Year in music: The 10 biggest and best 2022 songs by New Jersey artists
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The year 2022 was a big one for Jersey artists on the vanguard.
Bandmanrill of Newark became the face of the new Jersey Drill hip-hop movement, Nicki Minaj joined Hackensack’s Coi Leray on her breakout hit, “Blick Blick,” and Joe P of Asbury Park showed that he’s a music star on TikTok, and now he’s lighting it up on real life.
Below are the Top 10 songs by Jersey indies and recently signed artists, in alphabetical order of the title. Our criteria is the quality of the song, and its popularity, too.
Jersey artists have racked up millions of views and listens on social media in the past year — 2023 looks like it’s going to be even bigger.
‘All Day I Dream About’ by Joe P (Asbury Park)
Who’s Asbury Park’s next rock star?
It looks like Joe P, formerly of the city group Deal Casino, is well on his way. He took a circuitous route to the near-big time — he rocked TikTok with heartfelt, quirky songs that had spark and spunk and millions of views. One track was “All Day I Dream About,” performed in a snow flurry. The enticing alt-rocker scratches out an insistent rhythm that builds to a sweeping crescendo.
See it live when Joe P, signed to the Atlantic Records imprint Neon Gold, plays the House of Independents in A.P. 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29.
Info: joepthehyena.com.
‘Blick Blick’ by Coi Leray (Hackensack) and Nicki Minaj
One of the most talked about hip-hop tracks of 2022 had Jersey roots.
“Blick Blick,” the first single from Coi Leray’s debut major label album, “Trendsetter,” dropped in March. Leray is the Hackensack-born daughter Raymond “Benzino” Scott of The Source fame. Rap icon Nicki Minaj joined in and the result is lots of electric appeal and candy slice enticement. Not big on calories, but big on fun. So far, more than 34 million have viewed the vid on YouTube.
More: instagram.com/coileray
'Floyd' by Bandmanrill (Newark)
Need a shot of adrenaline boosted by smarts and flare?
Bandmanrill from is your man. The rising rapper from Newark is at the forefront of a new genre of music, called alternatively Jersey Club or Jersey Drill, and it’s fast and infectious with rapid fire beats, twisting rhymes and syncopated riddims.
Bandmanrill, whose singles and mixtapes have generated millions of views and listens, recently signed with Warner Bros. Record. He dropped the “Club Godfather” mixtape in October on the label. “Floyd,” a missive about walking in and owning a room, came out in June and it’s a banger.
Bandmanrill kind of owns the state at this points, especially from a hip-hop perspective. Check “Floyd” out on YouTube, but watch the language
Visit: www.instagram.com/bandmanrill
‘Lisa’s Story’ by Lady London (East Orange)
Here’s a throwback with ‘20s appeal.
“Lisa’s Story,’ from Lady London and Dub Aura, is an old school style hip-hop track that’s a cautionary tale about cheating.
“I’m really into creating storylines and worlds within themselves,” said London previously to the USA today Network NJ. “I made up this story and posted it on Instagram and it went viral so it was a moment. I decided to continue the story by having a male perspective.”
London’s old-school flow and cinematic delivery is starting to catch on. “Lisa’s Story” has more than 3 million views on YouTube.
Info: bossladylondon.com.
‘New Energy’ by Don Michael Jr. (Camden)
Don Michael Jr., a music industry veteran, has been pulling back the curtains on the recording industry on his smirk-inducing TikTok videos.
The takeaway lesson is that what the artist sounds like in the studio and is not what the artist sounds like on the record. It’s all part of the new energy Michael is bringing to the game. “New Energy,” from his “This Is Not Music” LP, is the name of his break-out single and it’s generated more than a million listens and views on social media.
Actually, “New Energy” is barely over a minute long, but it’s catchy as it's short — and emblematic of Michael’s blazing of a new creative trail in music.
Info: donmichaelmusic.com.
‘You’ by Louyah (Keansburg)
Another year, another viral hit for Louyah.
This time it was the track “You,” from his 2021 album “6 Feet.” The song's mostly sweet sentiment and delicate arpeggio rhythm made it perfect background music for picture galleries. which got fans adding the song to their wedding videos and more.
“They're using it to express their love for one another,” said Louyah previously to the USAToday Network NJ. “ 'All these little things you do to me, I hope you know you're home to me.' Everybody is loving that part.”
It's not the first time Louyah's had a song go viral. His “I Used to Care” blew up two summers ago after a TikTok video of Louyah and his crew hearing his song being played on the radio registered millions of views.
Info: linktr.ee/Louyah.
‘Yoo-Hoo’ by AK (South Brunswick)
In a world of Yoo-Hoo, AK is the real thing.
AK, aka Austin Kassabian of South Brunswick, has been spittin’ fire on singles, albums, freestyles and more for the past few years. He’s garnered tens of millions of listens and views so far. “Yoo-Hoo,” with arpeggio chords and a tightly wound rhyme, is a mission statement that he’s not going anywhere.
You talking down on me, I just been eating it up
'Cause I'm not what you're used to
Check it out here on YouTube, but watch the language. AK continues to score big underground hits outside the box, and that should make fellow Jersey renegades proud.
Visit: www.officialak.com.
‘You Can't Get There from Here in Jersey’ by Jason Didner (Montclair)
A funny thing about traffic in New Jersey is it keeps us apart but it also connects us.
The connection is that everyone despises it. Traffic in Jersey is a nightmare, but it’s a shared nightmare — that never ends. Musical funnyman Jason Didner originally dropped “You Can't Get There from Here in Jersey,” 20 years ago but it came forth again this year with a new lyric video.
“You can't get there from here in Jersey,” sings Didner. “I've got a case of jug handle turnaround overload.”
Don’t we know it.
Info: jasondidner.com.
“9 South Vapin’ “ by Inf Grizzy (Toms River)
Readers, we do not recommend that you vape. But we do recommend to you listen to “9 South Vapin’” by Inf Grizzy.
It’s a catchy as heck party jam that’s a tribute to the vaping stores Inf Grizzy works at, 9 South Vapes in Toms River and Tuckerton.
“Nine South got it poppin’, come and get one!” rhymes Grizzy. Check out the video on YouTube, but watch the language. Grizzy dropped the album “Addicted,” which has tens of thousands of listens. Alas, “9 South Vapin’ “ didn’t not make the cut.
Info: www.instagram.com/infgrizzy5.
‘29’ by Well Wisher (Asbury Park)
Happy birthday to Well Wisher.
It sounds like someone in the band turned 29 in 2022 and that’s inspired this gem of an indie rocker. Slashing guitars, driving rhythms and lead singer Natalie Newbold’s dulcet voice make this one you’re going want to put on repeat.
Info: www.wellwishernj.com.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Best songs of 2022 by New Jersey artists
