of street dominance with moments of honest self-reflection.
billy woods
Aethiopes
An ambitious, multi-faceted work densely packed with historical references, drawing from North African music, reggae, and avant-jazz.
Black Thought / Danger Mouse
Cheat Codes
Captivating, intensely focused LP from Brian Burton and the Roots' principal MC, finishing what they started back in 2006.
BROCKHAMPTON
TM
Released less than a day after The Family, this is the hip-hop crew's actual "final" album, another showcase for a wildly talented crew.
Conway the Machine
God Don't Make Mistakes
Conway's long-planned full-length contains some of the most vulnerable, confessional material of his career.
Czarface
Czarmageddon!
Hip-hop supergroup Czarface continue their comic saga, with a Kool Keith feature among the album's highlights.
Denzel Curry
Melt My Eyez See Your Future
The Florida rapper folds summer-tinged directions into his fifth studio album, enlisting a diverse range of producers for a smooth ride into the sunset.
Dälek
Precipice
The New Jersey noise-rap pioneers are as powerful and relevant as ever on their eighth studio album.
Earl Sweatshirt
Sick!
Sharper and more direct than earlier projects, the fourth album from this always-innovative rapper is a powerful reflection on surviving exceptionally heavy times.
Ezra Collective
Where I'm Meant to Be
The second album by this London-based quintet extends the reach of their debut's seamless integration of jazz, funk, Afrobeat, and reggae.
Harry Fraud / French Montana
Montega
Hard-edged nod to old-school hip-hop from rapper French Montana and producer Harry Fraud.
J-Hope
Jack in the Box
Solo full-length debut from the BTS rapper allows his aggressive energy and raspy vocals to shine in the spotlight.
JID
The Forever Story
The Dreamville rapper's third solo studio album continues the monumental presentation of its predecessors while growing more personal lyrically.
Kae Tempest
The Line is a Curve
More aesthetically modern and approachable than their last outing, Tempest's fourth LP is a wonder of resilience and resolve.
Kendrick Lamar
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
The fifth album from one of rap's most creative artists is relentlessly complex and often uncomfortably raw in its emotional gravity.
Kid Cudi
Entergalactic
Ambitious eighth album from the Cleveland-bred rapper that soundtracks his animated romantic comedy of the same name.
Leikeli47
Shape Up
The Brooklyn rapper ends her Beauty Series album trilogy with some of her most confident and varied music.
Loyle Carner
Hugo
The introspective British rapper reflects on his upbringing and his struggles with identity on his masterful third album.
Lupe Fiasco
Drill Music in Zion
The Chicago wordsmith's eighth album pares things down to a digestible 40 minutes, but retains the depth of his classics.
NLE Choppa
Me Vs. Me
The Memphis rapper shows significant growth on this mixtape with guest appearances from Polo G and Young Thug.
NoCap
Mr. Crawford
The studio debut from this Alabama rapper shows more depth and personality than the already strong mixtapes that preceded it.
Open Mike Eagle
Component System with the Auto Reverse
Open Mike Eagle's eighth album channels the spirit of making mixtapes from late-night college radio freestyle rap sessions.
Phife Dawg
Forever
Posthumous solo album from A Tribe Called Quest co-founder is made up of sunny throwback beats and lyrics about the importance of family and integrity.
Post Malone
Twelve Carat Toothache
Emotionally heavy fourth set from the hitmaking rapper and singer/songwriter that finds him struggling with fame and his vices.
Pusha T
It's Almost Dry: Pharrell vs. Ye
The fourth album from this former Clipse member enjoys a significant production upgrade with help from Pharrell Williams and Kanye West.
Quavo / Takeoff
Only Built for Infinity Links
Migos members Quavo and Takeoff turn in a wide range of energetic, fun, and multifaceted approaches on this guest star-heavy joint album.
Rod Wave
Beautiful Mind
The fourth album from this pain-focused Florida rapper is marked by passionate vocal performances and a deeper sense of songwriting and arrangement than previous work.
Tee Grizzley
Chapters of the Trenches
A riveting mixtape of detailed crime narratives from the uncompromising Detroit emcee.
The Alchemist / Curren$y
Continuance
Powerful, prolific forces on their own, this producer/rapper combo bring out the best in each other on this mellow, sample-driven collaborative album.
The Alchemist / Roc Marciano
The Elephant Man's Bones
The first full-length from the two longtime collaborators is an easy success, balancing stark narratives with sly humor.
They Hate Change
Finally, New
The Floridian duo effortlessly fuse Southern rap with drum'n'bass on their Jagjaguwar debut.
Vince Staples
Ramona Park Broke My Heart
Fifth album from this California rapper continues the themes of self-reflection and searching that began on the album before it.
Your Old Droog
Yodney Dangerfield
The best of YOD's brief, celebrity-themed 2022 releases, affirming his status as one of rap's best comedians.
