The Best R&B Albums of 2022 …(so far)

RB has gotten off to a slow start but there’s still been some good projects to come through from the genre. To start the year we’ve received some choice projects from The Weeknd, Amber Mark and Mary J Blige.

HipHopDX will be narrowing down the endless amount of music released during the course of a year to the essentials, providing readers with a list of the must-listen projects. 

Struggling to find a list of the Hip Hop Albums that have been shifting the culture? Take a look at our lists for Hip Hop, Rap and RB to get a complete survey of the projects that are dictating the conversation around Hip Hop culture.

• The Best Hip Hop Albums of 2022 …(so far)
• The Best Rap Albums of 2022 …(so far)

Need some new songs to throw in the rotation but Spotify and user-created playlists are way too long? We kept it simple and added only the best of the best songs from each month to make sure you get the songs you need without a hassle. Peep the lists below.

• The Best Rap Songs of 2022 …(so far)
• The Best RB Songs of 2022 …(so far)

Looking for some up and coming rappers and underground gems? We’ve done the work for you and highlighted the short EPs, mixtapes and projects to check out if you’re tired of the mainstream album cycle.

• The Best Mixtapes EPs of 2022 …(so far)

Editor’s note: Songs from this list were released between December 2, 2021 – March 25, 2022.

WHO CARES?! – Rex Orange County

Rex Orange County returns after a long hiatus with his new album Who Cares?!. The singer weighs on existential dread and purpose over bright beats and warm production. His welcome return is sure to soundtrack coffee dates, walks in the parks and medium-level difficulty hikes for all of 2022.

CANDY DRIP – Lucky Daye

For all your smooth-tunes needs, look no further than Lucky Daye’s Candydrip. One of RB’s most promising rookies, Daye’s been at it for a while but last year’s Table For Two was one of 2021’s best releases in the genre. Candydrip is similarly paced, a rolling album full of emotive singing and impassioned features from Lil Durk, Smino and Chiiild.

ALPHA – Shenseea

Shenseea, the Jamaican Dancehall sensation, was spotted on the Donda stage during one of Kanye West’s listening sessions and has used that attention to catapult herself into Hip Hop and RB’s mainstream with latest album ALPHA. On her latest album, Shenseea managed to wrangle an impressive cast of guests from Tyga and 21 Savage to Megan Thee Stallion and Sean Paul.

GOOD MORNING GORGEOUS – Mary J Blige

Shortly before performing at what many are calling the greatest Super Bowl Halftime Show in history, Mary J. Blige released her first album in two years titled Good Morning Gorgeous. The last project listeners received was in 2020 when she dropped the deluxe edition to her classic 1994 album My Life, so new music is a cause for celebration. Led by a titular single and the followed-up with “Rent Money,” which placed the “Family Affair” singer alongside fellow New Yorker Dave East for a soulful collaboration. Good Morning Gorgeous resists familiar themes in Blige’s work of love and heartbreak, but even if the subject matter has been heard before, there’s something special about watching a master at their craft. Blige’s dexterous and expressive voice wraps around the heavy instrumentals. Though she’s singing in line with a very traditional style of RB, Blige still sounds fresh as ever.

DAWN.FM – The Weeknd

Dawn FM traps the listener in Purgatory, as The Weeknd gathers an audience for his sonic love letter to the 80s, marked by the metallic sounds of Depeche Mode, The Human League and all-night disco parties. The euphoria of 80s RB, new wave and synth pop carry the superstar to a new height. The album is an exhibition of pure ambition from an artist that’s reached the mountaintop. It’s apparent that this was the album The Weeknd always wanted to make, whose flair for the dramatic and glamour always aligned with the bygone icons of the 80s.

Three Dimensions Deep – Amber Mark

Amber Mark made a name with RB recreations of beloved 90s songs such as Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box” and Sisqo’s “Thong Song.” But the Tennessee songstress has her own story to tell. On Three Dimensions Deep, Mark bares all her hurt and insecurities, enveloped in existential dread and life’s cruel clutches. The multi-faceted album brings her songwriting and vocal performance to new heights, with Mark pondering the universe’ greatest ills and vices. The complex project proves Mark’s lofty ambitions are attainable, finding comfort in the absurdity of self discovery.

Caprisongs – FKA Twigs

On her first major label release, FKA twigs takes the veiled and aloof image of her public existence and shatters it with every wispy utterance. Caprisongs, while retaining the avant-garde spirit that marked her numerous EPs, is a genre-bending pop experiment that unlocks the human shrouded underneath the artist after years of emotional and relational upheaval. She’s fully in control of her narrative, whether she’s delivering a self-confidence sermon over choral arrangements on the spacy “meta angel,” covering herself in traditional RB emotionality on the dancefloor-infused “tears in the club,” or flexing her chemistry with the likes of Jorja Smith and Pa Salieu. There’s no moment where twigs feels disingenuous: each stylistic foray registers as part of her lexicon and each gut-punching lyric feels ripped from her heart.

KEYS – Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys is undoubtedly one of the most decorated RB artists of all time. But beyond just the accolades and notoriety, 20 years into her career, Keys is still delivering innovative work. The double-LP starts off with a menacing Pusha T feature that sets the tone for an unpredictable ride through 26 tracks. The genre-bending album provides something for every sector of her fanbase without compromising its artistic core. The project also marks the singer’s final album on her label deal, leaving many fans looking forward to what she does next independently.

No I’m Not OK – Bleu

The artist formerly known as Yung Bleu continues to let his talent speak for itself. Bleu is one of the few newer artists who seems to stay out of the negative headlines while he focuses on crafting his sound and dropping quality music. No I’m Not OK finds the HipHopDX Rising Star effortlessly crafting unique melodies and memorable flows as he pours his heart into each of the five songs on the EP. Bleu has pop sensibilities without ever abandoning his Hip Hop roots, a blend that is bound to take him to superstar heights.

RB? – Tierra Whack

Tierra Whack has always stuck to the quality over quantity motto when it comes to her release schedule. With that being said, even a 3-song EP is a gift from the multi-talented artist. Whack explores death, sorrow and love throughout the project as she continues to bring memorable flows and melodies to the table with every new drop. The project is part of a set of a set of three EPs that show her versatility and ability to effortlessly jump between genres.

Still Over It – Summer Walker

Summer Walker has supplanted herself in the public eye, both through her outstanding introductory projects Last Day of Summer and Over It and her tumultuous relationship with Atlanta producer London On Da Track. In doing so, she’s opened herself up to judgment and speculation about every aspect of her life: her pregnancy, breakup with London and subsequent mental health. On Still Over It, Walker combats swirling narratives by utilizing the biggest draw in her artistry — her vulnerability. She displays an innate storytelling ability, marked with raw details about the intricacies of her emotions. Refusing to hold back, Walker covers the project in personal drama, navigating a balancing act between compelling and gratuitous.

Contributing writers: Trent Clark, Kyle Eustice, Josh Svetz, Dana Scott, David Brake, Devon Jefferson, Michael Saponara, Kia Turner, Anthony Malone, Matthew Ritchie, Ben Brutocao and Jeremy Hecht.