NPR Music's 50 Best Albums of 2022

We ranked our 50 favorite records of the year, from hip-hop to classical and everything in between.

Published: December 12, 2022 10:00 Source

# 1

RENAISSANCE by Beyoncé

Album • Jul 29 / 2022 Dance-Pop House Contemporary R&B

# 2

Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny

Album • May 06 / 2022 Reggaetón Latin Pop

# 3

MOTOMAMI by ROSALÍA

Album • Mar 18 / 2022 Neoperreo Art Pop

# 4

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You by Big Thief

Album • Feb 11 / 2022 Indie Folk Folk Rock

# 5

Three Dimensions Deep by Amber Mark

Album • Jan 28 / 2022 Contemporary R&B Neo-Soul

# 6

Natural Brown Prom Queen by Sudan Archives

Album • Sep 09 / 2022 Alternative R&B Art Pop

# 7

In These Times by Makaya McCraven

Album • Sep 23 / 2022 Jazz Fusion

# 8

Gemini Rights by Steve Lacy

Album • Jul 15 / 2022 Neo-Soul Bedroom Pop

# 9

The Blue Hour by A Far Cry + Shara Nova

Album • Oct 14 / 2022 Art Song

# 10

It's Almost Dry by Pusha T

Album • Apr 22 / 2022 Gangsta Rap Southern Hip Hop

# 11

Teeth Marks by S.G. Goodman

Album • Jun 03 / 2022 Alt-Country Singer-Songwriter Americana

# 12

God Save the Animals by Alex G

Album • Sep 23 / 2022 Indie Rock Indie Folk

# 13

Marchita by Silvana Estrada

Album • Jan 21 / 2022 Chamber Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 14

Walking in the Dark by Christian Reif + Julia Bullock

Album • Dec 09 / 2022

# 15

De Todas las Flores by Natalia Lafourcade

Album • Oct 28 / 2022 Singer-Songwriter Chamber Folk Vocal Jazz

# 16

Few Good Things by Saba

Album • Feb 04 / 2022 Conscious Hip Hop

# 17

CAPRISONGS by FKA twigs

Album • Jan 14 / 2022 Alternative R&B

# 18

HYPNOS by Ravyn Lenae

Album • May 20 / 2022 Contemporary R&B Neo-Soul

# 19

New Standards, Vol. 1 by Terri Lyne Carrington

Album • Sep 16 / 2022 Spiritual Jazz

# 20

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar

Album • May 13 / 2022 Conscious Hip Hop West Coast Hip Hop

# 21

Air by Sault

Album • Apr 15 / 2022 Modern Classical Choral

# 22

Drone Mass by Jóhann Jóhannsson + Theatre of Voices + Paul Hillier + American Contemporary Music Ensemble

Album • Mar 18 / 2022 Modern Classical Mass

# 23

Big Time by Angel Olsen

Album • Jun 03 / 2022 Americana Singer-Songwriter Country

# 24

The 7th Hand by Immanuel Wilkins

Album • Jan 28 / 2022 Post-Bop

# 25

Nacarile by iLe

Album • Oct 21 / 2022 Latin Alternative Alt-Pop

# 26

Mr. Money With The Vibe by Asake

Album • Sep 07 / 2022

# 27

SNOFALL by Jeezy + DJ Drama

Album • Oct 21 / 2022 Southern Hip Hop Trap

# 28

Marigold by Alex Isley + Jack Dine

Album • Mar 30 / 2022 Neo-Soul

# 29

¡Ay! by Lucrecia Dalt

Album • Oct 14 / 2022 Art Pop

# 30

PAINLESS by Nilüfer Yanya

Album • Mar 04 / 2022 Indie Rock

# 31

Wet Leg by Wet Leg

Album • Apr 08 / 2022 Indie Rock

# 32

imagine naked! by OHYUNG

Album • Apr 22 / 2022 Ambient

# 33

Blue Rev by Alvvays

Album • Oct 07 / 2022 Indie Pop Shoegaze Noise Pop

# 34

Anyways, Life’s Great… by GloRilla

EP • Nov 11 / 2022 Southern Hip Hop Memphis Rap Trap

# 35

Spirit Exit by Caterina Barbieri

Album • Jul 08 / 2022 Progressive Electronic

# 36

Laughing so Hard, It Hurts by MAVI

Album • Oct 14 / 2022 Abstract Hip Hop

# 37

Nozhet El Nofous by Nancy Mounir

Album • Jun 03 / 2022 Plunderphonics Arabic Music Traditional Arabic Pop

# 38

Topical Dancer by Charlotte Adigéry + Bolis Pupul

Album • Mar 04 / 2022 Art Pop Tech House

# 39

MUNA by MUNA

Album • Jun 24 / 2022 Synthpop Pop Rock

# 40

LIFE ON EARTH by Hurray for the Riff Raff

Album • Feb 18 / 2022 Singer-Songwriter Indie Rock

# 41

Sons Of by Sam Prekop + John McEntire

Album • Jul 22 / 2022 Ambient Techno

# 42

Caroline by caroline

Album • Jan 01 / 2018 Post-Rock Avant-Folk

# 43

Black Radio III by Robert Glasper

Album • Feb 25 / 2022 Neo-Soul

# 44

Candydrip by Lucky Daye

Album • Mar 10 / 2022 Alternative R&B

# 45

Ghost Song by Cécile McLorin Salvant

Album • Mar 04 / 2022 Vocal Jazz

# 46

The Forever Story by JID

Album • Aug 26 / 2022 Southern Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop

# 47

Plonk by Huerco S.

Album • Feb 25 / 2022 IDM Ambient Techno

# 48

Lost & Found by Sean Shibe

Album • Aug 26 / 2022 Modern Classical Baroque Music

# 49

Diaspora Problems by Soul Glo

Album • Mar 25 / 2022 Hardcore Punk

# 50

Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville by Ashley McBryde

Album • Sep 30 / 2022 Neo-Traditionalist Country