Napoleon Da Legend has ALOT of projects that he’s released over the last several years and always puts out dope music. But this new project with DJ Rhettmatic dropping next week called Legmatic, sounds like it might be a future favorite of mine. The beat from the Beat Junkie is off the richter with the drums and the scratching. Simply knocks hard with hip hop essence. This production really lets Napoleon Da Legend let loose with bars and a flow that truly typify The King Walk.
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. |
Ruste Juxx x Napoleon Da Legend x DJ Nixon – Crack Down (prod. by DJ Duke) (Video)
Dope production from the much respected DJ Duke (RIP) featuring the contrasting styles of Napoleon Da Legend and Ruste Juxx. Production features different cascading keys and some hard hitting drums, while DJ Ni’xon chops it up at the end putting that cherry on the top of a dope hip hop track. This is that rough and rugged boom bap flavor.
Single You Out: Words x DJ TMB – All I Want (ft. Napoleon Da Legend x Venomous 2000)
It’s been a minute since I have heard some new music from Words, so as soon as I saw this I had to give it a listen. And here he is linking up with the very talented and respected DJ TMB and emcees Napoleon Da Legend and Venomous2000. It’s a dope track as could be anticipated and coming off the forthcoming album, The Winterborns.
Single You Out: Napoleon Da Legend – Building Politics (prod. by DJ Dister)
Napoleon Da Legend is another artist who puts out a consistent flow of dope music, and I really like the creativity that he puts into his latest single, Building Politics. Over a DJ Dister piano laced production, NDL navigates the trials and tribulations of living and making music in an apartment complex. I am sure lots of listeners can relate to this dopeness!
Skeezo – Fouls And Free Throws (2016)
Artist: Skeezo
Album: Fouls and Free Throws
Tracklisting:
- Ice Cold (ft. Juxx Diamondz)
- Gun Talk (ft. Masai Bey)
- Still Stuck
- Between The Lines (ft. Mic Handz and Shabaam Sahdeeq)
- Heavy Reign (ft. Napoleon Legend x VVS Verbal)
- No Seeds (Venom Remix)
Note:
It’s really good to hear some new sounds from the man Skeezo. And to compliment the fact that the man drops dope music, he is releasing these six songs for free. If you are not familiar with this man’s talent, now is the opportune time to study up. Skeezo’s always dropping those tough bars and his choice of production continues to be impeccable.
There are lots of great guest shots on this project as well, but no one is going to outdue the host, bet on that. Check out the tracks below:
Skeezo x Rediculous – Stuck In Da 90s (Remixed Album) (2014)
Artist: Skeezo x Rediculous
Album Stuck In Da 90s (Remixed)
Tracklisting:
1. Stuck in the 90s (Rediculus Remix)
2. Pick Up Lines (ft. Shabaam Sahdeeq and Vasnessa Renee) (Rediculus Remix)
3. Party Starters (ft. Nutso) (Rediculus Remix)
4. Hudson Valley Renegade (Rediculus Remix)
5. Watch Ya Step (ft. El Gant, Bekay and DJ Modesty) (Rediculus Remix)
6. The Mission (Rediculus Remix)
7. How You Spit (ft. Napoleon Da Legend) (Rediculus Remix)
8. Stuck in the 90s (Rediculus Head Bang Remix)
9. How You Spit (Rediculus Reflex Remix)
Note:
Again, not a full review, just an awareness post. I don’t know how it happened, but Skeezo linked up with one hell of a producer to remix his Stuck In Da 90s project from last year. Rediculous lives up to his moniker when it comes to the beats he utilized for this project. In all honesty, I am loving this entire thing from front to back. The original is dope, but the remixed version is next level. Skeezo’s vocals sound perfect over this reworking. It’s a free download, so make sure you head on over to the link above and download from DJ Booth. This will be essential for 2014.
Single You Out: Skeezo – How You Spit? (ft. Napoleon Da Legend)
If you’re not down with homie Skeezo, you can simply exit stage left. This guy continuously drops real bars. This time he links up with Napoleon Da Legend. The two exchange sixteens over a dope beat by Ghettoblaster. The EP that this is coming off of is called Stuck In Da 90s. With this track you can see and hear why the project earned it’s title. Skeezo is bringing back to the forefront that boom-bap sound that he loves, and we love too. The project has a drop date of November 29th and you can preorder it now.
Single You Out: Napoleon Da Legend – Truth Serum (ft. Spit Gemz)(Prod by DUS)
Man, this is a moment that needs repenting: I have not checked out Napoleon Da Legend’s latest album, Awakening. I am ashamed of that because this joint is proof that the man has a serious skill set. He goes bar for bar with my current favorite artist, Spit Gemz. That’s saying something. So let us correct ourselves and give this album a spin, shall we? As purveyors of fine hip hop, that’s a definitive duty.
Single You Out: Napoleon Da Legend – Oxygen (ft. Raekwon)
Some people are just now getting up on Napoleon Da Legend. I bought his EP, The Myth Or The Legend last year, and knew this artist was talented. With all that being said, he really brought his ‘A’ Game with this track. His flow and lyricism in his verse are a standout in a track the features a legend in Raekwon.
Hip Hop Dependency 