Hip-hop has been the most popular album genre in America for the last few years, and 2022 was just another year for MCs to demonstrate their superiority.
Hip-elite hop’s made much-needed comebacks throughout the year, MCs experimented with new subjects and sounds, and up-and-coming musicians earned spots on numerous lists of performers to watch.
Here are 5 of the top hip-hop albums that were released this year, ranging from up-and-comers carving out new paths to established musicians reclaiming their spots on rap’s Mount Rushmore.
1- Pusha T, It’s Almost Dry:
Pusha T has developed a number of skills over his more than two decades in the rap business, including humour, snark, and brevity. Another example of his distinctive style of rap, It’s Almost Dry briefly describes the life of a hardworking hustler. The album is filled with unquenchable fire, even if its themes are similar to those of his earlier work and focus mostly on an empire founded on cocaine and double-crossing.
King Push has shifted to waging war against anyone he peeps engaging in fraud-like activity after feeling emboldened by his victory over Drake in their 2018 duel of egos. His delivery is consistently measured and patient, in keeping with the project’s namesake (if you know, you know). It’s Almost Dry, which is sonically daring yet familiar and was executive produced by Pharrell Williams and Ye, the two producers who have defined the halves of Pusha T’s career, is the ideal setting for him to brag about his unmatched genuineness. Katherine Fitzgerald.
2- ‘King’s Disease III’ by Nas:
Each of Nas’ albums during the first 20 years of his career was not simply a significant event but also a change from or intensification of what came before. This changed in 2020 when he established a steady rhythm with Hit-Boy, a producer from Southern California’s Inland Empire who at the start of the 2010s appeared to have the potential to shape the decade in rap.
Since that time, he and Nas have maintained a consistent schedule, showing up once a year to release music that has, up until now, lingered just beyond “competent,” a master artist with a workmanlike producer doing honest work for money. Ironically, the title of their most recent episode was Magic.
The first argument in favour of this intentional demystification is King’s Disease III, which is nearly twice as long as Magic. Nas’ main issues are the kind that become more apparent with each slight modification. Furthermore, a flood of new recordings releases each from the burden of his heritage, which he no longer feels the need to vigorously defend. KD3 is drenched in nostalgia but isn’t obsessed with it; it’s routine but better for it, loose and skilled and at last nimble once more.
3- ‘Traumazine’ by Megan Thee Stallion:
Everyone’s favourite Hot Girl, Megan Thee Stallion, has released her sophomore album, Traumazine. She brought a few fresh rap females this time, like Rico Nasty and Latto. Megan is all about being authentic, as heard on the album’s opening track, “NDA,” before she confronts naysayers on “Ungrateful,” channels Lil’ Kim on “Plan B,” and calls them out on “Ungrateful.”
In “Anxiety,” one of her most intimate songs, she discusses how she’s comfortable with having terrible days and how she wishes she could talk to her departed loved ones. She then starts singing “Flip Flop,” emphasising how easily she could put her trust in individuals who weren’t her pals. Megan doesn’t hesitate to criticise others while displaying her frail side. Megan demonstrates that she is a student of some of the greatest hip-hop artists by being open, assured, boastful, humorous, and charismatic throughout the entire album.
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4- ‘$oul $old $eparately’ by Freddie Gibbs:
On his most recent album, $oul $old $eparately, Freddie Gibbs adopts a fresh strategy. On his album Bandana, which he co-wrote with only Madlib, and Alfredo, which he also co-wrote with Alchemist. On his most recent album, Gibbs includes these two along with producers Kaytranada, Boi-1da, Anderson.Paak, James Blake, and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League.
Kelly Price contributes vocals to the album’s first track, “Couldn’t Be Done,” where Gibbs raps on those who didn’t always trust in him. On “Pain & Strife,” he glides seamlessly over a Bone Thugs-N-Harmony sample, and on the fan favourite “Too Much,” he deftly incorporates DeBarge’s “All This Love.” It is a concept album about Gibbs risking his life to become famous and pay his dues without sacrificing his soul.
5- GloRilla, Anyways, Life’s Great:
After “F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” 2022’s summer anthem, blessed the canon of break-up songs, Glorilla annihilates all discussion of “one-hit wonders” with the single. Anyway, Life is Wonderful… Glo says things like,
“Ain’t fed up ’bout no credit score, I might be rich as f tomorrow / Every day the sun won’t shine, but that’s why I adore tomorrow,” with her accent careening around syllables. “I ain’t in these bitches beef, I’m in my motherf***in’ prime / Told em, “Leave me out of the way, no parts and I’m not takin’ sides” are examples of self-assured boundaries.”
The Memphis sensation’s major label debut EP features themes of positivity and independence with a splash of ratchet decadence a la Big Glo. Simon Madden.
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