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Primavera Sound was the best festival that I went to this year and this next collective's performance was one of the most memorable of the weekend. In at lucky number 7 is The Internet with Hive Mind.

Seeing the way that The Internet has grown since Purple Naked Ladies is incredible. I actually still remember the first time I listened to that album and how disappointed I was that I only liked a few songs. Ego Death is still my favourite album that they've put out to date and this transformation was a huge part of that opinion shift. However, I can still hear their growth in their latest releases. After each of their solo projects I can hear how that time away has brought them back together with a stronger and more directed musical mind or 'hive mind'. The lack of features on this album is noticeable and clearly intentional. They've honed in their sound without a need for others to contribute their own influence and I feel like this is the most honest view of The Internet that we've seen to date.

My favourites on the album right now are "Roll (Burbank Funk)", "La Di Da", "It Gets Better (With Time)", "Look What U Started", and "Beat Goes On". I'm definitely a fan of the more bass heavy tracks on the record. Patrick Paige II is such a solid bassist and his licks have added so much to the band's sound in these last two albums. His solo release this year Letters Of Irrelevance only made his touches and influences clearer on The Internet's material.

If I'm honest, I had hoped that this album would top Ego Death for me but that was a huge ask. Musically, they've improved and their live performance has improved tenfold. However, something in this album just didn't quite click as much with me as Ego Death. That said, this is a beautiful album. Now I get to look forward to them blessing us with their solo album releases in 2019. Easily one of my favourite collectives in the game at the moment.

Have a look at what album scooped the number seven spot in 2017 here.

Bringing us safely into our Top 20, we have the Mercury Prize nominated, Everything Is Recorded By Richard Russell by Everything Is Recorded.

I had this pegged as a solid contender for the top spot in this year's Mercury shortlist and given the sheer calibre and number of contributors on this record, it's extremely easy to see why. The concept for the album was created by head of XL Recordings and music industry champion - Richard Russell. After working with, signing and influencing some of the biggest names we have in music today, from Adele to Thom Yorke, Richard has put together a team of newer artists to forge this gem of a record.

Richard's experiences with Guillain-Barré Syndrome come through here-and-there in nuanced ways throughout the album, at one point sampling the phrase "There are moments in our lives where we feel completely alone". As sombre as the thought is, ultimately the album leaves the listener feeling hopeful. However, the album did fall short of my original expectations - with the roster being what it was and with Richard Russell at the helm, this had the potential to be ten times better. It's a safe take on the album we could have had, and so that hopefulness stretches towards any new material coming from Everything Is Recorded in future.

Golden nuggets for me at the moment are "She Said (feat. Obongjayar & Kamasi Washington)", "Show Love (feat. Syd & Sampha)", "Be My Friend (feat. Infinite)", and "Everything Is Recorded (feat. Sampha & Owen Pallett)". Giggs' feature makes me smile every time I listen but essentially it was most of the tracks featuring Sampha that struck a chord. He's the key feature in this project for me and his touch on each of these tracks is considerably different from the last yet equally as memorable. Each of the collaborators add their own subtle touches and stamps on the record but the samples from past recording sessions and older soulful generations tie the album together very well.

Have a look at what album ushered us into the Top 20 last year here.

One of my biggest upsets this festival season was not being able to attend this year's Afropunk - the line up was phenomenal, and after going last year, although there were things to improve on, I knew that this year would never disappoint. Luckily I had eyes and ears on the inside and so here's a recap and review of Day One written by Black Girl Ready To Rumble...

It was the crowd’s energy that first called to me. Walking in halfway through the set of a band I had never heard of, it became immediately clear that this was a band I needed to get to know. The Heavy: a British rock band from Bath took to the Green Stage and had the crowd completely in their thrall. Within seconds of joining the energized crowds, I and my companions were dancing like long-term fans even singing along at parts. Kelvin Swaby, the lead vocalist of the band has a stage presence of a true rock star – voice like silk and the ability to make his audience feel like part of the band. The band worked so well together, clearly feeding off each other’s energy so that as an audience member you were compelled to believe in their message. At moments, Swaby had the crowd screaming like wolves during their set of “How You Like Me Now”. This was a well-oiled machine that managed to feel authentic, raw and not overly rehearsed.

Another new discovery was Saul Williams an act recommended by one of the co-founders of the festival. Generally, I tend not to be a fan of spoken word over music because I feel the music overshadows the words which lessens the overall impact of the performance. Saul Williams, however, proved to be an exception. With his alternative hip-hop sound and bold lyrics/poems advocating for black power across America and the diaspora, Williams mixes a sound (hip-hop) that came from black resistance in the urban ghettos of America with a message that resonates with the universal black community. As a performer, he is engaging – filling the stage with a righteous anger that you cannot help but buy into. The music works over his poetry because it is created to complement the message. The music is brash, in your face, loud, rhythmic hip-hop designed to get you on your feet, throwing yourself into the commotion of the crowd unapologetically and without fear.

Finally, after hearing so much about her music, and more recently from this post, I got a chance to see Little Simz perform and I was floored. With a live band accompanying her set, Simz, was a throwback to the jazz age that inspired hip-hop. Despite not having the brashness of Williams and The Heavy, Simz carried along the crowd gathered at the Red Stage even those of us at the fringes of the packed space. Running through both old and newer songs in her catalogue, Simz showed off both her range and growth as an artist. She was a delight to see perform, engaging with the crowd on a personal level – giving us a glimpse into the personal side of the artists making the set about more than just the music. I am looking forward to spending time with her catalogue and enjoying her music on a one-to-one basis.

Closing the day was The Internet, who we had gotten a glimpse of prior as Syd joined Little Simz on stage for "Shotgun". This is a must-see band because not only do they have a stellar discography as a group but also individually. The crowd was treated to classic The Internet songs like "Girl" and "Special Affair/Curse" as well as songs from Syd’s debut album Fin and Steve Lacy’s 2017 Demo. This mix of sounds and showcasing of the range within the group allowed for the audience to develop a relationship not just with the music of the band but also gain understanding of the individual voices that contribute to the whole. As the closing act for Day One, The Internet, capped off a stellar day, keeping the energy present throughout the day from start to finish of their set.

I was honestly convinced that the high Afropunk 2016 gave me could not be recreated. But in just one day of the two-day Afropunk London 2017 Festival all my expectations from Afropunk were met and surpassed. Despite being unable to attend both days, I see myself as having won because I got to fall in love with three new acts and see an act I have admired for ages perform live and smash their set. Think Afropunk Paris is calling my name for 2018 and I already cannot wait!

Well you heard it here - look out for more collaborations with Black Girl Ready To Rumble in the future, and in the mean time, keep up to date with her other awesome thought-pieces via her blog and Instagram; guaranteed to leave you thinking.

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