Music Like Dirt’s annual late but hopefully great ‘end of year’ best of is finally here. Two hundred of the finest tracks from the last 12 months with playlists for all the major streaming sites.
Most of the tracks have links to the artists Bandcamp page, so if you hear something you like please consider following, listening or buying from a site that actually pays the people who create the music we love.

PLAYLISTS:
(TOP 200 TRACKS OF 2022)

👂🔊LISTEN ON

APPLE MUSIC, SPOTIFY, TIDAL, YOUTUBE OR DEEZER

1.
Horace Andy
‘Away With The Gun And Knife’

2.
Oliver Sim
‘Hideous (feat.Jimmy Somerville)’

Caught my reflection in your eye
Now you’ve seen me from both sides
Am I hideous?

3.
Skeng
‘London’

Skeng bad inna di London
Don, don, don, don, don, don, don, don, don, don (brrrp)

4.
Julia Bullock & Christian Reif
‘One By One’

As we wander through the grass, we can hear each other pass
But we’re far apart

5.
Quelle Chris
‘Alive Ain’t Always Living’

You can keep the feast and wine, I just want my peace of mind

6.
Busy Signal / Black Sherif
‘Man Hungry (Kwaku the Traveller Refix) /’Kwaku the Traveller’

Download: Free download of Busy Signal ‘refix’

7.
Julia Jacklin
‘Lydia Wears A Cross’

“I’d be a believer
if it was all just song and dance”

8.
Hifi Sean & David McAlmont
‘The Skin I’m In’

They don’t believe, “I can’t breathe.
Free lyrics book

9.
Kendrick Lamar
‘Mother I Sober (feat. Beth Gibbons)’ / ‘The Heart Part 5’

I wish I was somebody…
Anybody but myself


10.
Prima Queen
‘Butter Knife’

She doesn’t remember they said
A head and a body but you’re not there

11.
Mhaol
‘Bored of Men’

12.
Reigns
‘The Hoarder’

13.
Regina Spektor
‘Up the Mountain’

Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry
Got to taste it, I got to taste it

14.
Harry Styles
‘As It Was’

In this world, it’s just us
You know it’s not the same as it was

15.
Sizzla
‘Dem a Watch We’

16.
700 Bliss
‘Anthology’

17.
Taylor Swift
‘Anti-Hero’

It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me

18.
Backxwash
‘JUJU (feat. Ghais Guevara & Michael Go)’

What of the guilt, what of the hate
What of the memories and mistakes

19.
Little Simz
‘Gorilla’

Who is this woman that I’m seein’ in the mirror?
Drink ’42 and smoke cigar
Name one time where I didn’t deliver

20.
Kae Tempest
‘No Prizes (feat. Lianne La Havas)’ / ‘Nothing To Prove’

21.
Infinity Knives & Brian Ennals
‘Coke Jaw’

Fuck the Clintons and the Kennedys, fentanyl and Hennessy

22.
Joshua Idehen
‘I Got You Every Step Of The Way (For Leone Ross)’ / ‘Don’t You Give Up On Me’

Lights in the distance looking too dim
forecast for the future quite grim but
we carry on bredda hold up your chin


23.
Rat Heart
‘A Poem 4 The Modern Day DJ​/​Private School Online Activist’

24.
Nakhane
‘Tell Me Your Politik (feat. Moonchild Sanelly & Nile Rodgers)’ / You Got Me (Living Again)

25.
Ibibio Sound Machine Protection
‘Protection From Evil’

26.
Krone
‘Love and Wisdom (feat. Prince Far I)’

27.
Ailbhe Reddy & The Theodora Byrne Ensemble
‘Shoulder Blades (Choir Version)’

28.
SAULT (feat. Chronixx)
‘Glory’ / ‘Angel’


29.
Sven Wunder
‘Sun Kissed’

30.
Chronixx
‘Never Give Up’

31.
Billy Nomates
‘spite’

I know you think you hold all your power over me
But you don’t
Only I hold power over me

32.
Open Mike Eagle
‘For DOOM’ / ‘multi game arcade cabinet’

Got two songs with you, but only spoke through a go-between
Was still proud as fuck to reach ground zero
‘Cause who the fuck ever gets to rock with they heroes?

33.
Dawuna
‘baby boy’

34.
Goat
‘Under No Nation’

35.
Ab-Soul
‘Do Better’

36.
The Chats
‘6L GTR’

37.
Yaya Bey
‘don’t fucking call me’

Love you like cooked food, baby, you’s a meal
Only cost a few grey hairs that’s a steal

38.
Pama International meets Wrongtom
‘Dub Impressions’

39.
Francis Lung
‘2p Machine’

But as reams of blood red tickets streamed from the machine,
she felt truly rich

40.
Pusha T
‘Diet Coke’ / ‘Just So You Remember’

Seein’ you rappers apply for the stimulus
Livin’ a lie but die for your images

41.
Thank
‘Dread’

The letting agent promised there were no ghosts in this house
He said that not one previous tenant had complained of feeling dread

42.
Sudan Archives
‘Selfish Soul’ / NBPQ (Topless)

If I wear it straight, will they like me more?
Like those girls on front covers

43.
Sworn Virgins
‘The Male Man’ / ‘Searchin For Hiro’


44.
Kelela
‘On the Run’

45.
Beyonce
‘Alien Superstar’

46.
Sean Paul
‘Light My Fire (feat. Gwen Stefani and Shenseea)’

47.
Willi Carlisle
‘I Won’t Be Afraid’

Lord knows I’ve done some dumb shit
And I plan to do some more
But I won’t be afraid anymore

48.
Madison Cunningham
‘Life According To Raechel’

49.
Baby Cham & Bounty Killer
‘BLOOD CLXXT’

Baay things a happen and nobody naah talk

50.
Norman Pain / Northern Boys
‘F•ck’ / ‘Party Time’

The batter of the cod, chips swimming in the ketchup
Grease proof wrap, but the fat’s still dripping

Read – 51-100 here.