According to Spotify, I “venture out into the unknown…searching for new tracks — especially gems yet to be found.” My listening habits have been sporadic this year, deferring to Spotify radio and playlists curated by others to keep things fresh.
There are many common themes among my favorite albums of 2022. Most, if not all, had a production that kept me engaged. My ear naturally gravitates toward the beat, searching for clever kick-drum patterns or enticing bass progressions. Without a good musical foundation, I will only give an artist so much time.
Lyrically, I found myself gravitating to artists whose subject matter was deep — but didn’t overshadow the production (Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers). I enjoyed listening to albums that mastered the concept of balance. Lyrics and production working in unison to bring the artist’s vision to life.
See below for my favorite 25 albums of the year — with some notes.
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1. Contour — Onwards! (an album that’s wrapped in Blackness, history, and consideration)
2. Flwr Chyld — Luv N Chaos (see thoughts here)
3. Wakai — Travel Team, Vol. 3 (could have been number 1, the album’s first song — “nuringz” — is a relentless masterpiece)
4. Curren$y & Alchemist — Continuance (see thoughts here)
5. Ojerime — Bad Influence
6. Latanya Alberto — Home (old thoughts here — one of my favorite R&B artists right now)
7. Samara Joy — Linger Awhile (jazz needs here BADLY — one of its freshest & best voices is only 23)
8. BenjiFlow — The Thrill
9. Phony Ppl — Euphonyus (see “dialtone.”)
10. Joyce Wrice — Motive
11. Roc Marciano — The Elephant Man’s Bones
12. Doechii — she / her / black bitch (Doechii does her own thing, and we are better for it)
13. Foisey — Something4theShorties (favorite beat tape of the year, “OnMyMind” lives rent-free in my head)
14. Planet Giza — You Don’t Understand
15. Yaya Bay — Remember Your North Star
16. Ricki Monique — GOOD SEEDS (see “IMMORTAL”)
17. Cisco Swank — Some Things Take Time
18. Beyoncé — Renaissance (see my thoughts that haven’t aged well here — DROP THE VISUALS)
19. Seafood Sam — Something for the Sunrise (see my thoughts here)
20. Bane Capital & Koncept Jack$on — Good Product
21. Domo Genesis — Intros, Outros & Interludes
22. IDK — Simple. (currently the best rapper out of the DMV)
23. Elujay — Circmvnt (old thoughts on a single from the album here)
24. Jay Safari — Bad Decisions (“Dance” is one of my favorite songs of the year — very 2002 Neptunes-ish)
25. Mejiwahn — Beanna
