ML3's Top 25 Albums of 2022

2022 was a great year for music, as a few legends came out of hiatus to release great projects. As always, new stars emerged this year as well. I've put together a list of my personal top 25 albums of the year, as well as a group of honorable mentions that I believe also deserved respect.

Honorable Mentions (In No Order)

IamSu - Sudi (EP)

Standout Track(s): Ain't Worried (feat. Skipper) & Spin The Block

Dreamville - D Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape

Standout Track(s): Heaven's EP & Coming Down

Smino - Luv 4 Rent

Standout Track(s): No L's & 90 Proof (feat. J. Cole)

Ab-Soul - HERBERT

Standout Track(s): Hollandaise & Do Better (feat. Zacari)

Big KRIT - Digital Roses Don't Die

Standout Track(s): So Cool & Just 4 You

Coco Jones - What I Didn't Tell You (EP)

Standout Track(s): Caliber & ICU

Doechii - she/her/black bitch (EP)

Standout Track(s): Persuasive & Bitch I'm Nice

Tink - Pillow Talk

Standout Track(s): Cum See Me (feat. Toosii) & Switch

Rodwave - Beautiful Mind

Standout Track(s): Alone & Sweet Little Lies

Fousheé - softCORE

Standout Track(s): spend the money (feat. Lil Uzi Vert) & let u back in

Calvin Harris - Funk Wav Bounces, Vol. 2

Standout Track(s): New To You (feat. Normani Tinashe & Offset) & Woman of The Year

Blxst - Before You Go

Standout Track(s): Still Omw & About You

Ravyn Lenae - HYPNOS

Standout Track(s): Skin Tight (feat. Steve Lacy) & Light Me Up

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25. Latto - 777

Standout Track: Sunshine (feat. Lil Wayne & Childish Gambino)

24. Joey Bada$$ - 2000

Standout Track: Show Me

23. Drake - Honestly, Nevermind

Standout Track: Flight's Booked

22. Mary J. Blige - Good Morning Gorgeous

Standout Track: Need Love (feat. Usher)

21. WILLOW - <COPINGMECHANISM>

Standout Track: hover like a GODDESS

20. Kehlani - blue water road

Standout Track: wish i never

19. P-Lo - STUNNA

Standout Track: Good (feat. Larry June)

18. Brent Faiyaz - WASTELAND

Standout Track: ALL MINE

17. DaBoii - Can't Tame Us

Standout Track: KickDoe

16. Ella Mai - Heart On My Sleeve

Standout Track: A Mess (feat. Lucky Daye)

15. Future - I NEVER LIKED YOU

Standout Track: WAIT FOR U (feat. Drake & Tems)

14. Metro Boomin - HEROES & VILLAINS

Standout Track: Creepin' (feat. The Weeknd & 21 Savage)

13. Steve Lacy - Gemini Rights

Standout Track: Sunshine (feat. Fousheé)

12. JID - The Forever Story

Standout Track: Money

11. Chris Brown - Breezy

Standout Track: WE (Warm Embrace)

10. Nas - Kings Disease III

Standout Track: Legit

9. SZA - SOS

Standout Track: Snooze

8. Ari Lennox - age/sex/location

Standout Track: Hoodie

7. Quavo & Takeoff - Only Built For Infinity Links

Standout Track: Bars Into Captions

6. Harry Styles - Harry's House

Standout Track: As It Was

5. The Weeknd - Dawn FM

Standout Track: Out of Time

4. Gunna - DRIP SEASON 4EVER

Standout Track: P Power (feat. Drake)

3. Drake & 21 Savage - Her Loss

Standout Track: Spin Bout U

2. Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

Standout Track(s): Rich Spirit

1. Beyoncé - Renaissance

Standout Track(s): VIRGO'S GROOVE

As I mentioned earlier, 2022 was filled with legends returning from hiatus, and the quality of their projects spoke for themselves. It was a blessing to receive so much high quality music from high quality artists last year, and I can only hope that this trend continues, with an emphasis on albums over singles. A hit record can make its mark for a year or so, but a great album full of potential individual classic records can become timeless and will always reign supreme.