Top 5 Albums of 2022 (So Far)
Intro:
2022 has already been an exciting & historic year for music. We’ve seen many huge names in Hip-Hop & R&B release albums such as The Weeknd, Future, Kendrick Lamar, etc. It’s a big year already yet we’re still waiting for so many other albums from artists like Travis Scott, Frank Ocean, etc. Now seems like the best time to take a pause & reflect on the past 6 months. Here’s our list of the Top 5 Albums of 2022 that’ve been released so far.
5. Tana Talk 4 - Benny The Butcher
A top albums list wouldn’t be complete without any mention of Griselda or its members. While Conway The Machine was a close contender for the #5 spot, I thoroughly enjoy Tana Talk 4 from start to finish. Benny provides exactly what fans want + more. Between the immaculate production & intense rapping, it can be easily argued as being one of the best projects this year. With how much he & his peers release, I wouldn’t be surprised if he drops another album this year that surpasses Tana Talk 4.
Favorite Song: Back 2x (ft. Stove God Cooks)
4. HYPNOS - Ravyn Lenae
Ravyn Lenae is one of my favorite younger R&B acts & has been for a few years. She takes her style to a whole new level on HYPNOS & provides fans with the best R&B album this year so far. There’s a lot of competition in that argument, but Ravyn’s new album is complete & contains no skips. Her voice elegantly glides over all the smooth sounds & instrumentation. I also love how she remains versatile. She tries new ideas while remaining true to her core sound.
Favorite Song: M.I.A.
3. RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART - Vince Staples
Vince Staples is currently on an insane run with his recent output. This follow-up to his self-titled album that was released last year, and it feels like an extension of the previous one. Vince shows improvement with his songwriting & technical ability over laidback production. This album also features more West Coast elements in addition to features from Lil Baby & Ty Dolla $ign. Overall, this is an album that fits multiple settings & is consistent from start to finish.
Favorite Songs: DJ Quik, Mama’s Boy & Lemonade
2. Melt My Eyez See Your Future - Denzel Curry
If you’ve ever doubted Denzel Curry’s rapping ability, Melt My Eyez See Your Future will prove you wrong. This can be argued as his best overall album but is confidently the best showcase of his technical ability. In addition, we see Denzel be both equally introspective & motivational. It’s a special album from the Florida heavyweight act. I didn’t see any 2022 album topping this chill masterpiece until my final pick below.
Favorite Songs: Melt Session #1, John Wayne & Walkin
1. Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers - Kendrick Lamar
This choice shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone familiar with our platform. Kendrick Lamar released his deepest project so far with its intense vulnerability & personal reflections. He manages to speak in-depth on several relevant & taboo topics, while still keeping it from being preachy or inauthentic. He uses his lyrics & stellar production selection to take the listeners into his mind. It’s slowly becoming solidified as my favorite album in the Compton artist’s discography.
Overall:
What are your thoughts on our choices of the Top 5 albums from this year so far? There was quite a good amount of albums that almost ended up on this halfway report. I do genuinely believe these 5 projects all represent the quality of output happening this year. Again, let’s see which of these albums stay this high in our final list at the end of the calendar year. Thank you all for reading, and enjoy these 2022 albums listed above.
