There is only one more day left in 2022 and I have to admit, this was a great year for Hip-Hop. From January until now, whether it be veteran rappers or new rappers, we heard quality music. This month alone, has brought forth more good music.
Hip-Hop in December
Babyface Ray started the month off by dropping his second album of the year, Mob. The album debuted at number 54 on the Billboard 200 chart. It has 18 songs that include guest verses from Doe Boy, Blxst, and Lil Durk to name a few. Late rapper, Chinx Drugz, dropped his posthumous album CR6 dropped in December as well. The release celebrated what would be the New York rapper’s 39th birthday. Chinx’s team, Riot Squad, worked on the album for four years and it includes Benny the Butcher, JFK WAXX (Chinx’s brother), Offset, and Quavo.
Up and coming Memphis rapper Finesse2Tymes also dropped his 90 Days mixtape this month. Moneybagg Yo, Gucci Mane, and Lil Baby are all on the project. This mixtape comes ahead of the 1017 rapper’s album debut. It was received well and landed at number 57 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Superproducer Metro Boomin stopped the world when he put out Heroes & Villains. Heroes & Villains debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Metro was so creative that he made a short film to go along with the album that featured Lakeith Stanfield, Morgan Freeman, and surprisingly Gunna and Young Thug who were incarcerated at the time. Along with Gunna and Young Thug, Future, 21 Savage, Takeoff, The Weekend, Travis Scott, and A$AP Rocky make guest appearances.
Of course, SZA dropped her long-awaited sophomore project, SOS to end the year as well. The album set a record for the largest streaming week for an R&B album with 318,000 units. It is most certainly one of the best albums of 2022 and the first number one album for the TDE artist.
Great Year for Hip-Hop
To round out the year, Stalley released Somebody Up There Loves Me, Icewear Vezzo and DJ Drama dropped Paint The City, and A Boogie wit da Hoodie put out Me vs. Myself. Ab-Soul released his anticipated album, Herbert, Jacquees put out Sincerely for You, and Paper Route Empire released a posthumous album for Young Dolph titled, Paper Route Frank.
2022 was a great year for hip-hop and December didn’t disappoint. Listen to all projects on streaming platforms now!
Brandon Simmons