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The Best Rap Albums of 2022

10 albums · Updated

2022 was a strong year for rappers working with one producer or one clear idea: billy woods with Preservation, Black Thought with Danger Mouse, Pusha T with Kanye West and Pharrell. JID and Saba made family albums; Conway the Machine made his most personal one.

Ten albums from 2022 have full reviews on the site, ranked here by scorecard.

How this list works: Albums released in 2022 and reviewed on the site, ranked by current score. Scores come from each review's six-part scorecard; see the methodology.

  1. 1
    Aethiopes by billy woods album cover

    billy woods – Aethiopes (2022)

    Score: 9.3 · Read the review · billy woods albums ranked

    Produced entirely by Preservation, billy woods' album moves between Africa, America and memory in dense, cinematic fragments.

  2. 2
    It’s Almost Dry by Pusha T album cover

    Pusha T – It’s Almost Dry (2022)

    Score: 9.2 · Read the review · Pusha T albums ranked

    Split between Pharrell and Kanye West productions, it was Pusha T's first solo album to reach No. 1.

  3. 3
    God Don’t Make Mistakes by Conway the Machine album cover

    Conway the Machine – God Don’t Make Mistakes (2022)

    Score: 8.7 · Read the review · Conway the Machine albums ranked

    Conway's debut on Shady Records, more personal than his Griselda work, with grief and recovery at the center.

  4. 4
    The Forever Story by JID album cover

    JID – The Forever Story (2022)

    Score: 8.7 · Read the review · JID albums ranked

    JID's family-centered album about his Atlanta upbringing, his flow at its most inventive.

  5. 5
    Few Good Things by Saba album cover

    Saba – Few Good Things (2022)

    Score: 8.3 · Read the review · Saba albums ranked

    The Chicago rapper's warm, family-focused follow-up to Care for Me, about generational wealth and what it means.

  6. 6
    Luv 4 Rent by Smino album cover

    Smino – Luv 4 Rent (2022)

    Score: 8.3 · Read the review · Smino albums ranked

    The St. Louis rapper's elastic, R&B-leaning flows over Monte Booker's bouncing, jazz-soul beats.

  7. 7
    HEROES & VILLAINS by Metro Boomin album cover

    Metro Boomin – HEROES & VILLAINS (2022)

    Score: 7.8 · Read the review

    Metro's producer album, built like a film score, features 21 Savage, The Weeknd and Travis Scott.

  8. 8
    B.I.B.L.E. by Fivio Foreign album cover

    Fivio Foreign – B.I.B.L.E. (2022)

    Score: 7.3 · Read the review · Fivio Foreign albums ranked

    The Brooklyn drill rapper's debut studio album, executive-produced by Kanye West.

  9. 9
    Honestly, Nevermind by Drake album cover

    Drake – Honestly, Nevermind (2022)

    Score: 6.5 · Read the review · Drake albums ranked

    A surprise detour into house, Jersey club and amapiano, closer to dance music than rap.

  10. 10
    Cheat Codes by Danger Mouse album cover

    Danger Mouse – Cheat Codes (2022)

    Score: 6.5 · Read the review

    Danger Mouse and Black Thought's long-planned collaboration, with guests including MF DOOM and Raekwon.

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