This is that unfiltered hip hop back at you in 2023. Chillow and DJ Grazzhoppa lace some amazing boom bap flavor with drums that snap necks and expert scratches. And Venomous2000 so adeptly graces the joint with spot on flows and prose. This is like taking hip hop back to it’s essence and breathing in a new life.
M-Dot & Revalation – Jump Start (Grazzhoppa Remix) (Video)
M-Dot and Revalation bring that exquisite lyricism over a DJ Grazzhoppa rendition of the track, Jump Start. And you know you are getting 100% hip hop with this combination.
50 Best Songs Of 2022
Lists of this magnitude are tough to do and I take a great deal of pride in crafting. I think the first ten to fifteen are easy to distinguish and then after, I think the places can be somewhat become interchangeable. All great tracks, where the pecking order becomes less discernible. So many artists could have been included multiple times on this list, but then we lose depth. Artists like Mickey Diamond and Jay Royale could have had multiple entries. As it stands only one emcee, Ransom, got two tracks selected for this list.
In the end, this is a testament to the strength of hip hop in 2022. We can agree to disagree on many points but maybe you will find something dope you hadn’t heard or a new artist to support. This is my hope.
Thanks for your time and readership!
-Stef aka thathiphopguy
Song | Artist | Notes |
#1 – Done | M-Dot & Apollo Brown | This is the track that sets the tone for the entire year and this is what M-Dot and Apollo Brown typify: Hard work and talent! |
#2 – Unruly | Vandal & Nottz | A song that gets caught in the head and does not let go. It is a personal anthem. |
#3 – Power Nap | Nicholas Craven & Boldy James | Boldy and Craven is a beautiful union and nobody makes me crave a little rest like this cut. Beautiful music. |
#4 – A Most Dreadful Symphony | Ransom & V Don | This song’s whole vibe gives me chills. |
#5 – Chain Gretzky | Mickey Diamond & Big Ghost | No song went harder than this in 2022. |
#6 – War I Bring | Sherm LaRock & Midaz | No song went harder than this in 2022…except above |
#7 – Area 57 (ft. Skyzoo) | J57 | Dope rhymes. Fluid flows. A Change Up. Perfect. |
#8 – Qtna | Defcee & Boathouse | From the best album of 2022, you would expect a Top 10 song. |
#9 – Highly Favored (ft. Bub Styles & Mickey Diamond) | Ty Farris & Slim One | It’s raw hip hop with a fantastic producer and three consummate emcees. |
#10 – Linchpins (ft. Prince Po) | Guilty Simpson | The strings are glorious and the rhymes abound. |
#11 – Everywhere I Go (ft. Muja Messiah, Guilty Simpson, and Copywrite) | Dub Sonata | The connections and cohesion on this joint are unparalleled. So clever! |
#12 – Paint Pictures (J.Rocc Remix) | XP The Marxman | Hip-Hop holds true to it’s purest form on this joint. |
#13 – The Most Exalted | IAMGAWD | Pen game is strong with this one. Glorious. |
#14 – 3x | Madhattan & NV | Pied Piper type smooth. Follow the flute and dope flow. |
#15 – Sal’s Pizza | 38 Spesh & Harry Fraud | Spesh and Fraud are an elite combination, and you can hear it here. |
#16 – Why Bitch | Starvin B & DustyVibes | Starvin B is a regular on these lists and this year is no different. |
#17 – No Time To Waste (ft. Jadakiss) | Apathy & Stu Bangas | If you love sick lyricism this is the joint for you. |
#18 – Cancel Myself | Ren Thomas & Brutal Caesar | You make a mockery of hip hop so Thomas and Caesar make a mockery of you. |
#19 – Immortals (ft. Casual) | Lunar Heights | Great track and the Casual cameo is spot on. |
#20 – Keeper Of The Flame | Mooch & Oh Jay | Smooth track and crisp flow. |
#21 – Gunsmithz (ft. Phat Kat, Asun Eastwood, Recognize Ali) | Ol’ Man 80zzz | Another track in 2022 that knocks harder than most. |
#22 – Stuck In Our Ways (ft. Rigz, MAV, Mooch) | Real Bad Man | It’s Da Cloth!!! Flames! |
#23 – Carlito & Kleinfeld | Jay Royale & Kool G Rap | It’s that certified street shit featuring a legend with one of today’s strongest. |
#24 – Bone Tomahawk | Spit Gemz | This is an intro to Gemz project and packs a lot of heat in a minute’s time. |
#25 – Fire Slingers (ft. Snak The Ripper) | N.B.S. | Yeah. This track stays true to the namesake. They are spitting flames on here. |
#26 – Scud Missle | Planet Asia & Snowgoons | Legends unite to give you this heat rock. These guys are at the pinnacle of their craft. |
#27 – Roar Of The Lions | El Gant | Another track that just “feels” like hip hop. It gets you hype to be a fan. |
#28 – Slay | Johaz & Nottz | Nottz does it again this time taking you to church with Johaz. |
#29 – Dis Could Be Bad | MAV | It could be bad, but MAV is oh so good. |
#30 – Raekwon’s Table | Ullnevano & God Sense Beats | Not all are worthy to sit at Raekwon’s Table. But these artists show and prove. |
#31 – Lo Pan | Teek Hall | Teek Hall is name you should know and when this song gets caught in your head, you’ll remember. |
#32 – Hans Gruber (ft. Lil Fame) | Wais P & Pete Twist | Bruce Willis may not approve but the hip hop community agrees this is a banger. |
#33 – Diamond Backs (ft. Daniel Son) | Maze Overlay | Northside and AZ link up over some Farma heat. |
#34 – Compromised | Ransom | Ransom is too talented to not make this list twice. |
#35 – Guerrero (ft. Westside Gunn) | Benny the Butcher | The power and talent of Griselda is undeniable. This joint feels like it was actually made in a lab. |
#36 – Triple Threat (ft. RIM & Frankky Smaccz) | Eddie Kaine | Flamethrower bars over some production from the talented Hobgoblin. |
#37 – Both Sides | The Tangiers | Every time this cut comes on, my head nods instantly. Drops heavy. |
#38 – One Bridge (ft. Fashawn & K-Prez) | Snowgoons | The organ that drives this track is the perfect set up. And the emcees give such great energy! |
#39 – Bars After Bars | Fatt Father & DJ Jewels Baby | The Wu-Tang flip is insane and the bars and flow speak for themselves. |
#40 – Museum Piece (ft. Torae) | Napoleon Da Legend & Just Music Beats | This song has the necessary hype and talent equivalent to make the list. Lyricism for days. |
#41 – Hamster Wheel | Locksmith | One of the most authentic artists in hip hop delivers a virtuoso performance. |
#42 – Tyrant | Shabaam Sahdeeq & John Jigg$ | Two of my favorites link up for some lyrical gold here. |
#43 – Dudesovadere (ft. Dro Pesci) | Mic Handz | This project is full of bangers and needs to be heard. This is just one of those harbody tracks. |
#44 – Too Convinced | Nelson Dialect & BigBob | This joint is just so melodic. It honestly should be higher on this list but what’s done is done. Incredible track. |
#45 – Queens Gambit | Shaz Illyork & Buon Anni | So good to hear Illyork over these banging beats from Buon Anni. |
#46 – Big Coffins (ft. Mickey Diamond and Pro Dillinger) | Snotty | It’s The Umbrella posse cut that bodies the competition. |
#47 – Bill and Fame (ft. Tone Spliff) | The Bad Seed | A tribute of sorts to M.O.P. and no one is more set to do it properly than Seed! |
#48 – Riot | Daniel Son x Futurewave x 36 Cypher | Yes. This joint could easily cause a riot. Everything is intense on this cut. |
#49 – It’s Like That (ft. DJ Grazzhoppa) | Supreme Cerebral | Supreme Cerebral slays tracks and he takes this rock infused beat and wreaks havoc. |
#50 – Gawds Wrath Massacre (ft. Don Streat x Rico Blox x J Fliz x Jae Hussle x Street Da Villain) | Slik Jack & Kng Bondalero) | I needed to set off the list with this ill posse cut because this beat by Bondalero is an anthem. |
El Gant – Roar the Lions (Video)
El Gant’s new project, O.S.L.O., drops on this coming Friday and has all the trappings of being a tremendous listen. You have razor sharp lyricism and complete control of his bars. He is able to change cadences and pace effortlessly, all the while launching salvo after salvo of dopeness. It’s on full display here on Roar the Lions, in which producer Motif Alumni takes you to church and DJ Grazzhoppa chops up a new religion!
I’m a one man fight song….
And that sounds about right!
Jay Royale – Carlito And Kleinfeld (ft. Kool G Rap) (Video)
One of the toughest and dopest joints to come out this year, and sure to be penned into some top end-of-the-year lists is Jay Royale’s new single, Carlito and Kleinfeld featuring Kool G Rap. Producer Ray Sosa has some sinister intents with his production here featuring those snapping drums, piano loops, and crescendo synth. Plus, those sample chops from DJ Grazzhoppa are so very precise and well timed.
Lyrically…c’mon KGR is a legend for a reason. His bars are FOREVER timeless and that’s no exaggeration. He sounds just as good now as he ever has, and Jay Royale shows precise execution in his sixteen, continuing to build upon his already buzzing name and talent.
Phenomenal.
Single You Out: Jamil Honesty – Radar (ft. Mickey Factz)

New single from Jamil Honesty, featuring Mickey Factz and produced by JSoul and then you get the chops from one of the greats in my opinion, DJ Grazzhoppa. This is just areally great track featuring all the things that can make a hip hop song exceptional.
This is coming off of Honesty’s forthcoming album, The Greatest Dope.
Single You Out: C Keys x Kazi – W.Y.M (ft. Guilty Simpson x DJ Grazzhoppa)
This is the lead single for C Keys and Kazi’s forthcoming album, Keys 2 Kazi, which is due out later this year. This is track has a high energy feel with the electric guitar riffs used as the backbone of the productions. And DJ Grazzhoppa only builds off of that momentum, with perfect scratching perfection. The contrasting styles from Guilty Simpson and C Keys plays well. Dope music!
Single You Out: Ill Conscious – Capital Investements (ft. DJ Grazzhoppa)
Here’s a project and artist that needs to be mentioned in the form of Ill Conscious and his lates venture, The Prerequisite. The flow on this track, Capital Investments, is nothing short of lyrical surgery on the track. Conscious’ wordplay on this tracks sophisticate with lots of noteworthy lines. Plus, DJ Grazzhoppa is on the cuts, and when he is involved on a track, you know his touches are going to put it over the top.
This is a standout cut not only from the project, but for the year thus far. Check it out!
“…fascinated with catching these bodies like necrophilia…”
Single You Out: Cloud City Projects – Menace (ft. Try Bindope x Revalation x Bunsen) prod. by Bast.The.1
Here’s a single from Cloud City Project’s album, No White Flags, which has been out for a couple of months now and remains exceptionally ill. If you love that hardcore boom bap, this is going to be right up your alley. This beat is like street gospel right here and all of the emcees really deliver the goods on the quality of bars, plus you get that EMS flavor when Revalation knocks out his sixteen.
Koss – Longevity (ft. Masta Ace) (Video)
Video single featuring Masta Ace from Koss’ new album, Born To Live. I have to show this album so love because it really typifies everything we are about it. It’s those fresh beats, slick scratches, and dope rhymes. We really couldn’t ask for more. Make sure you check this one out.
By the way…those scratches…come courtesy of none other than DJ Grazzhoppa.