Our 2022 Annual Report continues with our Top 15 Rap Albums list. As the year winds down, stay tuned for more awards, lists, and articles about the best music, film, and TV of 2022. You can find it all in one place here.
By its very nature, hip-hop is constantly shifting, with new trends and subgenres bubbling up seemingly every week. Now more than ever, a rapper can pop off with a viral hit at any moment, whether it’s off the back of a TikTok trend or emerging at the forefront of a local scene. Either way, eventually the real test is being able to put out an album that resonates with fans.
This can mean either dropping an undeniable string of hits or putting together a strong body of work weaving together lyrical themes, production, and sequencing in a cohesive manner. But none of that really matters unless there’s something special about the artist in the first place, whether it’s their charisma, vulnerability, pen game, flow, or all of the above.
That’s what all the albums on this list have in common — each one has a specific vision and purpose. In a time when the music industry would have everyone believe streaming numbers and playlist placement matter more than artistry, that commitment won’t necessarily be appreciated by anyone but the real fans.
But that’s why we put together this list together in the first place. Algorithms aside, we identified which projects made enough impact for us to revisit them time and time again — beyond whether they were capital “i” important or by our favorite rappers.
Here are the best rap albums released in 2022, many of which we’ll keep listening to well into the new year and beyond.
— Eddie Fu
New Music Editor
15. Flo Milli – You Still Here Ho ?
With early hits like “Beef FloMix” and “In the Party,” Flo Milli quickly cemented herself in the canon of fan cams and TikTok dance crazes. But on her official debut album, You Still Here, Ho ?, the Alabama rapper proves her playful wit and effortless flows aren’t just bait for an algorithm; the record’s title alone seems to suggest we’re all living in her world, and it’s best if we stay out of her way.
Of course, there’s no shortage of classic Flo Milli hot-girl anthems here: When she proclaims “feelin’ myself, I’m conceited!” over rattling 808 beats, you can almost hear her smile through her bars, but she also isn’t afraid to tone things down, like on the contemplative love song “Tilted Halo.” Her perky voice contrasts the industrial flourishes of “No Steppa” that seem to nod to the late SOPHIE. Across the entire album, Flo Milli’s charming feminine energy yields a 2000s-esque sheen — like she’s scribbling her verses down with Cher Horowitz’s fluffy-ended pen. — Abby Jones
14. Vince Staples – Ramona Park Broke My Heart
A companion piece to muted self-titled effort Vince Staples released in 2021, Ramona Park Broke My Heart brings livelier production hearkening back to his Summertime ’06 days. Seven years later, the Long Beach rapper is no longer closely tied to the neighborhood after which it’s named, but the nostalgia remains strong. Staples digs deep into his past and present, fully tearing down the wall guarding his innermost thoughts. — E.F.
13. LUCI – Juvenilia
At just 26 minutes in runtime, you might think that LUCI’s Juvenilia doesn’t have the capacity to make a significant mark. But anyone who’s made it through the project knows that the multi-faceted artist’s creative production choices and unique vocal presence burrow deep into your brain. Call it whatever you want, but if you say it’s boring, tracks like “Ash & Dust” and “Gnarly” would like a word. — Jonah Krueger
12. Nas – King’s Disease 3
King’s Disease III caps the best run of Nas’ legendary career. It’s the crowning achievement for his collaborative series with Hit-Boy, and proof positive he’s possibly the greatest of all time. Unlike KD and KD II, this is Nas dolo over Hit-Boy beats, reflecting on a life well-lived and providing insight into how his present illuminates his past.
Hit-Boy modernizes Nas’ sound while never forcing him into boxes in which he doesn’t fit. The producer samples soul and jazz records while building his own compositions that fit Nas’ voice like a glove, and even throws in a snippet of The Five Heartbeats on “Legit,” the album’s true earworm. Nas dropped God’s Son two decades ago amid questions about his career’s direction. 20 years later, consider those questions emphatically answered. — Marcus Shorter
11. Danger Mouse & Black Thought – Cheat Codes
To absolutely no one’s surprise, when two top-tier artists decide to collaborate for an album’s worth of tracks, the final product comes out pretty damn good. Yes, Black Thought is still a Top 5 MC, and yes, Danger Mouse remains a premier beatmaker despite his break from the genre. Even still, “pretty damn good” undersells Cheat Codes, as it’s ultimately a project that exceeds the already high expectations set by its premise. — J.K.
10. Che Noir – Food for Thought
Equally adept at self-examination and spinning street tales, Che Noir takes listeners on a journey over the soulful boom bap of Food for Thought. Don’t be fooled by the Buffalo native’s penchant for introspection; her mind stays just as focused and sharp as her rhymes. While grateful for her success, Che Noir has also learned from the past, giving her an edge as she stares forward to a bright future. — E.F.
09. Denzel Curry – Melt My Eyez See Your Future
To Denzel Curry, “melt” means “being aware,” as he notes on “Melt Session #1.” The opening track to Melt My Eyez See Your Future invites us through the Florida rapper’s train of thought, an introspective reflection of the artist’s own mental health and the inequality surrounding him. At his most vulnerable, Curry’s constant perseverance is invigorating, serving as a hand to help pull up those battling their own struggles. Melt My Eyez comes full circle to Curry’s early SoundCloud days while coupling melodic with emphatic, and his writing and flow are as poignant as ever. — Joe Eckstein
08. Freddie Gibbs – $oul $old $eparately
This rap shit is too easy for Freddie Gibbs. If there’s one takeaway from $oul $old $eparately, it’s that. Gibbs doesn’t change the formula for his first album released on a major label, he just perfects it. If anything, being on a major just meant more money to do what he does best, which is sow social critiques and insights ever so subtly over dark beats that perfectly match his smoked-out voice. For anyone unfamiliar with the album or why Gibbs belongs on this list, just listen to “Blackest in the Room” and watch your life change for the better. — M. Shorter
07. Saba – Few Good Things
When taking a step into Saba’s world with Few Good Things, expect a full spectrum of emotions. The journey to becoming a seminal figure in the Chicago rap scene is one fueled by the highs and lows, defining an artist with plenty on his mind. From financials and loss to learning from failure and appreciating the little things, Saba’s latest venture is the mark of an artist with plenty of knowledge to spit. But rather than remain content with what he already knows, the 28-year-old’s desire to learn means this is just the genesis for an astute voice. — J.E.
06. Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
There are two main ways we tend to judge albums: 1) overall flow and consistency, and 2) bangers. Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers owes its ranking to the bangers. “N95” and “Savior” go as hard as anything in Kendrick Lamar’s discography, “We Cry Together” with Taylour Paige is as addictive as a toxic relationship, and “Auntie Diaries” is a bracing exploration of empathy, even if it’s likely to age like a glass of milk in the sun. This is no one’s favorite Kendrick album, but cuts from Mr. Morale could be your favorite part of his live shows, and that is no small feat. — Wren Graves
05. Rico Nasty – Las Ruinas
Las Ruinas is the Rico Nasty project we’ve been waiting for, the synthesis of all the tantalizing skills she’s been teasing since breaking out in 2018. Oh, you like bars? Take “Gotsta Get Paid.” Have you been dreaming of the promise of industrial electronic and emo rap? “Intrusive” would like a word. Dance floor pop calling your name? Bust it down to “One on Five” featuring Bibi Bourelly and Jason Evigan.
Some of the highest-energy moments are kept in reserve for the back half, interjecting the bonkers “Skullflower” or the toe-tapping “Jungle (Rico Nasty Remix)” in between more introspective moments like the quietly devastating “Easy.” But Las Ruinas’ anchor — which could almost double as a thesis statement for the whole project — is “Black Punk,” unapologetically brash and irresistibly fun. Never mind that this is a hip-hop list, Rico Nasty is a genre unto herself. — W.G.
