New banger from Pawz One accompanied on the mic by Ruste Juxx and Copywrite. Produced by Preed One, this joint isn’t dark and grimy, but more uptempo yet it still knocks those speakers out! Very reminscent of some late 1990s or early 2000s posse cuts. Really dope song for you to be nodding your head to. The venerable Tone Spliff is on the cuts!
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. |
Single You Out: Benny Slumz x Tone Spliff – Act Accordingly
This is a choice track from Tone Spliff and Benny Slumz collaborative effort, From The Slumz. Act Accordingly is that joint from the album. The beat, the scratching, and these bars will have you rewinding this track often. Really dope song from a dope EP that everyone should check.
Single Yout Out: Tones x DJ Matty Lite – You’re Welcome

Tones and DJ Matty Lite let loose a free track which I am going to go ahead and say is an extension of their latest EP, Sacred. And someone seems to be bearing the brunt of these bars from our emcee. These are some tough shots over some sinister production, And then you got Tone Spliff executing these scratches, making this song the complete deal.
King Magnetic – Nobody’s Safe (Video)
King Magnetic released a slew of singles over the course of the last couple of months, and now we get to see all of them assembled in the album produced by Tone Spliff.
Nobody’s Safe is the title track for the album, and is vintage Magnetic. as he is a bar bully when it comes to the wordplay and does so over some Tone Spliff production that will easily cause the head nod effect. Definitely check the latest from this pairing!
Ruste Juxx x Tone Spliff – Sucka Free (ft. UG) (Video)
This is my favorite track off of Ruste Juxx and Tone Spliff’s new album, Magma. I love the guitar laden riffs that Spliff lays down. It gives the track a nasty and dirty sound. Keeping it grimy. And that’s a great canvas for Juxx and UG to paint on as they are an excellent pairing to keep the suckas out of their circle. The styles really play well off of each other.
Ruste Juxx x Tone Spliff – For Every Shell (Video)
Ruste Juxx uniting with Tone Spliff for the upcoming project, U Know Whut Crime It Iz. I am not sure when that is going to drop but here you get the fist sampling from that project now with the cut For Every Shell. If you are familiar with Ruste Juxx (which you should be) then you know the formula. Raw raps to your grill and you are going to love it!
Young Lo – Never Fold (prod. by Tone Spliff)
Young Lo and Tone Spliff release a video single, Never Fold, from their 2018 EP, Tape Deck Music. This is 100% unadulterated hip hop that this hip hop fan craves. If you find yourself yearning for dope beats and fresh verses, this is going to be up your auditory alley.
Single You Out: Recognize Ali x C-Lance – God Of Doom

Recognize Ali and C-Lance join forces for this illness entitled God Of Doom. And Ali sounds so good over this Lance production. The track has a certain intensity to it which leads to a very aggressive flow from our emcee. I really like the viciousness we have here. And the cuts from Tone Spliff only accentuate that.
Lance and Ali have a project coming out that will undoubtedly be a must-cop for this year.
And if you haven’t done so, make sure you check out our 2018 Artist Of The Year Interview with Recognize Ali. It’s must reading!
Solomon Childs – Bullsh!t Refusal (Video)
Solomon Childs and Tone Spliff release the video single for this joint off of their collaborative album, The Prophet and the King, which is out now. This is just no-nonsense hip hop and these two artists are definitely not playing. The song has a melodic vibe to it but this is not sing-a-long rap. Childs is delivering heavy-hitting bars and Tone Spliff adds the necessary scratches for all the dope touches.
Check it out!


