2022 isn’t over yet, but there are over a dozen hip hop and rap artists who have shown us how sterling their offerings are and why we should put them in the league of rap aristocracy.
Of course, more musicians would have snapped spots on the list in the intervening months before December intrudes. Some would have lost their positions, and others would have retained them.
Anyway, in this article, we will focus on those we consider the top 10 hip hop/ rap artists so far. In the future, another list might pop up – or we might just edit what we’ve created. Still, we have a list.
We doubt there will ever be a unanimity of opinion on what constitutes “top.” What one critic thinks top, another might consider bottom. Well, we’re still confident you all will love the list we have put together. The list is given in no particular order. Come on.
1. Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar making this list is no accident. For one who appeared to have taken a break from music and didn’t release any project for a long time, Kendrick Lamar showed he’s still a fine entertainer and at home with his gift when he premiered “Mr Morales & The Big Steppers.”
It was a work of boundless energy and art that showed that the years have not made the Compton rapper rusty. On the contrary, he’s as potent as can be.
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Not Like Us
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meet the grahams
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euphoria
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Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE.
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Money Trees
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Kendrick Lamar, SZA - All The Stars
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Kendrick Lamar - Swimming Pools (Drank)
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Kendrick Lamar - LOVE. ft. Zacari
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PRIDE.
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Kendrick Lamar - Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe (Explicit)
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Kendrick Lamar - DNA.
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Kendrick Lamar - Alright (Official Music Video)
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Kendrick Lamar - N95
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m.A.A.d city
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The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar - Pray For Me (Audio)
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Kendrick Lamar - Count Me Out (Official Audio)
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Kendrick Lamar - Rich Spirit
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Kendrick Lamar - LOYALTY. ft. Rihanna
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Kendrick Lamar - Poetic Justice (Explicit) ft. Drake
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Kendrick Lamar - King Kunta
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A.D.H.D
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Kendrick Lamar - ELEMENT.
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Kendrick Lamar - United In Grief (Official Audio)
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Kendrick Lamar - The Recipe (Lyric Video) ft. Dr. Dre
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Kendrick Lamar - Die Hard ft. Blxst & Amanda Reifer (Official Audio)
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Kendrick Lamar - Backseat Freestyle (Explicit)
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DUCKWORTH.
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Kendrick Lamar - i (Official Video)
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Kendrick Lamar - Count Me Out
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Wesley's Theory
2. Future
Is Future the future? We can’t say yes, and we can’t say no, either. The point is, he’s part of a collective we think constitutes the future of American rap. The songster amplified out=r faith in his creative energy with his latest album, “I Never Liked You.” Don’t worry; you sure as hell would love the project. Lol.
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Future - KEEP IT BURNIN (Official Music Video) ft. Kanye West
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Future - Worst Day (Official Music Video – Extended Version)
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Doe Boy, Southside & Future - Tweakin (Official Music Video)
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Future - Life Is Good (Official Music Video) ft. Drake
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Future - Last Name (Official Music Video) ft. Lil Durk
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Future, Young Thug - All da Smoke (Official Music Video)
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Future - Mask Off (Official Music Video)
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Future - Low Life (Official Music Video) ft. The Weeknd
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Future - Rich $ex (Official Music Video)
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Future - The Percocet & Stripper Joint (Official Music Video)
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Future - Blood On the Money (Official Music Video)
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Future - Where Ya At (Official Music Video) ft. Drake
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Future - Kno The Meaning
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Future - Blow a Bag
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Future - F*ck Up Some Commas (Official Music Video)
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Future - Monster (Explicit)
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Jeezy - No Tears (Explicit) ft. Future
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Future - I Won (Official Music Video) ft. Kanye West
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Future - Covered N Money (Official Music Video)
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Future - (Extended) Move That Dope ft. Pharrell, Pusha T, Casino
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Future - Move That Doh (Official Music Video - Clean) ft. Pharrell, Pusha T
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Future - Move That Dope ft. Pharrell Williams, Pusha T
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Future, Miley Cyrus - Real and True ft. Mr Hudson
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Future - Sh!t
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Future - Honest (Official Music Video)
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Fat Joe - Love Me Long Time (Explicit) ft. Future
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Tyga - Show You (Official Music Video) (Explicit) ft. Future
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Flo Rida feat. Future "Tell Me When You Ready" Official Video
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Rich Gang - Tapout (Explicit) [Official Video]
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Ciara - Body Party (Official Video)
3. Snoop Dogg
Can him an oldie in the trenches, and you wouldn’t be wrong. The years may have charged ahead but so had Snoop. The songster remains as relevant as ever, although he appears more focused on the blockchain and NFT at the moment. His “Bank on Death Row” album stands him in good stead as one of the hip hop aces of this year.
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Snoop Dogg - Drop It Like It's Hot (Official Music Video) ft. Pharrell Williams
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Snoop Dogg - Gang Signs (feat. Mozzy) [Official Music Video]
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Snoop Dogg - Gin And Juice
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Snoop Dogg - Roaches In My Ashtray (feat. ProHoeZak) [Official Music Video]
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Snoop Dogg - Beautiful (Official Music Video) ft. Pharrell Williams
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Snoop Dogg - Say It Witcha Booty (feat. ProHoeZak) [Official Music Video]
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MOUNT WESTMORE – Big Subwoofer (Official Music Video)
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Snoop Dogg - Talk Dat Shit To Me (feat. Kokane) [Official Music Video]
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Snoop Dogg - Who Am I (What's My Name)?
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Snoop Dogg - Look Around (feat. J Black) [Official Music Video]
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Snoop Dogg - Sensual Seduction (Official Music Video)
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Snoop Dogg - CEO (Official Music Video)
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Snoop Dogg - Boss' Life (Official Music Video) ft. Nate Dogg
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Snoop Dogg - Sweat
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Snoop Dogg - Vato (Official Music Video) ft. B-Real
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Snoop Lion "The Good Good"
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Snoop Dogg, Pharrell Williams - Let's Get Blown
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Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa "French Inhale" [Official Music Video]
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Snoop Dogg x Dave East- Cripn 4 Life (Official Video)
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Snoop Dogg- Motivation ft. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (Official Music Video)
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Snoop Dogg- Last Name ft. October London (Official Music Video)
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Snoop Dogg - On the Double (Official Music Video)
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Snoop Dogg- Dis Finna Be A Breeze! (Official Music Video)
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Snoop Dogg "Toss It" ft. Too $hort & Nef Da Pharaoh
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Snoop Dogg- Neva Left (Animated Music Video)
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Snoop Dogg- Nightfall Remix (BADBADNOTGOOD X KAYTRANADA- Lavender)
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Snoop Dogg- Mount Kushmore feat. Redman, B-Real, & Method Man (Animated Video)
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Snoop Dogg- Revolution feat. October London (Official Music Video)
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Snoop Dogg- Trash Bags feat. K CAMP (Official Music Video)
4. Vince Staples
Vince Staples easily staples your emotions with his “Ramona Park Broke My Heart.” The title of that project bears so much emotional energy. Interesting, so do the songs on the project. One man’s search for meaning – one man’s wanderings through the material plane and its many exurbs – is bare in this project, and just about anyone should be able to relate to it. And, oh, the chances of the project breaking your heart are pretty slim.
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Vince Staples - LAW OF AVERAGES
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Vince Staples - FUN! (Official Video)
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Vince Staples - Big Fish (Official Video)
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Vince Staples - Lift Me Up (Official Video)
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Vince Staples - Norf Norf (Explicit) (Official Video)
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Vince Staples - Norf Norf (Audio) (Explicit)
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Vince Staples - Get Paid (Audio) (Explicit) ft. Desi Mo
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Vince Staples - Señorita (Explicit)
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Vince Staples - Screen Door (Explicit) (Official Video)
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Vince Staples - Fire (Explicit) [Official Video]
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Vince Staples - Blue Suede
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Vince Staples - Nate (Official Music Video)
5. Lil Baby
The adopted stage name is markedly deceptive as there is nothing baby about Lil Baby (Dominique Armani Jones). The Atlanta rapper is easily one of the finest in the game, with a delivery that may be compared to a Shaldag blazing.
He might not have released many songs this year, but his oeuvre still stands him out as a musician of great power this year. Need we add he’s cooking up something with the Certified Lover Boy of Canadian rap? You wait for it!
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Lil Baby - Go Hard
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Lil Baby - The Bigger Picture (Rap Life Live Performance)
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Noodah05 – Wild Child ft. Lil Baby (Official Video)
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Lil Baby, Rylo Rodriguez - Forget That
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Lil Baby - The Bigger Picture (Official Music Video)
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Lil Baby x 42 Dugg - We Paid (Official Video)
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Lil Baby - Emotionally Scarred
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Lil Baby - All In
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Lil Baby & 42 Dugg - Grace (Official Video)
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Lil Baby Feat. Lil Wayne - Forever (Official Video) ft. Lil Wayne
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Lil Baby - Emotionally Scarred (Live Session) | Vevo Ctrl
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Lil Baby Feat. Gunna - Heatin Up (Official Video)
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Lil Baby - Sum 2 Prove (Official Video)
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Lil Baby - Catch The Sun (From "Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack")
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Lil Baby - Woah (Dance Video)
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Lil Baby - Woah (Official Audio)
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Quality Control, Lil Baby - "Back On" (Official Music Video)
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Lil Baby - Out The Mud ft. Future (Official Music Video)
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Quality Control, Lil Baby, & DaBaby - "Baby" (Official Music Video)
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Lil Baby - Pure Cocaine (Official Music Video)
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Lil Baby, Gunna - Close Friends
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Lil Baby - Global (Official Music Video)
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Lil Baby x Gunna - "Drip Too Hard" (Official Music Video)
6. YoungBoy Never Broke Again
YoungBoy Never Broke Again, also called NBA YoungBoy, easily takes a spot among those who have charmed us so far as the year wobbles ahead to its conclusion. The adopted stage name couldn’t have been an accident as the songster suffered deprivation in his early years. He also experienced the brutality of the hood.
He’s no longer in the streets of lack right now, so he affirmed that and insists privation will never be for him again, with his adopted stage name. The “Expensive Taste” emcee would rather you don’t rate him. Lol.
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Lil Top [Official Music Video]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Bad Bad [Official Music Video]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Fine By Time [Official Music Video]
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NBA MEECHYBABY & NBA YOUNGBOY - TALK MY SHIT
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Lost Motives [Official Music Video]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Make No Sense [Official Music Video]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Dirty lyanna [Official Music Video]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - In Control [Official Music Video]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Self Control [Official Music Video]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Slime Mentality [Official Music Video]
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NBA Youngboy - Slime Belief (Official Video)
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NBA Youngboy - Kick Yo Door (Official Video)
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NBA YOUNGBOY FT PNB ROCK - SCENES
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - FREEDDAWG [Official Music Video]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - I Came Thru [Official Music Video]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Valuable Pain [Official Music Video]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - I Am Who They Say I Am (feat. Kevin Gates And Quando Rondo) [Video]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Hypnotized (Official Video)
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Dope Lamp (Official Video)
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Blasian (Official Video)
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Demon Seed (Official Video)
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - No Mentions [Official Music Video]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Dropout (Official Video)
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Drawing Symbols [Official Music Video]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - 4Respect (Trailer)
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Astronaut Kid (Official Video)
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again – Overdose [Official Music Video]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - We Poppin (feat. Birdman) [Official Music Video]
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YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Diamond Teeth Samurai (Official Video)
7. Pusha T
Pusha TY sure knows how to push fans out of the orbit of boredom with his music. And the New York rapper does that beautifully with his “It’s Almost Dry” almost, one of many winning projects from his kitty. With its hard-hitting numbers, this compilation solidifies the songster’s reputation as a musician worth the mike.
If you want to know, then why not? You can add that project – and almost everything else from the songster – to your playlist without regrets.
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Pusha T - Just So You Remember (Live On Late Night With Seth Meyers / 2022)
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Pusha T, Clipse - Diet Coke / Just So You Remember / Grindin’ (BET Hip Hop Awards Performance)
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Pusha T - Dreamin Of The Past (Live Session) | Vevo Ctrl
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Pusha T - Brambleton (Live Session) | Vevo Ctrl
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Pusha T "It's Almost Dry" Tour Recap - (Episode 4)
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Pusha T "It's Almost Dry" Tour Recap - (Episode 3)
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Pusha T "It's Almost Dry" Tour Recap - (Episode 2)
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Pusha T "It's Almost Dry" Tour Recap - (Episode 1)
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Pusha T - "It's Almost Dry" x Something In The Water (Pop-Up Event)
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Pusha T - Let The Smokers Shine The Coupes (Live From Jimmy Kimmel Live! / 2022)
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Pusha T - Call My Bluff (Official Video)
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Pusha T - Call My Bluff (Official Teaser)
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It's Almost Dry: NYC Listening Event
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Pusha T - Brambleton (Alternate Visualizer)
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Pusha T - Just So You Remember (Alternate Visualizer)
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Pusha T - Rock N Roll ft. Ye & Kid Cudi (Alternate Visualizer)
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Pusha T - Dreamin Of The Past ft. Ye (Alternate Visualizer)
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Pusha T - Call My Bluff (Alternate Visualizer)
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Pusha T - Let The Smokers Shine The Coupes (Alternate Visualizer)
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Pusha T - Open Air (Alternate Visualizer)
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Pusha T - I Pray For You ft. Labrinth & MALICE (Alternate Visualizer)
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Pusha T - Scrape It Off The Top ft. Lil Uzi Vert & Don Toliver (Alternate Visualizer)
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Pusha T - Just So You Remember (Lyric Video)
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Pusha T - Let The Smokers Shine The Coupes (Lyric Video)
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Pusha T - Rock N Roll ft. Ye & Kid Cudi (Lyric Video)
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Pusha T - Call My Bluff (Visualizer)
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Pusha T - Rock N Roll ft. Ye & Kid Cudi (Visualizer)
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Pusha T - Dreamin Of The Past ft. Ye (Visualizer)
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Pusha T - Scrape It Off The Top ft. Lil Uzi Vert & Don Toliver (Visualizer)
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Pusha T - Open Air (Visualizer)
8. Gunna
Gunna is your gunner and just not regular. He’s one of the hip hop aces who have made 2022 pretty bearable. He started the year on a grand note with the release of “DS4EVER” on January 7, 2022. The months may have elapsed, but we’re still drawn to that project, and we think Gunna still has his powers.
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Gunna - whatsapp (wassam) [Official Video]
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Gunna - Prada Dem (feat. Offset) [Official Video]
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Gunna - Bittersweet [Official Video]
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Gunna - rodeo dr [Official Video]
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Gunna - fukumean [Official Video]
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Gunna - alright [Official Video]
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Gunna - i was just thinking [Official Video]
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Gunna - back to the moon [Official Video]
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Gunna - bread & butter [Official Video]
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Bas - [Admire Her] ft. Gunna (Official Video)
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Lil Durk - What Happened to Virgil ft. Gunna (Official Music Video)
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T-Shyne - Still Ain't Finished (feat. Gunna) [Official Video]
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Gunna & Chlöe - you & me [Official Video]
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Gunna & Future - pushin P (feat. Young Thug) [Official Video]
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Gunna - livin wild [Official Video]
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Gunna - too easy Remix (feat. Future & Roddy Ricch) [Official Video]
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Gunna & Taurus - 9 TIMES OUTTA 10 [Official Video]
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Young Thug & Gunna - Ski [Official Video] | Young Stoner Life
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Gunna - SUN CAME OUT [Official Video]
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Gunna - BLINDFOLD (feat. Lil Baby) [Official Video]
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Gunna - 200 FOR LUNCH / DIRTY DIANA [Official Video]
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Internet Money - Lemonade ft. Don Toliver, Gunna & Nav (Official Music Video)
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Gunna - DOLLAZ ON MY HEAD (feat. Young Thug) [Official Video]
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Gunna - ROCKSTAR BIKERS & CHAINS [Official Video]
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Gunna - NASTY GIRL / ON CAMERA [Official Video]
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Gunna - WUNNA [Official Video]
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Gunna - SKYBOX [Official Video]
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Gunna - Baby Birkin (Starring Jordyn Woods) [Official Video]
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Gunna - Three Headed Snake ft. Young Thug [Official Video]
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Gunna - Richard Millie Plain [Official Video]
9. Nas & Hit-Boy
If you are surprised to see the two on our list, you shouldn’t, really. Both are fine musicians, and they made it to this list on the strength of their collaborative “Magic” album. Of course, the project is not magic as we know it, but it contains some musical gems that resonate with us.
This 9-track affair shows that Nas is still among the best rappers out there, although he might not be as prolific as he was years ago. It also showed he flows beautifully with his pa Hit-Boy.
To this day, thanks to the power of his offerings since he popped on the music scene, Nas is one rapper many younger musicians look up to.
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Nas & DJ Premier - Define My Name (Official Audio)
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Patience
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Nas - If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (Official HD Video) ft. Lauryn Hill
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Nas - N.Y. State of Mind (Official Audio)
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Nas - Nas Is Like (Official Video)
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Nas - The World Is Yours (Official HD Video)
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Nas - I Can (Official HD Video)
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The Message
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Nas - Hate Me Now (Official HD Video) ft. Puff Daddy
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Affirmative Action
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Ether
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Get Down
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Nas - It Ain't Hard to Tell (Official HD Video)
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Nas - Made You Look (Official HD Video)
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Nas - Sitting With My Thoughts (Official Video)
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Nas - Got Ur Self A... (Official HD Video)
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Nas - One Mic (Official HD Video)
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Nas - Represent (Official Audio)
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Nas - Affirmative Action (Saint-Denis Style Remix) (Official Video) ft. Suprême NTM
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Take It In Blood
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Tobe Nwigwe and Nas feat. Jacob Banks- "On My Soul" (Music from Transformers: Rise of the Beasts)
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Purple
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Nas - Life's a Bitch (Official Audio) ft. AZ, Olu Dara
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Nas - I Love This Feeling (Official Video)
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Nas - You Owe Me (Official Video) ft. Ginuwine
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Nas - You're da Man (Official Audio)
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Nas - Just a Moment (Video) ft. Quan
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Nas - Nobody feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill (Official Audio)
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Nas - Street Dreams (Official HD Video)
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Nas - "Wave Gods" feat. A$AP Rocky and DJ Premier (Official Video)
10. Young Thug
He’s young, and some peeps consider him a thug because of the sheer violence of his verses. But that’s as far as it goes. Thugger is easily one of the top rap voices so far this year. The “Punk” rapper is as engaging as can be and has never left room for doubt about his creative powers.
His brush with the law notwithstanding, he merits a place here, and we have no qualms saying the same.
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Strick & Young Thug - Moon Man (feat. Kid Cudi) [Official Video]
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Young Thug - Tick Tock [Official Video]
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Lil Duke - Pots N Pans (feat. Nav) [Official Video] | Young Stoner Life
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Young Thug, Gunna & YTB Trench - Paid the Fine (feat. Lil Baby) [Official Video] | Young Stoner Life
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Unfoonk & Young Thug - Real [Official Video] | Young Stoner Life
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Young Thug & Gunna - Ski [Official Video] | Young Stoner Life
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Young Thug, Meek Mill, & T-Shyne - That Go! [Official Audio] | Young Stoner Life
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Juice WRLD - Bad Boy ft. Young Thug (Official Music Video)
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Chris Brown, Young Thug - City Girls (Official Video)
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Chris Brown, Young Thug - Say You Love Me (Official Video)
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Chris Brown, Young Thug - Go Crazy (Official Video)
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Young Thug - Boy Back ft. Nav [Official Video]
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Young Thug - Hot ft. Gunna & Travis Scott [Official Music Video]
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Young Thug - Just How It Is [Official Video]
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Young Thug - Surf ft. Gunna [Official Video]
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Young Thug - The London ft. J. Cole & Travis Scott [Official Video]
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Young Thug - Chanel (ft Gunna & Lil Baby) [Official Video]
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Young Thug - Dirty Shoes (ft. Gunna) [Official Video]
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Young Thug - Gain Clout [Official Video]
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Young Thug - Anybody (ft. Nicki Minaj) [Official Sign Video]
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Future, Young Thug - Group Home
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Future, Young Thug - All da Smoke (Official Music Video)
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Young Thug - Family Don't Matter (feat. Millie Go Lightly) [Official Video]
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Young Thug - Relationship (feat. Future) [Official Music Video]
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Young Thug, 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa & PnB Rock – Gang Up (The Fate of the Furious: The Album) [VIDEO]
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Young Thug - Safe [Official]
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Young Thug - Guwop feat. Quavo, Offset, and Young Scooter [Official Video]
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Young Thug - Wyclef Jean [Official Video]
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Young Thug - Webbie feat Duke [Official Video]
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Young Thug, Travis Scott - Pick Up the Phone (Explicit) ft. Quavo
Many musicians have made 2022 pretty charming and documenting them all is not something we have the mental resources to document. Still, we have a list, and we think you would love what we have put together. You’re welcome to put out your own list, too. Why not?