OPINION: The Ultimate 2022 Rap Up

By Gabe Korngold ‘23 and Margot Camp ‘23

As the year 2023 begins, we reflect back upon the successes and defeats of the year 2022 through the lens of rap album releases.

Each of the eight albums will be analyzed on five criteria: lyrical content, production, popularity, enjoyability, and creativity. Lyrical content represents the words used in the songs and the meanings behind these words. Production is the process of creating the album and making it into the final music that is released. Popularity embodies the general appeal of the album, and how well it was received upon release. Enjoyability is how pleasant the album is to listen to. Finally, creativity is rated on how well the artist created a unique and original album. Involved will be the personal opinions of Gabe Korngold, as well as gathered opinions from the Catlin Gabel School (CGS) student body. In total, the survey had 95 responses.

*CGS Upper School favorite albums of 2022.*

*CGS Upper School least favorite albums of 2022.*

Melt My Eyez See Your Future - Denzel Curry

Released: March 2022.

Lyrical Content: 9

Production: 9

Popularity: 6

Enjoyability: 10

Creativity: 10

Denzel Curry has undergone a complete transformation as an artist, and “Melt My Eyez, See Your Future” exemplifies that. Rather than the youthful, cold-blooded energy found on most of Denzel’s earlier albums (“Imperial”, “ZUU”, “Unlocked”), Melt My Eyez opts for a more introspective and melodic tone. From the very first track on the album, “Melt Session #1,” the Florida rapper turns inward, reflecting on his growth as a person and the people he has wronged during his life and his career. It’s a gorgeous lyrical track, and it sets the scene for the rest of the album.

On tracks like “Mental” and “Angelz”, the mood is similar to the opener; Denzel reflects on himself and his inner struggles. Other songs like “Walkin”, “Troubles”, and “Ain’t No Way” focus on perseverance and resilience in the face of hardship, bringing a mix of moods to the length of the album. The result is a thoughtful album that is infinitely replayable from start to finish.

Best songs: “Walkin”, “Angelz (feat. Karriem Riggins)”, “X-Wing”, “Worst Comes To Worst”, “Melt Session #1”

In a survey sent to the CGS upper school students, 20 students voted “Melt My Eyez, See Your Future” as their favorite album released in 2022. Seven students voted it as their least favorite.

It’s Almost Dry - Pusha T (grammy)

Released: April 2022.

Lyrical Content: 10

Production: 8

Popularity: 6

Enjoyability: 8

Creativity: 7

Pusha T is the definition of a consistent artist. For nearly two decades, he has been writing clever lyrics, always delivering them with the stone-cold vocal style that has made him an icon. Yet somehow, he still manages to find an innovative and refreshing sound on every album he produces, and “It’s Almost Dry” is no different.

From start to finish, the production on this record makes it a standout in Push’s discography. Pharell Williams brings unparalleled synth beats to songs like “Brambleton” and “Neck and Wrist” that set a cool, confident tone to match Push’s lyrics and delivery. Kanye West backs other tracks such as the laid-back “Dreamin of the Past” and the silky smooth “Diet Coke”. The whole time, Pusha T makes his lyrical craft sound effortless.

There are reasons to be critical of “It’s Almost Dry”. Tracks like “Let The Smokers Shine The Coupes” and “Hear Me Clearly” don’t sound as polished as the rest of the songs here. The record is also tainted by the presence of Kanye West, especially his guest verse on “Dreamin of the Past”. Overall though, this record is a thoroughly entertaining listen, and it brings the same production and lyrical intensity we’ve come to expect from Pusha T.

Best songs: “Diet Coke”, “Neck and Wrist (feat. JAY-Z and Pharell Williams)”, “Brambleton”, “Open Air”

In a survey sent to the CGS upper school students, 17 students voted “It’s Almost Dry” as their favorite album released in 2022. Seven students voted it as their least favorite.

Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers - Kendrick Lamar (grammy)

Released: May 2022.

Lyrical Content: 9

Production: 10

Popularity: 10

Enjoyability: 9

Creativity: 10

When Kendrick Lamar took to Instagram this past May with a teaser for an upcoming album, the music industry was understandably shaken to its core. After all, Kendrick Lamar is arguably the greatest musical artist of the 21st century, and he hadn’t released any music in five long years. Nobody quite knew what to expect from “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers.” Was it going to be the next great album, or had K-Dot finally fallen off after being dormant for so long?

To put it simply, “Mr. Morale” lived up to the hype, but not in any way we could’ve imagined. It doesn’t tell a story like “Good Kid, MAAD City”, or provide social commentary like “To Pimp a Butterfly”. Instead, the entire record is self-centered, focusing on Kenricks’s mental health, his family life, and his trials and tribulations as a superstar. At times, it feels almost like a commentary on the very expectations we placed on him for this album.

Even looking past the theme, “Mr. Morale” manages to deliver in practically every way possible. It brings impressive songs, from electrifying tracks like “N95” and “Savior” to melodic ballads such as “Die Hard” and “Mirror” to sobering lyrical spectacles found on “The Heart Pt. 5”, “Crown”, and “Mother I Sober.” For a modern rap album, the production is unparalleled. Kendrick experiments with so many different sounds and styles, yet all the while the record doesn’t ever seem to lose its cohesion.

It should be noted though that “Mr. Morale” is probably the most controversial record Kendrick has ever created. He takes risks with this album, and sometimes this results in something spectacular, like with the eight-minute long argument on “We Cry Together”. Other times though, his decisions are more questionable, like his inclusion of the f-slur on “Auntie Diaries.” There are also several appearances from Kodak Black, a trap artist with a troubled history that includes weapons charges and rape allegations.

Best songs: “The Heart Pt. 5”, “Die Hard”, “Savior”, “Crown”, “United in Grief”, “N95”

In a survey sent to the CGS upper school students, 45 students voted “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” as their favorite album released in 2022. Eight students voted it as their least favorite.

Honestly, Nevermind - Drake

Released: June 2022.

Lyrical Content: 2

Production: 4

Popularity: 9

Enjoyability: 2

Creativity: 4

Drake’s recent output has been lackluster, to say the least. His recent albums (“Certified Lover Boy”, “Scorpion”, “Views”) have consisted mostly of filler, with a few standout songs in each tracklist, and unfortunately, Drake didn’t break this pattern with his first project of 2022.

“Honestly, Nevermind” might just be Drake’s worst album to date. Rather than the luxurious beats that usually back his albums, Drake opted for a sound more reminiscent of a lo-fi dance record. This could have made for an interesting creative choice, except for the fact that there was clearly very little effort put into making the songs sound good.

By switching up the vibe of his music, Drake seems to be avoiding expectations altogether with this project, and he doesn’t appear to try at all because of that. The vocals on nearly every track are lazy, and the verses are poorly written. The final track, “Jimmy Cooks”, which is admittedly a great listen, attempts to restore some life to the project, but by then it is too late.

Best song: “Jimmy Cooks (feat. 21 Savage)”

In a survey sent to the CGS upper school students, 18 students voted “Honestly, Nevermind” as their favorite album released in 2022. 33 students voted it as their least favorite.

The Forever Story - JID

Released August 2022

Lyrical Content: 10

Production: 9

Popularity: 7

Enjoyability: 10

Creativity: 10

Before “The Forever Story”, JID had never released a mainstream album. His two prior projects, “The Never Story” and “The DiCaprio 2” were released in 2017 and 2018, and JID only really entered the spotlight since then. Nevertheless, on collaborations and guest features, he proved time and time again to be one of the most capable lyricists of his generation. Expectations were high for his first release in four years, and to say he blew past them would be an understatement.

Every verse on the album is a lyrical masterpiece, and yet JID makes it sound effortless throughout. On songs like “Raydar” and “Surround Sound”, he raps with an unparalelled intensity, bombarding his listeners with clever quips and smooth flow changes. On other songs like “2007”, “Sistanem”, and “Can’t Make U Change”, there’s a more laid-back demeanor to his rhymes and an emphasis on storytelling. JID even tries his hand at singing on a few tracks, and the result is astounding.

But this album is not just a technical masterpiece. On “The Forever Story”, JID manages to capture some of the most important moments of his life, from his hopes of playing collegiate football, to the fights he and his siblings got into with strangers, to his burgeoning career as a rapper. Every song feels relevant, and altogether, the album is a dazzling spectacle of lyrical genius and cohesive storytelling.

Best Songs: “Kody Blu 31”, “2007”, “Dance Now”, “Sistanem”, “Raydar”, “Stars (feat. Yasiin Bey)”

In a survey sent to the CGS upper school students, 22 students voted “The Forever Story” as their favorite album released in 2022. Seven students voted it as their least favorite.

God Did - DJ Khaled

Released: August 2022.

Lyrical Content: 4

Production: 2

Popularity: 7

Enjoyability: 3

Creativity: 1

DJ Khaled has never been known for his musical talent. He is known because he obnoxiously screams his name on every song he produces and profits off the fame and talent of others. He is more of a brand than a musician, and his albums exist solely to make profit.

“God Did” is no different. There is nothing tying the tracks together except the annoying producer tags of DJ Khaled. Every song is backed by the loud, bland, and uncreative trap beats that the super-producer puts on all of his albums. Even when there are good musical performances, they are usually overshadowed by the downright laughable presence of Khaled. From an artistic standpoint, this album is a complete joke, and it is baffling how it was nominated for five Grammys.

With that being said, there is one song on this record that keeps it from being totally worthless. On the album’s title track, “God Did”, JAY-Z delivers not only one of the most astonishing guest features this year, but one of the best lyrical performances of his career. The four-minute-long verse covers everything from JAY-Z’s past as a drug dealer to his success as a rapper and entrepreneur, and it seems absolutely absurd that such an impressive feature would come on such a creatively-devoid project.

Best song: “GOD DID (feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, JAY-Z, John Legend, & Fridayy)”

In a survey sent to the CGS upper school students, 28 students voted “God Did” as their favorite album released in 2022. 34 students voted it as their least favorite.

Her Loss - Drake & 21 Savage

Released: November 2022.

Lyrical Content: 6

Production: 5

Popularity: 10

Enjoyability: 7

Creativity: 6

After “Honestly, Nevermind”, Drake had a lot of ground to make up, and who better to collaborate with than 21 Savage? The pair had already demonstrated remarkable chemistry on songs like “Jimmy Cooks” and “Knife Talk”, so it made a lot of sense for them to attempt a record together. The result speaks for itself.

While “Her Loss” is by no means a great album, it is certainly a step in the right direction for Drake, and the songs bring the consistency, energy, and focus that his recent albums have been lacking. The opening track, “Rich Flex”, gets the album off to a good start with a TikTok-worthy hook, anthemic beat, and a flow change where Drake drops a fantastic verse Comparatively, “Spin Bout U” is a more mellow track, and both Drake and 21 bring clever and playful bars. None of the songs really stand out compared with the rest of Drake’s discography, but none feel like they weren’t meant to be there.

21 Savage is also a welcome presence on the record, but his appearances are limited. Overall, “Her Loss” definitely feels like a Drake project, and that might be for the best. Drake definitely had something to prove after his recent shortcomings, especially “Honestly, Nevermind”, and this album demonstrates that he can still make music to keep up with his status as a generational talent.

In a survey sent to the CGS upper school students, 23 students voted “Her Loss” as their favorite album released in 2022. 17 students voted it as their least favorite.

Best songs: “Rich Flex”, “On BS”, “Spin Bout U”

Heroes and Villains - Metro Boomin

Released: December 2022.

Lyrical Content: 5

Production: 9

Popularity: 8

Enjoyability: 8

Creativity: 7

Producer albums are difficult to get right. It takes careful consideration to get the right mix of artists on the record, and even with the right people, it’s hard to keep a consistent theme across the project. Metro Boomin manages to do both on “Heroes and Villains”, and the result is one of the best trap albums of 2022.

As always, Metro supplies ominous, hard-hitting beats, and he chose a solid lineup of artists to compliment them. Modern rap icons like Travis Scott, Future, and 21 Savage are featured repeatedly, and they deliver time and time again. However, the surprise appearances on this record just might be the best; Don Toliver comes through with droning, dreamy bars on “Too Many Nights” and “Around Me”, and the Weeknd drops a gorgeous vocal performance on “Creepin’” that still manages to fall in line with the mood of the record.

Thematically, “Heroes and Villains” is also impressive, with the opening two tracks in particular setting a tone for the rest of the album. The contrast between the graceful vocals of John Legend on “On Time” and the subsequent commanding bars of Future on “Superhero” feel a descent into madness, and the rest of the songs on the album are anywhere from hopeless to malicious. Altogether, it reads and sounds like the diary of a supervillain, and it’s remarkable that such a cohesive project is coming from a producer.

Best songs: “Too Many Nights (feat. Don Toliver)”, “Superhero (Heroes & Villains)”, “Creepin’”, “Niagara Falls (Foot or 2)”

In a survey sent to the CGS upper school students, 14 students voted Heroes and Villains as their favorite album released in 2022. 0 students voted it as their least favorite.

2022 was a year to remember, especially in the music industry. We look forward to hearing plenty of more great albums in 2023.