My Favourite Albums of 2022 (Part 2)

There was a lot of music that came out in 2022, in every genre, and most importantly, a lot of good music that came out in 2022. I heard a lot of music this year and discovered a lot of new artists that blew me away with the brilliant output they produced throughout the year. In hopes of being more active in the coming year on this page and closing the year on a good note, here is the second part of a three part series of my favourite records that came out this year. three-part

Harry’s House

by Harry Styles

This record is meant for the stadiums that Harry Styles is selling out, it’s meant to be played live with a band and thousands of fans screaming every word. Harry’s House is grand and flashy, with lush instrumentation and Harry Styles’ most effective vocal performances in the illustrious cuts like ‘Music for a Sushi Restaurant’ and ‘Daylight’. But this record is not just about that, it also hosts some of his most personal songwriting. It’s a brilliant follow-up to ‘Fine Line’ and establishes Harry as one of the most promising artists in the pop lane. 

Gemini Rights

by Steve Lacy

Everyone has heard ‘Bad Habits’ through Instagram reels or through Tik Tok, but this album is much more than that. Steve Lacy channels his DIY approach to songwriting and production in the best possible manner and the way the songs have come out is nothing short of amazing. The album is full of yearning guitars, delicate piano, and melodies so accomplished they feel as if they’ve always been with you; add to that Lacy’s breezy vocals to make the whole soundtrack sound complete. A sumptuous listen that glows like a freaky summer love.

Hellfire

by Blackmidi

This record is not about the vocalist, it’s not about the guitarist, it’s just about the drummer, Morgan Simpsons, who ties everything up with his exceptional skills behind the drum set to create an album that sounds like an event on its own. ‘Hellfire’ delivers more musical thrills and about-turns per minute than any other record we’ve heard this year. Sounding more assured of their creative agility than ever before, ‘Hellfire’ is the work of a very special group of alchemists.

Luv 4 Rent

by Smino

‘Luv 4 Rent’ isn’t just a welcome return from one of contemporary hip-hop’s most genre-defining artists, but it stands tall as the finest entry in Smino’s discography to date. Charged with an array of guests that feel less restrained and more so a part of the entire narrative, ‘Luv 4 Rent’ seems like Smino’s masterpiece, a record that will be close to him and his entire fan base for a long time. 

Nayaab

by Seedhe Maut

Seedhe Maut has already established themselves as the most dynamic duo in the DHH scene with its stellar albums throughout the years. Together with their longtime collaborator, Sez on The Beat, they create an album that’s entertaining while also being a social commentary on the county and a diary of their personal account. ‘Nayaab’ will go down as a classic in the Indian hip-hop library and is a worthy follow-up to the already legendary “Bayaan’. 

LOUIE

by Kenny Beats

You can only hear Kenny Beats once on this album, and he still managed to create an album that is beautiful without the help of big-name rappers and past collaborators to narrate his story. LOUIE acts as the soundtrack to Kenny Beats’ mind, his feelings, and his inner self. I never thought I would have an album with just beats on my year-end list but Kenny turns out with his exceptional skills and vulnerability just waiting to be channeled into a series of ecstatic grooves that have been in my rotation since the day they came out. 

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You

by Big Thief

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You is an album that is as gleefully overstuffed as its title. The album is full of moments of studio chatter that feel deliberate despite their offhandedness. In 20 songs, Big Thief has rambled far beyond our understanding of us as appreciators of music and has exceeded the limits of what we call good music. This is an album that has probed loss and acceptance from every available angle, and given us music that we will appreciate for a long time. 

Caprisongs

by FKA Twigs

For the first time in her career, FKA Twigs seems to be having fun making the music that she wants to make, sans her trauma and everything else that’s been bothering her for a while. After the intense 2019 album, ‘Magdalene’, FKA Twigs has let her inner musician have fun on the mic with an assortment of beats that can be best described as joyful and enjoyable. ‘Caprisongs’ is a playful and adventurous flex, with guest features from the likes of The Weeknd, Jorja Smith, and Shygirl and executive production from El Guincho; Twigs is on a journey to find herself, and it’s as enjoyable as it could be. 

Kings Disease 3

by Nas

With King’s Disease 1, Nas and Hit-Boy came out with a statement that the veteran is still as good as he used to be. With the second installment, they proved why they are both unbeatable together. With this third installment, they cement themselves as one of the best rapper/producer duos in the game. Hit-Boy knows how to make the perfect beats, and Nas knows how to perfectly spaz on them. The flows are impeccable, the beats are immaculate, and the duo together is no less than any legendary rapper/producer duo you might think of. 

Her Loss

by Drake and 21 Savage

People have kept doubting Drake’s abilities behind the microphone and his prowess as a rapper. I think it’s the influence of 21 Savage that woke him up from his long hiatus, and he delivers his best project in a long time. Every song on the album is enjoyable because of how well the duo sounds together, or even in the solo cuts they have on the album. We all knew we wanted more Drake and Savage together, but this is a collaboration album that we knew we wanted but never knew we would ever get.

Thank you for checking my year-end list. Do let me know what you think about my list and what would you pick as your top albums of 2022. Stay tuned for the final installment.