Welcome back to list szn.

It’s time to recap a year of infectious songs across genres. Below, you’ll find our list of the 50 best songs of 2022. Check out our picks, discover something new, and follow us on socials to let us know what we may have missed.

And if you want more lists—we got the 50 best albums of 2022 list right here.

Notes:

The songs are listed in alpha order by artist
Selections were based on the taste of our curation and content teams
Your favorite song didn’t make the cut? Let us know on Twitter @Audiomack.

Asake — “Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)”

In a breakout year for Nigerian star Asake, no hit was bigger than “Peace Be Unto You (PBUY),” where he spoke his success into existence while teasing his monstrous debut album.

Ayra Starr — “Rush”

After her 2021 album cemented her status as one of Nigeria’s biggest rising artists, #UpNow alum Ayra Starr gave it the deluxe treatment and ended up with another smash that captures her whirlwind life.

Bad Bunny & Chencho Corleone — “Me Porto Bonito”

Linking with veteran Puerto Rican singer Chencho Corleone, international superstar Bad Bunny’s “Me Porto Bonito” is a reggaeton smash that recalls the highs of Bad Bunny’s debut album.

Bayka — “1Uptown”

Bayka stays dropping the hottest songs in Jamaica. “1Uptown” is a grisly depiction of the Kingston native’s street life experience.

Bizarrap & Quevedo — “Quevedo: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52”

Argentina’s hottest producer is Bizarrap, and each of his Bzrp music sessions is an event as it is a song. Vol. 52 impacted clubs around the globe and launched Spanish rapper Quevedo into a new tier of rising Latin artists.

Black Sherif — “Kwaku the Traveller”

After a couple of sermons, Ghana rapper #UpNow alum Black Sherif took accountability and vowed to keep moving forward on his introspective smash “Kwaku The Trallever,” one of the most-streamed songs of the year on Audiomack.

brakence — “venus fly trap”

Released this summer, brakence’s “venus fly trap” was a strong entry for pop song of the year, and with the release of his debut album, the tune takes on new life as the record’s centerpiece.

Bree Runway — “Somebody Like You”

Since her 2020 debut EP, UK singer and rapper Bree Runway has reshaped the conception of pop music. “Somebody Like You” sees Bree going to new fringes and delivering a full-bellied ballad.

Burna Boy — “Last Last”

Backed by a bulletproof Toni Braxton sample, Burna Boy copes with weed and liquor in the wake of lost love on “Last Last,” teasing his Love, Damini album.

El Alfa, Noriel & Trueno — “LOS APARATOS”

King of Dembow El Alfa connects with a frequent collaborator, the Puerto Rican rapper Noriel, and Argentinian rapper Trueno for a hypnotic banger in “LOS APARATOS.”

Fireboy DML & Asake — “Bandana”

In his Playboy era, Fireboy DML linked with Asake for the uplifting “Bandana,” donning theirs a la 2Pac while committing to defining their legacies through music.

Foreign Teck & Anuel AA — “El Nene”

GRAMMY-winning producer Foreign Teck provides a lowkey banger of a beat for Anuel AA on “El Nene,” where Anuel prays to God to get the fakes and snakes as far away from him as possible.

Fred again.. & Swedish House Mafia — “Turn On The Lights again” feat. Future

UK producer Fred again.. samples 2012 Future on “Turn On The Lights again,” a bubbling collaboration with EDM icons Swedish House Mafia.

Future — “WAIT FOR U” feat. Drake & Tems

Carried by a Tems vocal sample, Future’s “WAIT FOR U” is a heartfelt and crumbly ballad. Drake’s appearance only amplifies the sad boi aesthetic.

GloRilla — “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)”

Memphis #UpNow alum GloRilla is rap’s rookie of the year. Her breakout song “F.N.F” with producer Hitkidd is some of the most fun we had in 2022, and ultimately led to a massive co-sign from Cardi B.

Grupo Firme — “Calidad”

Award-winning Baja California-based Regional Mexican band Grupo Firme bring a pop element to “Calidad,” a collaboration with Luis Mexia.

Grupo Marca Registrada, Junior H — “El Rescate”

The slow slink of Grupo Marca Registrada and Junior H’s “El Rescate” amplifies the most romantic elements of Regional Mexican music.

Gunna & Future — “pushin P” feat. Young Thug

Getting a spot across the spot. Pesbians. Having intercourse with a cup of water. “pushin P” is Gunna, Future and Young Thug at their most unhinged and generated a year’s worth of memes. The song thrives off their chemistry. Free YSL.

Ice Spice — “Munch”

The rapid ascent of Bronx rapper Ice Spice was cemented by August’s “Munch,” where Ice Spice invents irresistible slang-meets-caption-fodder and stakes her place in the new New York.

Jazmine Sullivan — “Hurt Me So Good”

R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan kicked off 2022 with the soulful and deeply pained “Hurt Me So Good,” a standout from her Heaux Tales deluxe.

Jhayco, Feid, Sech — “En La De Ella”

Three of Latin music’s strongest voices assemble for “En La De Ella.” JHAYCO, Feid, and Sech each take a turn on the mic, bringing to mind the golden era of 2010s Latin posse cuts.

Joji — “Glimpse of Us”

Joji’s anti-pop ballads helped him ascend to one of the biggest acts on 88Rising. Thanks to some TikTok help, the somber “Glimpse of Us” broke the top 10 on the Hot 100—Joji’s first top 10 entry on the American charts.

Karol G — “Provenza”

Time for some main character music. Karol G’s breezy summertime single “Provenza” is the perfect road trip soundtrack.

Kizz Daniel & Tekno — “Buga”

Kizz Daniel doesn’t make bad songs, and his collaboration with Tekno might be his most infectious to date. Released in May, “Buga” has been soundtracking dance videos and lighting up searches all year.

Lil Baby — “In A Minute”

Our first taste of It’s Only Me—one of the best albums of 2022—was “In A Minute,” which set the tone with Lil Baby’s breakneck flow overtop a melancholy Ellie Goulding sample. It was Baby’s hundredth Hot 100 entry, peaking at 43.

Lil Yachty — “Poland”

WoooOOoooOOoOoOoooOoock. What might have been confused for an easy throwaway joke transcended memes as one of the most inventive songs in Lil Yachty’s canon. “Poland” is one of 2022’s most daring displays from a major label artist.

Los Gemelos De Sinaloa — “Andamos Mejor”

“Andamos Mejor” is plodding, late winter ballad from Regional Mexican band Los Gemelos De Sinaloa.

Lucky Daye — “F***in Sound”

GRAMMY-winning singer Lucky Daye dropped his strongest album in Candydrip. “Fuckin’ Sound” features Lucky stretching the limits of his voice, with a measure of restraint, to make something tense and sexy.

Masicka — “Umbrella”

Masicka’s “Umbrella” follows in the lineage of stormy pain music. The Jamaican artist’s 438 from last December forecasted this gloomy sound, and “Umbrella” is the apex of Masicka’s sound.

Mavins — “Overloading”

Teasing the release of Chapter X, the Mavin Records all-star roster comes together for “Overloading,” produced by label founder and legend Don Jazzy. Mavin went from being shut out at meetings to being a titan in African music.

Musa Keys — “Selema (Po Po) Remix” feat. Victony

Starting with music in church, South African amapiano producer Musa Keys taps Victony for the “Selema (Po Po)” remix, which has quickly taken over on the continent.

Nardo Wick — “Dah Dah DahDah”

Florida rapper Nardo Wick’s music sounds like the pit of Halloween. On “Dah Dah DahDah,” he recounts his street life with a creeping affect.

Patrice Roberts — “Mind My Business”

Soca singer Patrice Roberts slid in with a playful anthem at the buzzer of 2021: “Mind My Business.” “I drink water and mind my business” is the motto for 2022, 2023, and beyond.

PGF Nuk — “Waddup” feat. Polo G

It’s a gruesome Chicago link-up as malleable drill newcomer PGF Nuk gets the Polo G co-sign on the update to his energized breakout single “Waddup.”

Real Boston Richey — “Bullseye 2” feat. Future

Real Boston Richey hails from Florida, but on “Bullseye 2” his thick drawl glides atop churning production that sounds straight out of Michigan, while Atlanta icon Future provides a spirited guest verse.

Rexxie, Naira Marley & Skiibii — “Abracadabra”

Nigerian producer Rexxie gets Marlian music leader Naira Marley and SkiiBii trading flexes on the amapiano-inspired “Abracadabra.”

Sam Gellaitry — “Angel”

Scotland-born Sam Gellaitry found his own voice in electronic music. On “Angel,” he plays with the lightness of his perceived muse, warping his voice into the heavens.

Sam Smith, Kim Petras — “Unholy”

The most “Unholy” collab of the year. Sam Smith and Kim Petras deliver a jagged pop single-turned-queer-anthem.

Shane O — “Dark Room”

Continuing his career resurgence over the last few years, Shane O reached new heights cutting through the pain on “Dark Room.” The boom of the Jamaican artist’s voice gives this anthem a harrowing depth.

Shubh —“Baller” feat. Ikky

Punjabi-Canadian rapper and singer Shubh has made a massive impact in Punjabi music despite debuting in 2021 and with only a few songs to his name. “Baller” spotlights his nimble flow over production from Ikky.

Skeng — “Curves”

Skeng ended 2021 with the groovy “Curves.” The single would foreshadow a massive year in 2022 for the dancehall artist, culminating in his Beast of the Era EP—one of the best projects of the year.

Squash — “Ambala”

What does “Ambala” mean? Does it matter when the vibes are this good? The godfather and shot caller Squash did it again with one of the biggest dancehall bangers of the year.

Steve Lacy — “Bad Habit”

The No. 1 hit no one saw coming, Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit” roared on TikTok and climbed the charts as a result, forever changing the pop and R&B singer’s life.

Syd & Lucky Daye — “CYBAH”

Syd’s sophomore album is buoyed by “CYBAH” with Lucky Daye, which revealed a more twinkling side of the singer’s solo sound.

SZA — “Tread Carefully”

Released on the Ctrl deluxe, “Tread Carefully” is the best of SZA’s singing in cursive about time lost to shitty exes.

Uncle Waffles & Tony Duardo — “Tanzania” feat. Sino Msolo & BoiBizza

Amapiano DJ Uncle Waffles took off this year thanks to “Tanzania,” the lead-off single in her mission to take the South African music scene global.

Wizkid — “Money & Love”

The central thematic pillar of Big Wiz’s More Love, Less Ego album, the groovy “Money & Love,” is the transportive tune we needed this year.

Yeat — “Rich Minion”

You must wear a suit to continue reading this blurb. There really is no earthly reason for Yeat to be creating music for Minions: The Rise of Gru, but “Rich Minion” is proof that sometimes the weirdest can break through to become the biggest.

YoungBoy Never Broke Again — “I Hate YoungBoy”

Hate YoungBoy? It must have been a bad year for you, then. Amidst a prolific run, YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s hounding Southern sound comes alive on “I Hate YoungBoy,” where the raps turn into brutal shouts.

Zuchu — “Fire”

One of Tanzania’s hottest rising artists, Zuchu, released one of her sweetest, silkiest singles to date: “Fire” simply floats.

Black Sherif

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