Another year, another list of the dopest albums that we’ve heard from D.C. and Baltimore area artists over the past 12 months. In 2021, we capped said list at 20 — this go ’round, we’re adding five more in an attempt to better capture the awesomeness that hit our collective ears in what feels like a return to some semblance of normalcy post-quarantine. With that said, JUKEBOX:DC is excited to provide you with 2022’s musical cream of the crop (in no particular order):

PREVIOUSLY: #25-#21 — #20-#16 — #15-#11

#10: YounG Moose – My Life Story (STREAM)

Despite still being as young as he is, YounG Moose has been delivering authentic streets raps for several years, and it’s clear that he hasn’t lost a step. Back in February, he liberated the 16-track offering My Life Story, complete with assists from YG Teck, Roddy Rackzz, Love Nova, 6IX, and Boosie Badazz, who appears on two different songs. As far as the rest of his discography, it’s more of the same heat that his longtime fans can come to expect. It’s subsequent deluxe upgrade also adds to the final product.

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#9: Yung Kayo – DFTK (STREAM)

For those not hip, Yung Kayo has been on a career ascent since signing with Young Thug’s YSL collective. Incorporating punk elements in the same vein as Playboi Carti, Don’t Forget The Krown is a dive into care-free, rave-friendly hip hop, with additional assists from the likes of Yeat, Eartheater, and (a recently released) Gunna. The crazy thing is — this D.C. native is only 19… he’s just getting started.

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#8: Brent Faiyaz – WASTELAND (STREAM)

Make no mistake: Brent Faiyaz might as will be given the ‘King of R&B’ crown at this point. The long-awaited WASTELAND is a number two success on the Billboard 200 (thanks to an impressive 88,000 album-equivalent units, all independently sold and streamed) and is Gold-certified. Accolades aside, the album contains all of the emotions and vibes that made the Maryland native a music frontrunner; heavyweights like Drake, The Neptunes, Tyler, the Creator, and Alicia Keys can’t even overpower Brent’s unmistakable voice and subject matter.

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#7: IDK – Simple. (STREAM)

Like fellow peers Rico Nasty and GoldLink, IDK is always looking to push the boundaries of the DMV sound while continuing to rep where he’s from to the absolute fullest. A perfect example of this is Simple., a collaborative effort alongside genre-bending beatsmith KAYTRANADA. Songs like “Southeast To Paris” (and its counterpart, “Paris To Southeast”) encapsulate the P.G. star’s ability to bring high-level lyricism, dance-worthy vibes, and hometown pride to wax.

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#6: Mererackz – Slime For President (STREAM)

Mererackz is on his way to the top. Outside of one of its standouts (which features Kruddy2800, Shiesty2800, and Lul Wop), the D.C. area star handles the 13-song Slime For President by his lonesome, delivering vivid subject matter about street life and his own journey as a young artist on his way to higher levels of fame. Marlow Heights is in the building.

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