The Best Albums of 2022

These are Complex's top 50 albums of the year, from Drake and 21 Savage's 'Her Loss,' to Sudan Archives' 'Natural Brown Prom Queen,' Bad Bunny, and more.

bestalbums2022endofyearleadimage
Image via Complex Original
bestalbums2022endofyearleadimage

Unraveling the coil of our headphones’ bindings year to year results in lists that reflect their time. It’s quite literally their one and only assignment, but, within the many are the few that can, will, and do stand the test of time. This year’s list is a balanced reflection of the vast pool of music we all sifted through, studied, and savored over the last 11 months. From one of pop’s greatest offerings (Harry’s House) to an inimitable Natural Brown Prom Queen’s solidification among this generation’s rising greats, and not one, but two Drake albums in the top 20, plus solid rap albums from young masterminds and revered vets like Vince Staples and Lupe Fiasco respectively, it was a truly great year for music.

Here are Complex’s selections for the 50 best albums of 2022:

50. Joji, ‘Smithereens’

Joji 'Smithereens' Album Cover

49. YoungBoy Never Broke Again, ‘3800 Degrees’

YoungBoy Never Broke Again '3800 Degrees' cover

48. Rauw Alejandro, ‘Saturno’

Rauw Alejandro 'Saturno' cover

47. EarthGang, 'Ghetto Gods'

EarthGang drops off new album titled 'Ghetto Gods.'

46. Brent Faiyaz, 'Wasteland'

The cover art to Brent Faiyaz's new album 'Wasteland'

45. Rod Wave, 'Beautiful Mind'

Rod Wave 'Beautiful Mind' cover

44. Saba, 'Few Good Things'

Cover art for Saba album Few Good Things

43. Yeat, ‘Lyfë’

Cover art for Yeat album 'Lyfe'

42. Flo Milli, ‘You Still Here, Ho?’

Flo Milli's 'You Still Here Ho' art

41. Conway the Machine, 'God Don't Make Mistakes'

Conway the Machine "John Woo Flick"

40. Earl Sweatshirt, 'Sick!'

The cover art for Earl Sweatshirt's album 'SICK!'

39. Joey Badass, '2000'

Joey Badass Release '2000' Album

38. Roddy Ricch, ‘Feed Tha Streets III’

Roddy Ricch 'Feed Tha Streets 3'

37. Lil Baby, ‘It’s Only Me’

Lil Baby 'It's Only Me' cover

36. Doechii, 'She/Her/Black Bitch'

Doechii's new EP 'She/Her/Black Bitch'

35. Buddy, 'Superghetto'

The coverart for Buddy's album 'Superghetto'

34. Quavo & Takeoff, 'Only Built for Infinity Links'

Quavo & Takeoff 'Only Built for Infinity Links' cover

33. Smino, 'Luv 4 Rent'

Smino 'Luv 4 Rent' album cover

32. Future, 'I Never Liked You'

Future 'I Never Liked You' album cover

31. Rosalía, 'Motomami'

Album cover for Rosalía album 'Motomami'

30. Ravyn Lenae, 'HYPNOS'

Ravyn Lenae, 'HYPNOS' album artwork press

29. Sault, ‘11’

Sault '11' 2022 album cover

28. GloRilla, ‘Anyways, Life’s Great’

Glorilla cover art for new EP

27. Benny the Butcher, 'Tana Talk 4'

Benny the Butcher releases 'Tana Talk 4' featuring J. Cole and others.

26. Wizkid, 'More Love, Less Ego'

Cover art for Wizkid new album More Love Less Ego

25. Omar Apollo, 'Ivory'

omar apollo album cover artwork

24. FKA Twigs, 'Caprisongs'

Cover art for FKA Twigs mixtape

23. Harry Styles, 'Harry's House'

Harry Styles, 'Harry's House' album artwork

22. Freddie Gibbs, ‘$oul $old $eparately’

The cover art for Freddie Gibbs' 'Soul Sold Separately' album

21. Che Noir, 'Food For Thought'

che noir food for thought cover art

20. Gunna, 'DS4EVER'

Gunna's artwork for his new studio album 'Drip Season 4'

19. Sudan Archives, ‘Natural Brown Prom Queen’

Sudan Archives 'Natural Brown Prom Queen' cover

18. Lupe Fiasco, 'Drill Music in Zion'

Cover art for Lupe Fiasco album 'Drill Music in Zion

17. 070 Shake, ‘You Can’t Kill Me’

YOU CAN'T KILL ME album artwork by Nicola Samori

16. Westside Boogie, 'More Black Superheroes'

Westside Boogie 'More Black Superheros' cover

15. Blxst, 'Before You Go'

The cover art for Blxst's 'Before You Go' project

14. Nas, 'King's Disease 3'

Nas 'King's Disease 3' Cover

13. Drake, ‘Honestly, Nevermind’

Drake 'Honestly, Nevermind' cover art

12. Jay Worthy & Larry June, '2 P'z in a Pod'

Jay Worthy and Larry June, '2 P'z In a Pod'

11. Roc Marciano & The Alchemist, ‘The Elephant Man’s Bones’

Roc Marciano & The Alchemist 'The Elephant Man's Bones' cover

10. Denzel Curry, 'Melt My Eyez See Your Future'

Cover for Denzel Curry's new LP

9. JID, 'The Forever Story'

JID 'The Forever Story

8. Drake & 21 Savage, 'Her Loss'

Drake and 21 Savage 'Her Loss' album cover

7. Steve Lacy, ‘Gemini Rights’

The cover art for Steve Lacy's new album 'Gemini Rights'

6. The Weeknd, 'Dawn FM'

The Weeknd 'Dawn FM' album cover

5. Vince Staples, 'Ramona Park Broke My Heart'

Vince Staples 'Ramona Park Broke My Heart' album cover

4. Beyoncé, ‘Renaissance’

Beyoncé 'Renaissance' album artwork

3. Pusha T, 'It's Almost Dry'

The cover art for the latest Pusha T album is pictured

2. Bad Bunny, 'Un Verano Sin Ti'

Stream Bad Bunny's New Album, 'Un Verano Sin Ti'

1. Kendrick Lamar, 'Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers'

Kendrick Lamar 'Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers' album cover

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