Month: December 2022

Each week our staff of film and TV experts surveys the entertainment landscape to select the ten best new/newish movies available for you to stream at home. We put a lot of thought into our selections, and our debates on what to include and what not to include can sometimes get a little heated and feelings may get hurt, but so be it, this is an important service for you, our readers. With that said, here are our selections for this week.

10. (tie) Wendell and Wild (Netflix)

If you’re missing Key & Peele, we have some good news for you. Multiple seasons of the Comedy Central series will arrive on Netflix in November, so you can get your Hingle McCringleberry on, right from the comfort of your living room. In the meantime, you can enjoy Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele’s voices (along with that of Angela Bassett) as they play plotting demons who tangle with a teen who digs punk rock. Watch it on Netflix.

10. (tie) Falling for Christmas (Netflix)

Sorry to Mariah Carey but Lindsay Lohan is taking her place as the rightful queen of the holiday season this year. Her throne sits atop the bones of all the Hallmark movies she had to slaughter to get here and every Netflix Christmas flick that follows in her wake will shudder when those first few bars of “Jingle Bell Rock” begin to play. This is the future every millennial raised on The Parent Trap — and the Disney Channel Original movie Life-Size starring Tyra Banks — has manifested. In all seriousness though, this thing looks cute. Lohan plays a hotel heiress who, after a skiing accident, loses her memory and must live amongst the peasants of a snowy mountain town. While there she bonds with a sheriff/single-dad played by Glee’s Chord Overstreet and, presumably, realizes her former life wasn’t as picture perfect as she thought. Watch it on Netflix.

10. (tie) Don’t Worry Darling (HBO Max)

Cringe-inducing festival appearances and celebrity break-ups heralded by salad dressing recipe sharing aside, Olivia Wilde’s second directorial effort is a very pretty, very fun watch. Most of that is because of Florence Pugh, who plays a young housewife slowly descending into madness once the cracks of her perfect suburban existence begin to show. The rest is thanks to an intriguing plot that keeps you guessing until the very end, a capable supporting cast (and yes, we count Harry Styles amongst them), and Chris Pine, who seems to be having the time of his life playing a suave pseudo-cult leader who favors unbuttoned shirts and misogynistic family hierarchies. Watch it on HBO Max.

9. Enola Holmes 2 (Netflix)

Thank goodness Henry Cavill didn’t sign on to play Superman again before filming this sequel, or there’d be another The Witcher-esque switcheroo in the works. Cavill is back, but more importantly, Millie Bobbie Brown returns as the sassy younger sister of Sherlock Holmes. One of the bigger plot finds roots in the real-life Bryant & May match factory atrocities, but somehow, the overall mood stays light. Enola sets up her own detective shingle and goes undercover, so you can only imagine what hijinks will ensue. Watch it on Netflix.

8. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (The Roku Channel)

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story stars Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe as “Weird Al” Yankovic, obviously. The fake biopic depicts the world’s premier polka-loving pop song parodist as a hard-drinking sex maniac, obviously. It also stars Evan Rachel Wood as Madonna, Quinta Brunson as Oprah Winfrey, and Rainn Wilson as Dr. Demento, obviously. Should you watch Weird: The Al Yankovic Story this weekend on the Roku Channel? Obviously.

7. Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (Netflix)

Well, guess what: Scrooge is back. In animated form. In a trippy new animated story that features the voices of people like Luke Evans and Olivia Colman. Which is… fine. It’s fine! There’s a reason this story has been told 800 times. People love it! Now, you could just watch The Muppet Christmas Carol instead, if you want. That’s an option. But this is here now, too. So there’s that. Watch it on Netflix.

6. Lady Chatterly’s Lover (Netflix)

Netflix dives into another extremely British tale of class-crossing love affairs, this one based on a novel from the 1920s that was banned in many countries for obscenity but is now just a movie you can watch by clicking the button next to, like, The Crown. It’s kind of wild if you think about it, so… let’s not! Watch it on Netflix.

5. Disenchanted (Disney Plus)

Amy Adams returns in her breakout role, but she’s a princess who actually isn’t having as much fun as she imagined would be the case. Giselle is still married to Robert (Patrick Dempsey), and they’re still searching for their fairy tale. Maya Rudolph climbs onboard for a semi-evil role as a villain of suburbia, and this is all very G-rated material again because c’mon, Disney. The story will be as charming as always, but the real attraction is James Marsden’s returning Idiot Prince. Basically, I just want the Idiot Prince to get plowed down at every opportunity again. Watch it on Disney Plus.

4. A Christmas Story Christmas (HBO Max)

Ralphie is back, over 30 years later, and he’s returning to the hometown where everything went down the first time around. Is this pretty much just nostalgia bait? Sure. Did anyone really need to know what Ralphie is up to in 2022? Probably not. Are you going to watch it anyway and end up charmed by the whole thing, up to and including the part where they actually got Peter Billingsly to reprise his role from the original? Hmm. We bet you are. Watch it on HBO Max.

3. Spirited (Apple TV Plus)

Apple TV+ is getting into the Christmas movie game with this musically inclined re-telling of that classic Dickens tales. Ryan Reynolds plays the modern-day Scrooge here, a guy named Clint Briggs who doesn’t take his holiday haunting lying down. Will Ferrell plays the Ghost of Christmas Present who’s determined to inject a bit of cheer into the proceedings no matter how many musical numbers and tap-dancing solos it takes. As far as Charles Dickens adaptations go, you could do a lot worse. Watch it on Apple TV Plus.

2. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (Disney Plus)

In the mood for some space-related superhero business this holiday season? Great! Why not?! Here we have the Guardians of the Galaxy — Chris Pratt, Pom Klementieff, Kevin Bacon a little bit — doing a bunch of Christmas things, for you, all month long. Is it kind of cute and sweet? Sure. Would we pay decent money to have our own lil Groot decorated like a Christmas tree? Of course. Would it be fun if they made a movie next year where Hulk had to take over for Santa due to an emergency? It’s worth considering. But for now, there’s this. Watch it on Disney Plus.

1. Reno 911! It’s A Wonderful Heist (Comedy Central)

The Reno 911! gang is back, ringing in the holidays with a nod to It’s A Wonderful Life, decaying shopping malls, and American weirdness. Not to oversell, but this laugh-until-your-face-hurts special once again proves that Tom Lennon, Niecy Nash, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Cedric Yarbrough, and company are operating at the top of their game as a collective. Watch it on Comedy Central.

Each week our staff of film and TV experts surveys the entertainment landscape to select the ten best new/newish shows available for you to stream at home. We put a lot of thought into our selections, and our debates on what to include and what not to include can sometimes get a little heated and feelings may get hurt, but so be it, this is an important service for you, our readers. With that said, here are our selections for this week.

Get more streaming recommendations with our weekly What To Watch newsletter.

10. (tie) 1899 (Netflix)

Imagine if Lost took place on a transatlantic steamboat and you’ve got the gist of this mystery-drama. Made by the same twisted geniuses that gave us Netflix’s Dark series, this show follows a group of passengers hailing from all over Europe who find themselves stuck on a cursed ship bound for America. After the recent disappearance of another company ship months earlier, everyone on board is a bit on-edge and the tension only escalates when passengers start dying, weird time loops start popping up, and a boy who should be dead arrives with an ominous-looking pyramid that makes everything go haywire. Watch it on Netflix.

10. (tie) Tulsa King (Paramount Plus)

Sylvester Stallone portrays a mafia capo who’s not swimming with the fishes. However, he might as well be on Mars in this Taylor Sheridan-created series that takes him to Route 66 and the land of the Golden Driller. Tulsa’s experiencing a hotspot-like effect these days in the midst of Reservation Dogs and following Watchmen, but it’s going to be quite pleasurable to see him as the O.G. who’s dropping a “nice little place you got here” in a weed dispensary. This show looks to be full of 1980s-style one-liners that could put the Sly and Arnold movies of yesteryear to shame. Watch it on Paramount Plus.

10. (tie) Wednesday (Netflix)

Yes, Rob Zombie and Tim Burton are all up in the goth-nostalgia resurrection this fall, but while Zombie veers into wild kitsch, Burton decided to reinvent his character’s mission a bit while creating a “eight-hour Tim Burton movie.” Call it a passion project, of course, while Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán step in as Morticia and Gomez, respectively, and Jenna Ortega slides into view as the title character. Don’t expect a typical reboot feel. Rather, Wednesday is on some missions here, and the show justifies its existence as a separate entity. Watch it on Netflix.

10. (tie) Dead To Me (Netflix)

How do you end a show the “right” way? Do you try to say something profound, pay off longtime viewers with fan service, or end with a shocking twist? For Dead To Me‘s just-released final season, the answer is an emphatic yes to all of the above as creator Liz Feldman delivers a triumphant close, leaning on the otherworldly onscreen chemistry of stars Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini as they lead us through the twisty chaos of the show’s central story while dealing with heavy matters of life, family. love, and death before ending on high with a tear and a tease. Watch it on Netflix.

9. Slow Horses (Apple TV Plus)

The first season of this spy drama was a trip. There were twists and turns and Emma Corrin from House of the Dragon and at one point Gary Oldman’s character farted himself awake. It was a pretty good time, even if it got dark at times. If you worked your way through season one, it’s time to dive in again. If not, it’s a great time for a binge. You have lots of options, is the point. Watch it on Apple TV Plus.

8. Gossip Girl (HBO Max)

Surprisingly enough, reboot fatigue didn’t happen here. This series sparked enough interest to generate another season of a show that doesn’t have Penn Badgley, Blake Lively, Chace Crawford, or Sebastian Stan, but it’s still got scandal. Gossip Girl’s pulling plenty of strings, of course, while soaring through Manhattan’s most elite circles. As well, the show manages to stand apart from the original with plenty of rightful drama revolving around the new gang. Even if this series doesn’t seem like your type of show, you might not be able to resist getting caught up in the glossy-trash vibe. Watch it on HBO Max.

7. Willow (Disney Plus)

Hey, look. Willow is back. As a television show now. Warwick Davis is in there. That’s something! Fans of the cult-classic movie might want to dive into this new version of the story, whether it’s out of genuine interest or nostalgia or just plain old curiosity. We won’t judge you. Watch it on Disney Plus.

6. Mythic Quest (Apple TV Plus)

It’s easy to think of Mythic Quest, now in its third season, as Rob McElhenney’s “other” show, but that would be a mistake. Yes, sure, he’s best known for the incredibly long-running Always Sunny, which is fair because that show rules. But this one is great, too. It’s sweet and mean and funny and everything a workplace comedy — this time in a video game studio — should be. No television show did a better job of grasping the pandemic while it was still new and really scary, too. Do not miss this because you relegate it to second-tier Mac status. This is the good stuff, too. Watch it on Apple TV Plus.

5. Welcome to Chippendale’s (Hulu)

The downside of ambition is explored as sleights move from fuel to an acid rotting the man behind Chippendales to his core even as his creation — clubs featuring all-male strip shows — approaches the apex of its popularity. Starring Kumail Nanjiani in arguably his best work, this 8-episode event series leans into the debauchery of the ’80s as it tells a (true) story about an awkward, hard-working immigrant who dreamt of becoming the next Hugh Hefner before self-destructing. Watch it on Hulu.

4. The Crown (Netflix)

Revenge dresses. Extramarital affairs. Royal yacht refurbishments. The Crown’s fifth season ramps up the melodrama to deliciously enjoyable levels as Elizabeth Debicki channels Princes Diana and Dominic West steps into Prince Charles’ (less desirable) shoes. Though the conflict between the couple spurs much of the action this season, there’s still room for Imelda Staunton (who plays Queen Elizabeth II this time around) and Lesley Manville (as Princess Margaret) to give some spectacular performances that ground the soap opera vibes a bit. If anything, this season draws a clear line between the supposed pros and very apparent cons of the British monarchy, showing how the fallout of their familial squabbles had very real consequences for their subjects. Watch it on Netflix.

3. Fleishman Is In Trouble (Hulu)

I hear what you’re thinking here. The title of this show doesn’t sound particularly fascinating. Maybe it even sounds a little bit pretentious. Yet this show’s actually a satiric little jaunt that turns marriage-divorce drama on its head. Jesse Eisenberg plays the dude whose wife, played by Claire Danes, leaves him and then quite literally leaves the building. He’s suddenly in the midst of parenting and awful dating experiences, and all of this wouldn’t be as fascinating if Eisenberg wasn’t so good at being awkward. He’s flanked by Lizzy Caplan and Adam Brody (there are worse companions out there) while trying to find his way. Watch it on Hulu.

2. Abbott Elementary (Hulu)

The first season of Abbott Elementary was a feel-good network sitcom that caught a massive wave of popularity and won a bunch of Emmys in a time when feel-good network sitcoms are kind of not supposed to do that. Credit for this goes to creator and star Quinta Brunson, who realized that an underfunded inner-city public school was exactly the right place to show us people with good hearts working inside a system that can be cold. Kind of like Parks and Recreation but in Philadelphia. The second season is underway and does not appear to be missing a beat. This is basically a miracle, all around. Watch it on Hulu.

1. The White Lotus (HBO Max)

The first season of The White Lotus took the world and the internet by storm with its combination of misery and drama and beautiful Hawaiian scenery. Season two takes the action to a new resort in the White Lotus chain, this one in Italy, and replaces almost the entire cast. “Almost” being the key word here because Jennifer Coolidge is back as Tanya. Which is good. More shows should be about Jennifer Coolidge going to fancy hotels around the world. This is a nice start. Watch it on HBO Max.

Christine McVie died yesterday (November 30) at 79 years old. A statement posted to her social media accounts confirmed that the longtime Fleetwood Mac member “passed away peacefully at hospital […] following a short illness.” No further details about the circumstances surrounding her death have been shared. Fleetwood Mac also posted a statement, and tributes for McVie trickled out throughout the day.

Stevie Nicks’ tribute was especially heartbreaking. She shared a handwritten note to her Instagram and Twitter accounts, including lyrics from Haim’s “Hallelujah”:

“A few hours ago I was told that my best friend in the whole world since the first day of 1975 had passed away. I didn’t even know she was ill… until late Saturday night. I wanted to be in London; I wanted to get to London — but we were told to wait. So, since Saturday, one song has been swirling around in my head, over and over and over. I thought I might possibly get to sing it to her, and so, I’m singing it to her now. I always knew I would need these words one day. (Written by the Ladies Haim) It’s all I can do now…”

Nicks wrote out the third verse and chorus and ended the heartbreaking letter with, “See you on the other side, My Love. Don’t forget about me.”

Haim commented on the Instagram post, “rip beautiful songbird [heart emojis] we love u stevie.” The four-time Grammy nominees also dedicated an Instagram post to McVie’s passing:

“We write this with tears in our eyes and all over our faces,” Haim’s caption reads. “The sisterhood Stevie and Christine had was so vital to us growing up. Seeing two strong women support each other in our favorite band has had such a huge impact on us throughout our lives. From playing ‘Say That You Love Me’ in Rockinhaim since 1999 to seeing Christine sing ‘Over My Head’ live in 2015, she has been a constant inspiration. RIP beautiful songbird [heart emojis].”

McVie became Fleetwood Mac’s first female vocalist in 1970, and Nicks joined the iconic band in 1975.

The Milwaukee Bucks have raced out to a 15-5 start to the 2022-23 NBA season, giving them the second-best record in the league behind only the Boston Celtics. Milwaukee has managed to do this without the services of All-Star wing Khris Middleton, who needed to undergo surgery during the offseason to repair a torn ligament in his wrist.

But the good news for the Bucks is that help is on the way. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the expectation is that Middleton will make his season debut on Friday night, when Milwaukee plays host to the Los Angeles Lakers. It will mark the first time that Middleton will be able to suit up since the Bucks’ playoff series against the Chicago Bulls last year — while he did not hurt his wrist in that game, Middleton suffered an MCL sprain, which held him out for the remainder of the postseason.

A three-time All-Star selection and a crucial piece to the Bucks team that won an NBA championship over the Phoenix Suns during the 2020-21 campaign, Middleton started all 66 games in which he appeared last season. Middleton averaged 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.2 steals in 32.4 minutes per game while connecting on 37.3 percent of his attempts from behind the three-point line.

Spotify offers its users a new way to engage with their favorite music, with a different kind of “personalized Wrapped experienced” with its new listening personality feature.

“Your Listening Personality is a new feature that not only tells you about the music you listen to but what that says about your music taste — bringing a whole new layer of personalization and insight to the entire Wrapped experience,” according to a recent statement.

Over 16 kinds of “personalities” have been created for Spotify Wrapped 2022, including the adventurer, the early adopter, the deep diver, the devotee, and more.

The listening personality is created with four metrics: familiarity vs. exploration, loyalty vs. variety, timelessness vs. newness, and commonality vs. uniqueness.

It’s been almost nine years since the Wrapped concept was introduced in 2013, but it was under a different name — Year In Music. By 2016, the platform had evolved, allowing users to engage more with their favorite artists and songs. Later, the platform would roll out personalized listening statistics and user-specific interactivity.

But the creator of the Wrapped experience we know today was allegedly created by a former intern for Spotify, visual artist Jewel Ham. Back in 2020, Ham revealed that she had pitched the idea for Spotify Wrapped’s visual rebrand during her final days at the company, but to this day, she has not received credit.

Spotify representatives have since denied the claim, stating, “While ideas generated during Spotify’s internship program have on the occasion informed campaigns and products, based on our internal review, that is not the case here with Spotify Wrapped. It’s unfortunate that things have been characterized otherwise.”

Good Morning America anchors Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes have gone dark on social media after the two were reportedly photographed looking very, very friendly over the holiday weekend. Prior to the Daily Mail publishing the photos, the two were believed to be married to other people, so that’s going to turn some heads. It also didn’t help that the pair were being openly affectionate from holding hands in a car to Holmes very visibly grabbing Robach’s butt.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Holmes deactivated both his Twitter and Instagram accounts. Robach did the same for Instagram, but her account is reportedly still active on Twitter. The potential couple is also attempting to head off accusations of an affair.

An inside source has already told People that the couple was already separated from their spouses before they started dating, and there was no overlap with their burgeoning romance.

“This was two consenting adults who were each separated. They both broke up with their spouses in August within weeks of each other,” the insider adds. “The relationship didn’t start until after that.”

Robach, 49, is married to actor Andrew Shue while Holmes, 45, is married to attorney Marilee Fiebig. Both couples were married in 2010.

Continues the source: “She’s got nothing to hide. They were both separated so they felt very comfortable dating in the open after that. Their spouses had moved out, even! So they were not hiding anything.”

However, People also reports that their colleagues at GMA were “somewhat surprised” by the photos, and their chemistry did raise suspicions.

“There were rumors they were having an affair about a year ago,” a source at GMA said. “A lot of people believed there might have been some truth to it, because you can see there’s a mutual affection there. But everyone ultimately chalked it up to friendship because they always said they were both happily married.”

(Via Entertainment Weekly, People)

Ahead of his forthcoming album, Herbert, Ab-Soul has teased a possible feature with Jay-Z.

The TDE rapper shared a picture of him and the Brooklyn rapper yesterday (November 30), getting extra chummy at the Barclays Center in New York City, writing, “SOUL DID,” in the caption, a reference to Jay-z’s collaboration with DJ Khaled, “GOD DID.”

It’s nearly been six years since the Los Angeles rapper announced that he would drop his highly-anticipated fifth studio album in December. This past November, the rapper released a video for “Gang Nem,” along with releasing two songs earlier this year, including “Hollandaise” in April and “Moonshooter” in September.

According to a recent press statement, Ab-Soul gets more vulnerable than ever with Herbert. The album will paint “an intimate portrait of the man behind Ab-Soul,” trekking through his life, past struggles, and journey back into music.

The new project references the rapper’s birth name, Herbert Anthony Stevens IV.

“Herbert is a deliberately intimate portrait of the man behind Ab-Soul going back to his foundation,” the statement reads. “As noted by the name of the record, leaving the conspiracy theories, he’s known for behind while emphasizing his musicality. After suffering through a series of unspeakable tragedies, Stevens completed the album as a changed man with a new sense of purpose.”

So far, the tracklist and features haven’t been revealed yet for the upcoming album.

Herbert is out 12/16 via TDE Records.

If there is one thing scammy tech bros will always have, it is “the audacity.” Despite being fresh out of prison on charges relating to the Fyre Fest debacle, Billy McFarland is already hyping another music festival — although he insists it isn’t one. This one, PYRT (pronounced “pirate,” because of course it is) will be a virtual event, which is just perfect for the post-FTX era. Billy even gave a mention to the metaverse, because self-awareness was the one app that didn’t come preinstalled on his mental hard drive.

McFarland pitched the event, which he described as a “virtual immersive decentralized reality,” via a TikTok video — and pardon me while I completely meltdown over having to write that sentence.

Okay, we’re back.

Because Billy apparently did not learn from his previous mistakes, he said the festival will take place in a “small, remote destination” (yes, that worked swimmingly the last time), hosting a “handful of artists, content creators, entrepreneurs and any of you guys who end up joining the PYRT crew” (which sounds eerily familiar, doesn’t it?).

He’s even got the temerity to insist that he’s currently looking for a Caribbean nation to host the festival, with a dash of the gall to name-drop Exuma — y’know, the part of the Bahamas that famously played host to the Fyre Festival disaster. The Bahamian government washed its hands of McFarland and his events in 2017, so securing this location seems… unlikely.

Actually, Billy pulling PYRT off seems pretty unlikely in general, considering his history, but if there’s anything 2022 has shown us, it’s that if people will put faith in Elon Musk to “fix” Twitter, there will undoubtedly be some monkey NFT-toting suckers on the line for this thing. Fingers crossed it’s every bit as hilarious as the last one.

Patrick Mahomes is on track to be one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. His resume up to this point in his career is basically unimpeachable despite the fact that he wasn’t viewed as a potential franchise-changing prospect coming out of college. While Mahomes put up big numbers during his time at Texas Tech, he came into the league with a lot of the concerns that signal callers face whenever they come from a pass-happy offense.

Of course, Mahomes has made some of those concerns look a bit silly. After spending a year sitting behind Alex Smith, Mahomes took the starting job in Kansas City and has never looked back. But in a recent appearance on the New Heights podcast, which is co-hosted by Jason and Travis Kelce, Mahomes revealed how he got some inside information in the lead-up to the 2017 NFL Draft that made it easy for him to impress Andy Reid.

“Matt Nagy, who was the offensive coordinator then, he really liked me,” Mahomes said. “So, he gave me the plays they were gonna go over the night before. So, coach Reid’s finding out, here, live on the New Heights podcast.

“Of course, I crushed the meeting,” Mahomes continued. “I stayed up all night studying those plays.”

Mahomes went on to say that he leaked to the Chiefs that he had insight that other teams wanted to select him in the Draft, and that if they wanted him, they’d need to pounce.

It’s been a pleasure to watch the modern sound of afrobeats grow. The genre’s current torch bearers – Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Davido – contributed heavily to boosting afrobeats to the heights it flies at today. Their work, along with the contributions of others, made it easier for newcomers to make a name for themselves, prosper, and reach listeners far outside of the African continent. 2022 is absolutely evidence of that.

Two of the aforementioned names, Wizkid and Burna Boy, delivered projects that are certainly worth the argument for best afrobeats album of 2022. However, Asake’s show-stealing effort with his debut album puts him in the conversation for the genre’s breakout star and the name behind its most impressive album. Nonetheless, what made 2022 such a great year for afrobeats albums is the variety of artists that showed up and showed out with their A-game with releases that perfectly captured the best of their artistry and the excellence of the genre as a whole.

So, let’s get into it. Here are the ten best afrobeats albums of 2022 in alphabetical order:

Adekunle Gold — Catch Me If You Can

Afrobeats’ stellar 2022 year kicked off with the release of Adekunle Gold’s fourth album Catch Me If You Can. Unlike many artists who shared projects in the genre this year, Adekunle is undoubtedly a veteran in this space. That experience comes alive through his fearless approach on the album’s 14 songs and the wisdom that lives through each one. He curses at Satan on “Mase Mi” (which translates to “don’t tempt me” in Yoruba) and champions his journey on the project’s title track. Catch Me If You Can is a compilation of the things that Adekunle Gold does best, that is, deliver sweet and sensual records that satisfy the ear (see: “Woman”) while also trying new things and letting his innate talents guide him as he does on “High” and “Dior, Dior, Dior.” – Wongo Okon

Asake — Mr. Money With The Vibe

Nigerian singer Asake shot out like a rocket in 2022. From the year’s start to its final weeks, Asake found numerous ways to stand out in the afrobeats genre that he was fairly new to. His debut album Mr. Money With The Vibe stands as the best offering from the genre in 2022. Whether it be the project’s appetizing singles like his “Sungba (Remix)” with Burna or “Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)” or the album’s fulfilling deep cuts like “Dupe” or “Joha,” Asake operates with a fervor that is both admirable and infectious for the listener, making it impossible to get through the project without showcasing your best legwork moves, even if you’re alone. Point being, with Mr. Money With The Vibe, Asake won 2022 in afrobeats. – W.O.

Black Sherif — The Villain I Never Was

This year changed Black Sherif’s life forever. Things really got going for the Ghanaian artist at the end of 2021 when Burna Boy remixed “Second Sermon.” From then on, Sherif pressed the pedal to the metal in what turned out to be a vibrant year for him, which gave us his debut album The Villain I Never Was. The 13 tracks that make up Black Sherif’s debut stand out for their rawness and rough edges. He prefers power over patient precision as he stands as a towering figure throughout the album. Black Sherif commands the tracks he arrives on and he commands the rooms he steps into. With The Villain I Never Was, he seeks to paint himself in a better light despite past tribulations, and succeeds in doing so. – W.O.

Blaqbonez — Young Preacher

Nigerian rapper Blaqbonez made sure that his name would not be left out of afrobeats’ monumental 2022. Eighteen months after releasing his debut Sex Over Love, he returns with his second effort Young Preacher. Don’t mistake the project’s title for a biblical approach or a gospel influence on its 13 songs. The preaching that Blaqbonez does on his second album has to do with his love for women, adjustments and lessons learned with fame, and the pains of his past. Through confessions of wrongs in romance on “Back In Uni” and his commitment to holding onto his wealth and not blowing it off on “Fake Nikes,” Blaqbonez moves with an honest face dedicated to simply being himself, for better or for worse. Through a listen of Young Preacher, it’s certainly the former. – W.O.

BOJ — Gbagada Express

All BOJ needed was one spotlight moment to prove his talents to the world. It eventually came last year with an appearance on Dave’s We’re All Alone In This Together. Just like any artist should, BOJ used that moment to put out his best work with his third album Gbagada Express. On the project, BOJ transcends to new heights, something that’s hard to deny thanks to appearances from Wizkid, Davido, Mr Eazi, Tiwa Savage, Buju, Fireboy DML, and more spread throughout the album. Even though, BOJ’s own work is an elevated version of himself. The direction and inspirations are clearer and his improvement is undeniable. With Gbagada Express, BOJ used his roots to display his growth, a connection that makes the experience of his third album that much better. – W.O.

Burna Boy — Love, Damini

Since he deemed himself the African Giant back in 2019, Burna Boy has lived up to that title and then some. For his sixth album Love, Damini, the Nigerian superstar sought to extend his global reach and recognition as he’d done with African Giant and 2020’s Twice As Tall. What we received was a body of work that watched Burna Boy sit comfortably on his throne as he invited names from all corners of the world for records that celebrated life (“Rollercoaster”), championed a perfect companion (“Toni-Ann Singh”), and committed to a lifelong love (“For My Hand”). Even in Burna’s solo moments, he unsurprisingly gave us memorable records like the summer anthem “Last Last” and the celebratory “It’s Plenty.” All in all, Love, Damini is proof of Burna Boy’s resounding stature in music. – W.O.

Naira Marley — God’s Timing’s The Best

It’s a bit hard to believe that Naira Marley just released his debut album this year. He’s far from a new name in the genre as his catalog dates back to at least 2017 with collaborations alongside notable names like Olamide. However, with God’s Timing’s The Best, Marley makes it clear that the best things happen on their own time. The least you can do is be ready for when that time comes. Marley showcases the many elements of his lifestyle that, together, made for perfect combination to display on his debut. Whether its gratitude (“Happy”), exuberance (“Drink Alcohol Like Its Water”), or romance (“No Panties”), Naira Marley gives listeners a little bit of everything on God’s Timing’s The Best. – W.O.

Omah Lay — Boy Alone

In a year driven by uptempo afrobeats, like amapiano, Omah Lay found success with a softer and more rhythmic approach. It’s evident on his long-awaited debut album Boy Alone. Aside from appearances by Justin Bieber and Nigerian singer Tay Iwar, Lay handles the majority of Boy Alone on his own with records that showcase his most vulnerable self. He confesses to his imperfections on the somber “I’m A Mess” and lays his heart on wax with “Woman” and “Never Forget.” He searches for peace on “Safe Haven” while also fighting against his “Temptations.” It takes a certain kind of strength to be as openly vulnerable as Omah Lay is, and to his benefit, his will to do so helped him to create a great body of work. – W.O.

Rema — Rave & Roses

Rema’s first global impact was felt back in 2019 with his breakout hit “Dumebi.” Nearly three years, numerous singles, and few EPs later, Rema was finally ready to tell his story with a debut album. Rave & Roses arrived in the top half of the year and helped to propel him to the heights of the afrobeats genre. “Calm Down,” “Soundgasm,” and “FYN” spread far and wide as the records took space on many fans’ summer anthem playlists. More niche cuts like “Dirty,” “Mara,” and “Love” gave listeners additional reasons to root for and stan Rema. The best thing about Rave & Roses is how fun and lively the album is, and in a year that was the world’s most open and free one in a while, it was all we could ask for. – W.O.

Wizkid — More Love, Less Ego

Wizkid’s fifth album More Love, Less Ego is just as much of a worldwide message as it is another impressive addition to his discography. Through its 13 songs, Wizkid sought to showcase the many sides of love and how beautiful it can be at its peak. He had fun with it on “Bad To Me” while diving into its different flavors on “Slip N Slide.” Wizkid embraced the passion on “Deep” and hoped for its longevity on “Frames (Who’s Gonna Know).” What makes More Love, Less Ego more impressive is that the calls for love are indirect. Wizkid’s own endeavors in romance are meant to inspire. We watch from afar and desire for something similar in our day-to-day lives. Now, that’s the magic of Wizkid. – W.O.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.