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By JESSEN WEBER

2022. He said, “It was such a catchy song, and his vocal performance on the song was so good.” Critics agreed, with many calling it the best song of the year.

“Even with how popular of a song it became, it was still enjoyable to listen to time and time again,” Pohland said.

You also simply cannot talk about the best music in 2022 without mentioning Taylor Swift. She released “Midnights” in October, her first new music in nearly two years. Many of the songs on the record were centered around Swift’s experiences with anxiety, insecurities, and selfcriticism. Ten songs on the album made it on the top-10 charts for the Billboard Hot 100, making it the first time that one artist took over the entire list. Songs like “Anti-hero” and “Lavender Haze” went viral on Tik Tok and cemented Swift’s spot as one of the most popular artists of recent years.

Similarly, Beyoncé released the single “Break My Soul” in June, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and gaining even more popularity through Tik Tok. On July 29, she released her seventh studio album, “Renaissance”. It marked her first solo album in over six years and her first foray into house and disco music. The electro sound mixed with psychedelic soul gave listeners something they had never heard from Beyoncé. Excellent writing that paid respect to Black and Queer communities resulted in universal acclaim from fans and critics alike.

2022 marked a big year within the rap community as well. Rumors began in late 2021 that Compton native Kendrick Lamar would be releasing an album, and that became reality in early May. Lamar’s fifth studio album, “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers”, was an immediate success. The minimalist production is similar to his 2015 album, “To Pimp a Butterfly”, with trap and R&B elements reminiscent of his 2017 album, “Damn”. The album’s lyrical themes are centered around selfreflection, addiction, and seeking therapy. “N95’’ was the lead single for the album, and contained some production from his cousin and fellow American rapper, Baby Keem. The song “Auntie Diaries’’ recalls the story of his transgender uncle, and references issues within society regarding acceptance of those in the LGBTQ+ community.

One of the biggest surprises of the year was Atlanta rap star, JID, releasing his incredible third album, “The Forever Story”. Many music critics named it the “best rap album no way a deer is getting through there. What happens to animals when they cannot get to their home, when they’re barred from the places they are familiar with?

They are forced to adapt, but not every animal can do this. Adaptation takes time, and many animals die because they have nowhere else to turn. We have yet to find out what effect this is having on the environment long term.

I’m getting political, I know. I like to think I’m not such a political person, but if you know me, you know I’m a humanitarian at heart. I like to think I stand up against injustice when I see it. I didn’t even get into the emotional and psychological trauma that these people are facing. Or even my personal experience of being of the year” on their respective lists. Collaborating with artists like 21 Savage, Lil Wayne, Lil Durk, and Ari Lennox, “The Forever Story” speaks about JID’s upbringing and origin story. This latest album contains bold production and still consists of the smooth wordplay he’s been known for in the past. His constant control of beat and flow switches keeps listeners on their toes, but, in my opinion, isn’t distracting. “Surround Sound” has up-tempo beats with JID effortlessly switching between double entendre and telling stories about growing up in Atlanta. This latest record proves why he is one of the most talented rappers and greatest songwriters within the rap industry, and should make him a household name in no time. the minority in a room where I can’t speak to anyone because I don’t know Spanish. It scared me. Imagine how immigrants must feel in our country... But maybe that’s not my story to tell. However, I knew I needed to say something about this experience.

Perhaps the album written with the most heart and conviction in 2022 came from the country music realm, “White Trash Revelry” by Adeem the Artist. A majority of the record depicts the adversities of living as pansexual in the American Deep South, as well as within the country music industry. Their passionate lyrics on top of some sweet melodies and chord progressions really complement each other well. The song “Middle of the Heart” details Adeem’s experience with their father pressuring them to learn how to shoot and kill a deer, as well as the pressure to serve in the military. Adeem questions the pride of killing within our country’s history, and the tradition of many southern families teaching their children how to shoot a gun at a young age. The very vivid and honest lyrics from a unique perspective within country music creates such a special album from Adeem the Artist.

Now that we can reflect on this past year in music, the pop genre definitely stood out. Icons Taylor Swift and Beyoncé made their returns to the music scene, while Harry Styles released one of the most popular songs of the past couple of years. Eight of the top 10 streamed artists of 2022 were within the pop genre. Entering 2023, I expect another year of pop artists taking over the charts, while the rap genre will follow right behind. Artists like Bad Bunny and Adeem the Artist push for progress politically and culturally. Hopefully they will inspire more to do the same in 2023. As we await new releases this year, I suggest you take a dive into some of these albums from this past year. If you haven’t already sampled them, I have a feeling you’ll find something new to enjoy.

Perhaps I’ve encouraged others to look deeper into this issue. You may be thinking, “What can I do?” That’s what I was thinking, too. My simple yet not-so-simple answer is to educate yourself, accompany those around you by actively listening to their life experiences, and speak up against injustices, such as harmful policies or racist comments. Maybe even learn a second language. Changing the culture starts with you. What will you do about it?