2022 has been a promising year for music. It is safe to say that Afrobeats is still topping the charts. Amapiano is still a force to be reckoned with, and drill music is still seeing its most successful run in years. Below are EP’s/Albums that are worth revisiting if you’ve already listened to them, it’s also a new pool to dive into if you haven’t experienced these projects!
1. Rema – Raves & Roses
After countless hit singles and Eps, the Mavin records finally delivered Rema’s debut album. Filled with sixteen songs, the album defines Rema as a modernised Afrobeats artist, experimenting with the sounds in all ways, with his right-hand producer London, injecting the album with his quality production skills, from the 80s inspired themes to Afro-soul vibes, R&R has it all.
2. Knucks – Alpha Place
The London rapper has been an additional force to the UK hip-hop scene, delivering on JULS’s album with a popular verse. His new album shows his strengths and ultimately displays his lyrical play on typical drill beats.
3. Ninety – Rare Gem
Ninety has mastered the art of Afro-Fusion, making him a likeable artist regardless of the records he puts out, his singles have always shown he had it in him to deliver a good project, and on “Rare Gem”, he brings out his frustration and love stories to his records, making his album a more melodic, sincere, and effortful one.
4. Fameye – Songs of Peter
The Ghanaian singer has come a long way, from the old days of MTN Hitmaker Season 3 to his breakout year, he was destined to be here, and his second album didn’t disappoint at all. SOP illuminates the contours of Fameye’s struggle and journey to the top. Over relaxed productions, the singer pushes his own boundaries, challenging himself to make records that are both soothing and introspective.
5. Smallgod – Connecting the dots
The record executive/entrepreneur is back with his second album, and as expected it is stacked with a galaxy of features, ranging from Black sheriff, Darkovibes to Buju, Kuame Eugene, and more. The project highlights some of Africa’s most entertaining sounds fixed perfectly into a body of work.
There have been tons of albums since the start of the year, and these five are the standouts and worthy of listening to.
