Ten Most Overlooked Hip Hop Albums Of 2022 So Far: Fly Anakin, Your Old Droog, Blackchai & More

Photography by Tim Saccenti & Setta Studio.

Thanks to streaming services and the internet as a whole, discovering new music is easier than ever. Sites like Bandcamp are dedicated to introducing you to the newest faces in any genre and there are countless social media accounts that pride themselves on their underground music taste. While new music is in abundance, the sheer amount of it can be overwhelming, specifically in hip-hop. The genre has been taken in so many different directions these new sub-genres have their own underground outside of the usual up-and-coming scene. You have the underground that follows the classic sample-based production that lives on Bandcamp while services like Soundcloud are filled with the more trap-influenced, melody-based scene. 

Whatever your preference is in hip-hop, there are thousands of artists releasing high-quality music that are just waiting to be discovered and thrown on your favorite playlist. We’re halfway through 2022 and there have been dozens of releases that deserve more of a spotlight. Glide has done the heavy lifting of compiling the 10 most overlooked albums of the genre from the first half of the year. 

Check out our list below and support up-and-coming artists; 

Fly Anakin – Frank 

Fly Anakin has been bubbling in the underground for years. The Virginia native has had a steady release schedule of high-quality albums that have made him an all-star in the scene. He came up with collaborations within the Mutant Academy camp he came up with including albums produced by in-house producers ohbliv and Tuamie and full collaborative albums with Big Kahuna OG and artists outside of the camp like Pink Siifu and Koncept Jack$on. Frank is his official debut album and was released via Lex Records on March 11 and is one of the stronger debuts released this year. With features including the aforementioned and production from legends like Madlib and shining newcomers like Jay Versace, Frank is a 17-track clinic that cements Anakin as a highly-evolved songwriter. 

Your Old Droog – YOD Wave 

Looking at New York emcee Your Old Droog’s discography can be overwhelming within itself. He landed on our list of the most prolific rappers list with 11 full LPs since 2019 and 2022 is no different. We’ve already seen three albums from YOD hit the internet since the top of the year but his album YOD Wave released on March 4 stands out from them all. Entirely produced by the legendary Nicholas Craven, YOD Wave has Droog in rare form, the instrumentals are darker and he’s taking a more serious approach to his songwriting. With the year only halfway over who knows how many albums Droog has stashed away but it is going to be tough to beat the excellence displayed on YOD Wave. 

Pro Zay & Ed Glorious – Gutta Glory 

Texas has always been a breeding ground for innovation within hip-hop, and the new school is carrying on that torch. The southern-breed rapper Pro Zay has been lending his signature rasp to some of the most exciting releases that came out of the lone star state and his latest album only furthers the proof that he is an important voice in the scene. Gutta Glory is entirely produced by the extremely talented and diverse Ed Glorious and has Pro Zay flexing his passionate songwriting talents over hard-hitting drums and expertly chopped samples. The album switches between Pro Zay penning vulnerable stories of his past over murky instrumentals to catchy hooks that are meant to be screamed along to. 

YL & Eyedress – The Hills Have Eyes 

This collaboration may come as a surprise to people unfamiliar with Eyedress’ production work. He produced an amazing album for YUNGMORPHEUS just last year and now the lo-fi guitarist is providing the groundwork for another young emcee YL. YL has been releasing very acclaimed albums over the past year that draw people in by way of his laidback delivery and amazing ear for beats. The Hills Have Eyes is another feather in the cap for both the vocalist and producer, the lovely beats Eyedress provides allow YL to flex his relaxed demeanor and witty punchlines. 

Bacotruck & Bart Buurman – Ballon D’Or 

In a world full of writers and vocalists, instrumental albums are always a fun, refreshing way to discover new talent. Ballon D’Or is the collaborative album between producers Bacotruck and Bart Buurman, who come together to create an instrumental album that isn’t meant to just be thrown in the background. The attention to detail in these instrumentals requires the same hyperfocus from the listener in order to fully appreciate the beauty in this album. Each producer alternates on the tracklist, Bacotruck providing his gentle melodies to the odds while Buurman handles the events with ease, when you press play you are entering a world of clean-cut samples and whispering drums that harmonize to create a texture you won’t find anywhere else. 

Blackchai – Time & A Place 

Blackchai has been building a name for himself as one of the slickest lyricists working today. The newest member of the budding collective No Clue, Blackchai’s first full LP with the group is a masterpiece of sharp flows and terrific writing. Time & A Place is a perfect example of this new group of producers and rappers coming off of Bandcamp, the moody instrumentals allow Blackchai to touch on a slew of topics and show off his direct style of songwriting. He is able to switch between aggressive, rapid-fire flows to a more laid-back approach, shapeshifting his undeniably impressive voice to fit his songwriting perfectly. 

Wrecking Crew – Sedale Threat 

The ever-changing collective from Philadelphia have been a shining example of how collaboration can create incredible art for a few years now. Sedale Threat is their latest album as a full group and is one of the best executed concept albums of the year. The album centers around references to 90’s NBA moments and allows each member their own spotlight to express their individual strengths. The four piece includes Curly Castro, PremRock, Small Professor, and Zilla Rocca who each shine on their own but they form like Voltron to make up the most exciting crew releasing music in rap today. Sedale Threat take you on a journey of drum-driven instrumentals and larger-than-life personalities that put their egos aside to create a masterpiece. 

YUNGMORPHEUS & THERAVADA – Up Against The Wall; A Degree Of Lunacy 

Two of the most sought after names in the genre come together to create a quick yet potent project filled with mesmerizing instrumentals and sharp lyricism. Although both artists respectively participate in vocal performances and beat making, THERAVADA handles the instrumentals while YUNGMORPHEUS’ baritone voice handles the bars. Together they created an album that sounds just as refreshing as it does nostalgic. With only two great features courtesy of Ahwlee and Starker, YUNGMORPHEUS is given a chance to shine all on his own and he takes this opportunity and runs with it. His delivery finds the sweet spot between perfectly relaxed and just enough aggression giving Up Against The Wall; A Degree Of Lunacy its unique personality. 

J Rocc – A Wonderful Letter 

With a resume that will make any hip-hop fan envious, J Rocc has been behind some of the more innovative instrumental albums of the past years. His latest release continues his storied career in the perfect manner, striking a balance between the producer’s roots and new age stylings. His drums feel like a suckerpunch and his sample choice can stand up to any other veteran of the style. The DJ scratches on this album add a certain character that separates J Rocc’s work from any other producer working today. A Wonderful Letter shines a spotlight on the city of LA in a style we haven’t heard in years, bringing the feeling of the west coast right through your headphones. 

Argov – Matchbox 

Our list is rounded out by one of the best producers working today. Argov has been making beats for the No Clue collective and is finally ready to spread his amazing sense of timing with the world. Matchbox features Argov’s signature approach to a classic method of beatmaking and features verses from No Clue stars such as Amir Bilal, CRUZIN, and Blackchai along with verses from YL, Starker, and Zeke Ultra to name a few. Argov provides awe-inspiring instrumentals that would shine on their own while the features add the finishing touches to make this project such a standout in 2022. The vocal features are separated by instrumental sections that also have outside producers lending a helping hand, see “Butter” feature No-Fvce and the posse cut “Smoke” featuring fellow No Clue producers Bart Buurman and Riley Lamarre. 

Top photo by Tim Saccenti & Setta Studio

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