Best Hip-Hop Songs of 2022
My personal selections for the greatest rap tracks released last year
2022 was, maybe, one of the best years ever for Hip-Hop. Whilst there were some things negative aspects in the wider rap community that affected the culture (Kanye’s constant outbursts, the death of Takeoff, Gunna and Young Thug going to jail), the quality of music last year was at such a high level throughout. There were some long-awaited returns, some explosive rising stars, and some chapters unfortunately ending, but that is not the point. Today, we will be looking at my personal selections for the best rap tracks of last year, so please remember, this is all just my opinions. Now, let’s get started.
PG Baby by Redveil
I do not want to seem arrogant, but I did say Redveil had a big future a few years back. Before he became a underground artist spreading on Twitter, back before his first proper album, I saw the 18 year old’s talent. Now, with his latest work, which features in my top 10 albums of the year, his production and rapping ability is finally coming into focus more to the mainstream. I believe PG Baby is for sure a perfect starting point for new listeners to Redveil, as it displays why he is unbelievable all at once. The production on this track, the looped 70s soul sample and the 808s, are heavenly, and his flow is standout too. This may be my favourite song of the entire year.
Mother I Sober by Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick is back! After 5 years without releasing a solo major body of work, the Compton rapper returned with a strong and deeply personal effort, much more so than 2017’s DAMN. This was helped by the fact no singles were released prior to the drop, which to me makes it much more cohesive. Many songs could be featured on this list, but Mother I Sober may be his most introspective and sad. The minimalist production, featuring a simplistic piano and partially-muted drums, lets us focus on Kendrick’s sombre delivery, which colours a picture of his past in an area we have yet to see before now. With the build up towards to the climax, where Lamar finally accepts his truth and speaks out about the trauma he has from childhood, we are met with one of the most emotional rap songs in years. Special shoutout to Beth Gibbons too, the chorus is beautiful, and further illustrates the issues Kendrick has in his own body.
2012 by SABA
Another album featured on my upcoming top rap projects of 2022 list, SABA created his greatest work so far with A FEW GOOD THINGS. The Piece de Resistance is 2012, a song longing for the past, in a healthy nostalgic way. A song about love, family and growing up, the song was an instant standout for me. On first listen, I will admit I was emotional, as it speaks to the nostalgia-based side of your brain, back when life was simpler. The production is so peaceful, laid back and creates the perfect vibe, and fits the ideas SABA discusses throughout the runtime. If you are going to listen to this song, and the rest of the album, do yourself a favour and watch SABA’s short film on his Youtube channel, it is truly incredible.
Johnny P’s Caddy by Benny the Butcher and J Cole
How can a song which was released back in January still stand as a standout track of the year? Well, a collaboration between Benny the Butcher, J Cole and The Alchemist on production works as well as you might think. Benny is certainly one of the most underrated rappers of the last few years, and with help from Cole he shows why he deserves his flowers. He may not have any deep bars or anything much of substance to say, but his delivery and his rhyme schemes are nuts. And, just as you think his verse can’t be topped, Jermaine comes in and produces the best verse of the year, for sure. Switching flows multiple times, the double entendres sprinkled throughout, and the confidence which he displays, he knows how good he is. Some of the bars are so quotable, and I seriously hope Cole and Benny can keep collabing in future. The Alchemist, too, with some amazing production, which creates a great stage for the other two to do their thing.
Scared by Chris Patrick
I hope you like emotional songs, because this list has a lot! This time it’s another rapper I have already put you onto, Chris Patrick. The New Jersey artist released a strong project this year, with X-Files being one of the most open and truthful releases I’ve heard in a long time. Seriously, several songs could make this list, but Scared is probably the track which shows the most honesty. Similar to FEAR by Kendrick Lamar, it’s Chris laying down his fears, whether it is love, his career or his family, and you can hear the emotion in his performance. Again, another minimalistic beat, with simplistic 808’s and some smooth guitar, and an almost spoken-word rap, as opposed to his usual rap style. Even if you don’t have all the same worries as him, some hit close to home.
Just in Time by JID, Kenny Mason and Lil Wayne
The third collaboration of the year between Kenny Mason and JID, and this is the best one yet. JID is electric on this joint, his flow switch halfway through his first verse is crazy. What makes it even more crazy is Lil Wayne does the EXACT SAME THING on his verse, starting off slow and then speeding up when the heavy bass swoops in, and the rhyme scheme he follows is so nuts, he and JID are so complementary to each other. Many people called it, as the comparisons between the two have been constant since JID first appeared on the radar 6 years ago. It’s nice to hear them together, and I hope we hear them on a track again. Also, the beat is nuts, the rattling hi-hats, the looped string sample, the constant changes throughout marks it as potentially my favourite beat all year.
Written in the Stars by Joey Bada$$
Like Kendrick, Joey Bada$$ took a 5 year hiatus from a major label release, and he sure did come back strong. 2000 could be my favourite album of the year, as it sees Joey finding his perfect sound, a la Vince Staples on his last two EPs. His lane is 90s Boom Bap mixed with modern day electronic touches, and in Statik Selektah, he has a partner who lets him realise his potential he showed on 1999. Written in the Stars is my favourite outro to any album this year, as like the opening, it has the feel of what an outro should be, without being cliche. The strings, the subject matter, all make it a closer that makes sense. If Joey Bada$$ retired after this album, it could be a perfect ending to his career, it literally feels like what somebody would drop and leave forever. However, he should not, as this song and the project prove he is maturing into a well rounded performer and creator.
Jimmy Cooks by 21 Savage and Drake
What was originally going to be the main single for their collaborative work, Jimmy Cooks instead acted as the closer for Drake’s Honestly, Nevermind, which seemed weird at first because it does not fit the Toronto rapper’s 2022 solo drop at all. Now, I understand, as it made more sense to lead into the collaborative effort by Drake and 21 Savage, which is an absolute quality album. The track has Drake in his bag, with an energy I have not heard from him in years, and the beat fits his style so well. Then, we get to 21 Savage, and a complete 180* beat switch which is so 21. Hearing Drake on that style of beat towards the end, which felt like a throwback to mid 2010 Drake albums, was a surprise, and it is for sure one of the hardest tracks of the year.
Brockhampton by Brockhampton
I will not lie to you — the two farewell albums Brockhampton release, I did not have high expectations for, and in fact I did not listen to them right away. Controversial opinion maybe, but I was not wrong, the two albums are not too solid, but there are some brilliant moments. The closer from album 1, the self titled track, I listened to after saying goodbye to one of my closest friends who I won’t see in person for a long time, and when I was full of nostalgia to the amazing summer I had with them, so it may be bias. However, I do not care, this is without doubt Top 3 for me for last year. I am a sucker for rap songs with strings, as I feel it adds so much to the emotion of the whole ordeal. This, and the soulful samples, and the sad subject matter from Kevin, makes me cry nearly everytime. Saying goodbye to all you have ever known, being so open with your emotions to people you love as brothers, it is the hardest thing you will ever do. But, you could say it is not a sad song — it is appreciating what you had, and looking forward to what is to come, which is a beautiful sentiment. The best Brockhampton song of all time for me.
Thun by Nas
Nas for sure is on his best musical run since his debut. In the last 2 years, he has released 4 projects alongside the legendary producer Hit-Boy, and they are some of his best pieces of work. KD3 followed this trend, with Nas sounding as hungry as ever throughout the tracklist. My personal pick for the best track, and for me would be a top 20 Nas track, is Thun. His flow on this song is unbelieveable, you struggle to find where he pauses to take a breath, and the aggression with which he spits is reminiscient of the Illmatic days. All this would be half as impactful without Hit-Boy doing his thing, with the looped sample alongside the shoutout to Queens which works its way into the beat, and the chopping in and out really makes Nas pop on the song. Plus, the Jay Z bar made me scream, unreal.
