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.

Image via Complex Original

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:
51. Joji, ‘Smithereens’

50. YoungBoy Never Broke Again, ‘3800 Degrees’

49. Rauw Alejandro, ‘Saturno’

48. EarthGang, 'Ghetto Gods'

47. Brent Faiyaz, 'Wasteland'

46. Rod Wave, 'Beautiful Mind'

45. Saba, 'Few Good Things'

44. Yeat, ‘Lyfë’

43. Flo Milli, ‘You Still Here, Ho?’

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

41. Earl Sweatshirt, 'Sick!'

40. Joey Badass, '2000'

39. Roddy Ricch, ‘Feed Tha Streets III’

38. Lil Baby, ‘It’s Only Me’

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

36. Buddy, 'Superghetto'

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

34. Smino, 'Luv 4 Rent'

33. Future, 'I Never Liked You'

32. Rosalía, 'Motomami'

31. Ravyn Lenae, 'HYPNOS'

30. Sault, ‘11’

29. GloRilla, ‘Anyways, Life’s Great’

28. Benny the Butcher, 'Tana Talk 4'

27. Wizkid, 'More Love, Less Ego'

26. Omar Apollo, 'Ivory'

25. FKA Twigs, 'Caprisongs'

24. Harry Styles, 'Harry's House'

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

22. Che Noir, 'Food For Thought'

21. Gunna, 'DS4EVER'

20. Sudan Archives, ‘Natural Brown Prom Queen’

19. Lupe Fiasco, 'Drill Music in Zion'

18. 070 Shake, ‘You Can’t Kill Me’

17. Westside Boogie, 'More Black Superheroes'

16. Blxst, 'Before You Go'

15. Nas, 'King's Disease 3'

14. Drake, ‘Honestly, Nevermind’

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

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

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

10. JID, 'The Forever Story'

9. Drake & 21 Savage, 'Her Loss'

8. Steve Lacy, ‘Gemini Rights’

7. The Weeknd, 'Dawn FM'

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

5. Beyoncé, ‘Renaissance’

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

3. Bad Bunny, 'Un Verano Sin Ti'

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