2022 has gotten off to a wonderful start with some amazing Hip Hop Albums. There is lots of fantastic music from a varied spectrum of artists, ranging from the never-ending Snoop Dogg to the long-awaited Pusha T album to Vince Staples' newest. WhatsOnRap will distill the seemingly limitless amount of music published over the course of a year to the fundamentals, offering readers a selection of must-listen projects.
IT’S ALMOST DRY – Pusha T
It's Almost Dry is the outcome of a neurotic new father and COVID-19 quarantining. "I wasn't going anywhere," Pusha T told Charlamagne Tha God in a recent interview, his voice tense. He went on to say that he used his imagination to improve his pen game. Push's writing has only become better after 20 years. The storyline has grown more precise, and the wit behind the bars has increased.
Push's command of the English language is evident in the way he flips several phrases and terminologies regarding cocaine. It's Almost Dry is an excellent rap record that features a few hard-hitting tracks, some fantastic production, and bar-for-bar greatness by one of the finest rappers in the game, albeit lacking the biting of previous releases.
LEARN 2 SWIM – red veil
PG County, Maryland rapper red veil is still not of legal drinking age, yet he's worked with Fly Anakin, KA$HDAMI, AG Club, Wakai, and others. Learn 2 Swim was born from the sounds of Boom Bap, jazz, and big band music, reinterpreted by a youthful mind with broad tastes. Despite the variety of sounds, the veil takes center stage throughout the tracklist.
There are a few guest appearances from Anakin and Sam Truth, but most of the tracks are done solo, allowing the veil plenty of room to explore themes of adulthood, perseverance, and independence via music and life. What is most amazing, however, is the veil's self-assurance. Red veal raps with passion, whether he's baring his flaws for all to see or celebrating his hard-earned accomplishments. Learn 2 Swim is Redveil's definitive statement, establishing him as a significant leader of rap's future generation. It is without a doubt one of the finest Hip Hop albums of the year thus far.
RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART – Vince Staples
Vince Staples introduces the listener to the beautiful and colorful regions of California on Ramona Park Broke My Heart to realize the realities of hearing gunshots fly in the air around you. His self-titled 2021 album was similarly contemplative, but with a considerably darker production tone from Kenny Beats, immersing the listener in a sea of gloom. Over G-Funk-era production and DJ Mustard sounds, Staples crafts a counterpoint, contemplating with tiredness about getting disillusioned with his city. Staples delivers each bar with clarity and weathered experience, culminating in his most noticeable display of reflection to date.
LAST ONES LEFT – EST Gee & 42 Dugg
42 CMG stars On their collaboration endeavor Last Ones Left, Dugg and EST Gee make the most of their close proximity, producing natural chemistry and avoiding the traps of cheap collaborative albums. Dugg and EST Gee clearly did not seek to recreate the wheel. Their distinct talents, which rely on Dugg's high-pitched jokes and EST Gee's snarling threats, provide enough satisfying moments, setting the bar for what one-off duos should strive for in the future.
FOREVER – Phife Dawg
Phife Dawg died of diabetic complications on March 22, 2016, at the age of 45. Despite his untimely death, the Tribe Called Quest MC left a lasting legacy with iconic rap albums like Low-End Theory and Midnight Marauders. On the sixth anniversary of the Five-Foot Assassin's death, the Phife Dawg Estate released Forever, a 13-track tribute to Phife's natural poetic skill.
From the New York boom-bap of "Nutshell 2" with Busta Lyrics and Redman to "Dear Dilla (Reprise)" with fellow Tribe legend Q-Tip, the album swells with obvious '90s nostalgia, harkening back to an age when rhymes were complex and rhythms were refreshingly simple. Despite the fact that it is an emotional listen.
MELT MY EYEZ SEE YOUR FUTURE – Denzel Curry
Denzel Curry is the phenomenal, brooding antihero rap needs. Melt My Eyez See Your Future, the 27-year-old South Florida native's fifth studio album, finds him shedding the characters and disguises of his previous LPs and stepping into the spotlight as a fully formed artist. Although this is his most contemplative and sensitive endeavor, it is hardly a 45-minute therapy session, but it is the quietest and most inward-looking Curry record we have.
He's still effortlessly witty and occasionally enraged, but the sad moments in this film compete with his customary machine-gun delivery at its best. Aside from the powerful leader, the rhythms are varied and great throughout, and the few elements he permits are all nicely chosen and executed. Melt My Eyez See Your Future is a watershed moment in an already stellar career.
TANA TALK 4 – Benny The Butcher
Benny, and Griselda as a whole, have more than come into their own in the three years thereafter, achieving global renown. There have been many initiatives in between, but Tana Talk, the 2004 series that started it all, has something special about it (although the original installment remains lost to collectors). This is a worthy successor to its predecessor, solidifying his status as one of the best MCs alive, pound for pound. The record fits well within the Griselda Music Universe, making it more difficult than ever to refuse Benny The Butcher his flowers.
BACK ON DEATH ROW – Snoop Dogg
When news surfaced that famed West Coast rapper Death Row Records had been bought, it was a full-circle moment. To commemorate the occasion, Snoop released BODR (Back On Death Row), which adds to his already extensive repertoire. Though the album will also be available as an exclusive NFT, fans will be pleased to learn that it is now accessible on major DSPs.
GOD DON’T MAKE MISTAKES – Conway The Machine
After numerous false promises and efforts, we are now getting what can only be characterized as an opus. The 12-song LP has much of what fans expect: family cooperation with Westside and Benny ("John Woo Flick") Daringer beats, as well as one or two spectacular features from luminaries. With his Detox finally out there, and his contractual obligations to both Shady and (surprisingly) Griselda met, it feels like a fresh start. God Don't Make Mistakes makes it difficult to argue that Conway isn't one of the hip-best hop lyricists today.
2 ALIVE – Yeat
2 Aliv, the follow-up to Yeat's blockbuster album, was met with a flood of anticipation and great expectations. Though he didn't branch out from the sounds of his earlier work, Yeat's newest is a master class in accuracy and realizing what the audience wants. Excellent rap does not always have to be epic in scope: 2 Aliv demonstrates that success may be obtained just as effectively by zooming in. Hits are created by talented artists. Moments are created by great artists. Although 2 Aliv does not seem like a game-changing record, it will significantly influence the introduction of anger music to the public, with the album already on course to top the Billboard charts.
DS4EVER – Gunna
Gunna is heading into uncharted territory with DS4EVER. Gunna's evolution as a person and artist is hinted at by key moments of vulnerability juxtaposed with his usual bravado on the album. The drip is prominent, but he isn't afraid to mourn the moments when life's tidal waves nearly drowned him. In six years, Gunna's repertory has developed to encompass an in-depth narrative, and he has grown comfortable with acknowledging his humanity. He doesn't appear to be content with popularity, balancing advancements in song subjects and technical proficiency.
COLORS – NBA YoungBoy
YoungBoy Never Broke Again, one of Hip Hop's most contentious and interesting figures, opened off 2022 with vast and threatening Colors. Colors is a classic YoungBoy effort in many aspects, with explosive raps, bluesy crooning, and lots of threats. Colors, on the other hand, suggest a less-explored, more sensitive side of the Baton Rouge MC. On songs like "Emo Love," "How You Been," and "I Got This," YB strips away his normal swagger and lets the listener into the depths of his psyche. But don't be fooled: Colors still has plenty of powerful anthems, from the explosive "Fish Scale" to the forceful "Bring It On."
FACE – Babyface Ray
Babyface Ray owes a lot to Detroit. Michigan had been brimming with talent for generations, but Babyface Ray, along with Rio Da Yung Og, Sada Baby, and many others, helped propel the movement into the mainstream. The ice-cold rapper's latest album, FACE, demonstrates his love of wordplay and his melodic flow. Ray raps expertly about street escapades and the spoils that success has brought him on songs ranging from the Icewear Vezzo-assisted "6 Mile Show" to the smooth tones of "Sincerely Face." Ray demonstrates he's one of the Midwest's greatest by catching off-kilter flows while gliding through production ranging from Plugg to subdued Drill.
MAGIC – Nas & Hit-Boy
Most people rank Nas among the top ten all-time rappers, yet the New York superstar continues to rhyme as if he has something to prove. It's unusual in any area for someone 30 years into their career to still compete at the highest level, yet Nas appears to be hungrier than ever in 2021. Hit-Boy and Nas have established themselves as one of Hip Hop's most prolific duos, releasing three projects since 2020 and yet with one on the way! MAGIC is a collection of nine tracks of nonstop bars over rhythms that seem to complement each flow flawlessly. Nas' take on the current status of the game is always intriguing, as he hails the New York drill movement and hails K.Dot, Cole, and Drizzy as the goats of the future generation.
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU – Dro Kenji
Droves of Internet Money Kenji follows in the footsteps of SoundCloud rappers like Juice WRLD and Trippie Redd, but the 20-year-old musician continues to forge his own path on his recent album WITH OR WITHOUT YOU. Kenji is swiftly establishing himself as one of the scene's most intriguing musicians, thanks to hits like "FINDERS KEEPERS" starring Scorey. WITH OR WITHOUT YOU is worth a listen for its magnificent melodies and amusing production.
Fighting Demons – Juice WRLD
It's tough to discuss a new Juice WRLD album without mentioning the dangers of posthumous releases. Lil Bibby, Juice WRLD's manager, stated in an interview with Complex that he and Juice's staff sorted through over 2,000 songs to produce the final 18 tracks for his second posthumous album, Fighting Demons, all while fans teased him with their thoughts on what Juice would've liked. Fighting Demons appears to have been handled with care, but the record itself is an extremely difficult affair. While Goodbye & Good Riddance ("All Girls Are The Same") and Death Race For Love ("Empty") teased Juice WRLD's sorrow and heartache, Fighting Demons consumes it and has some of the rapper's most emotional songs.
Punk – Young Thug
In his decade-long rap career, Young Thug has gone through various periods. He's seen the early phases of projects like I Came From Nothing 2 and Barter 6. He glided through JEFFERY's abstract masterwork, So Much Fun's raucous summer sounds, and now Punk, a pop-laden album that rivals some of Thugger's best releases. Punk is an excellent effort from one of rap's most significant, from the Juice WRLD-assisted, Pi'erre Bourne-produced "Rich N-GA Shit" to the soothing rhythm of "Faces."
Vince Staples – Vince Staples
Vince Staples' self-titled first album is unlike most of his previous work. It isn't as energetic and vibrant as FM! from 2018. It's not the synth-driven Los Angeles rap of Hell Can Wait. It's almost reminiscent of Summertime '06's weaving narrative, but with greater control and a fair dose of R&B elements.
Vince Staples was initially met with apprehension and mild pushback due to its differences from his previous artist-defining projects. Listeners who delved deeper into the ever-expanding world of the Long Beach rapper's sixth studio album discovered new sounds and hidden themes running throughout. Vince Staples, which was entirely produced by longtime partner Kenny Beats, seems organic, expanding with each listen and changing to the unique listener's state of mind.
Exodus – DMX
JAY-Z may have laid the groundwork for modern East Coast rap, but DMX was the mythological figure to which everyone aspired. Dark Man X was a champion of the people, from the streets of Yonkers to the Five Boroughs and beyond, with savage bites and famous barks. Hip Hop lost DMX after a three-decade career due to problems caused by an accidental overdose. Exodus, DMX's postmortem album featuring an assortment of features only DMX could have achieved, was his ultimate gift to the world. DMX explores the different, often dissonant, aspects of his character in Exodus.
