We are SudetyRaport, Your Favorite Rap Plug, and welcome to our Top 100 Best Rap Albums of 2022. If you’re wondering why we’re releasing this list in March, the answer is simple: we didn’t want to rush anything. We listened to more than 1000 albums (we are not joking, it’s a lot) that have been released in 2022 and carefully chose the Top 100. We try to always dive into the depths of the genre, explore all the corners of rap, and give a chance to both unknown artists and names that rule the charts. It wasn’t a simple task, and we could easily expand the whole list for another 100 albums without any second thoughts, and all of them would still be absolutely amazing, so take the list with a grain of salt. In the list, you will find both LPs and EPs.
It’s simply not possible to fit all the amazing artists who regularly release great records and move the genre forward into one list. That’s why we publish our Rap Weekly every Monday, where we summarize the best of the rap scene.
As we said before, take the ranking with a grain of salt; every single artist on our list deserves huge respect. On the last page of the article, you will find some honorable mentions. Make yourself comfortable and dive with us into the depths of the best rap of 2022.
100. Daniel Son & Futurewave – Son Tzu & The Wav.God
Let’s kick off our list with Son Tzu & The Wav.God, this album was one of the first ones we could get our hands on last year. Daniel Son is a rapper contributing to the new wave of street hip hop. Futurewave is a producer that does not disappoint; he proved that on his past projects (KATAKLIZM with al.Divino or Gorgeous Polo Sportsmen with Raz Fresco) that he knows what he is doing, and this album is another shining example of it.
Support artists: Bandcamp, Shop
Album: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal
99. Conway The Machine & Big Ghost Ltd. – What Has Been Blessed Cannot Be Cursed
Conway The Machine released his long-anticipated project, God Don’t Make Mistakes, but we got a little bit more intrigued by What Has Been Blessed Cannot be Cursed, completely produced by Big Ghost Ltd. You can’t go wrong with the expert on modern hard-hitting boom-bap production, and Conway knows it well. This album is a follow-up to two previous albums, No One Mourns The Wicked (2020) and If It Bleeds It Can Be Killed (2021). As the saying goes, “third time’s the charm.”
Support artists: Bandcamp, Shop
Album: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal
98. Lord Juco & Finn – Company
Almost half a year after the release of Details, Lord Juco and Finn reunited and released a short but powerful EP. The album is just 12 minutes long, and on top of their amazing chemistry, you can hear some amazing features from artists like Ufo Fev, Hus KingPin, Austin Eastwood, and more. Thanks to the amazing list of guests, you can re-listen to the album many times and not get bored by it.
Support artists: Shop I, Shop II
Album: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal
97. Pink Siifu & Real Bad Man – Real Bad Flights
Pink Siifu is one of the most talented rappers on the current scene. His personal style, uniqueness, and original desire for experimenting shine through on every track. His newest album, Real Bad Flights, produced by Real Bad Man, is less experimental than Gumbo’!. The project was described by the rapper as a massive rap compilation. The album is full of colorful palettes from different artists, and each of them is using their room to the fullest. The album was released in two versions: a shorter version for streaming services, and a longer version with a few extra tracks available for purchase on Bandcamp. We recommend the longer version.
Support artists: Shop I, Shop II, Bandcamp
Album: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal
96. ANKHLEJOHN – The Four Knights Game 2
ANKHLEJOHN, a talent from Washington, D.C., whose unique style we like very much, released four great projects last year; due to the strong competition, only The Four Knights Game 2 made it to our TOP 100 list. Rapper’s biting voice flows through the productions, which you won’t find anywhere else. Guests on the album are Fly Anakin and Monday Night.
Support the artist: Bandcamp
Album: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal
95. Mike Shabb – Bokleen World
The talented producer and rapper from Montreal, Mike Shabb, released his debut album, Northwave, back in 2018, and ever since that, he’s delivered another seven projects. Last year, he gave us the albums Sewaside II and Bokleen World, where he brought his style to perfection. Mike produced the whole album by himself, which just proved to us that he can stand on both sides of the barricade. His flows remind us of something that we would expect from more mainstream rappers, who would rap to trap beats. The rapper selects and creates great beats with amazing samples and original ideas. It is not by accident that we can see him side by side with Nicholas Craven on a regular basis. Mike’s talent was recognized even by Westside Gunn, who let him produce the track Switches on Everything for his latest album 10. Mike Shabb is starting to build quite a name for himself, and you can be sure that this is not the last time we hear about him
Support the artist: Bandcamp
Album: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal
94. Tha God Fahim & Jay NiCE – Bloodspiller
Bloodspiller is a record that came like a bolt from the blue. It is the rappers’ third collaboration, following Strictly 4 My D.U.M.P.E.R.Z. (2018) and Dump Life (2020). It is a shorter project and checks out in about 20 minutes, but if you are at least a little bit familiar with both artists, you know that they will get the absolute most from each of those minutes. One of the tracks that piqued our interest the most was Heavy n’ Da Trunk, in which both artists exchange verse after verse, creating a really great rhythm. Some of the producers on this album are Bombay, Nicholas Craven, Mike Shabb, or Benji Socrates.
Support artists: Shop, Bandcamp I, Bandcamp II
Album: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal
93. Psalm One & Custom Made – Bigg Perrm
Chicago rapper teamed up with producer Custom Made. The veteran rapper has already released more than 10 studio albums, some of them under the label Rhymesayers (which she left because of the toxic environment). Psalm One can do basically anything behind the mic. This album feels very fresh and confronts topics like business and support of black communities, acceptance of queer people, mental health, and patriarchal independence.
Support artists: Bandcamp
Album: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal
92. Alejandrito Argeñal – Un Sonido Inconfundible
alejandrito argeñal is a producer from Nicaragua who, on his record Un Sonido Inconfundible, tries to encourage the discovery of Latin American musical histories and to further integrate Latin American influence and potential into the contemporary Hip-Hop movement. He does that perfectly, and his beats are quite often accompanied by amazing rap. Ca$ablanca, Grey Phox, Jay NiCE, Meph Luciano, Nowaah The Flood, Starker, and Tha God Fahim handled the rap.
Support the artist: Bandcamp
Album: Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal
91. Lungs/LoneSword, Phii & Cise Greeny – WHERE ARE THE BUGS!?
We are sure that if you are familiar with the names in the title of the album, you know that it is special. Unique rap is accompanied by great productions from LoneSword. The album is not for everybody, but if you do not mind dirty, experimental sounds, you will fall in love with it. LoneSword’s abstract productions with constantly changing rhythms might not be in the comfort zone of all the artists, but Lungs, Phiik, and Cise Green can cover any gap in the beat without any problems.
Support artists: Bandcamp
