What’s more to love than being surrounded by music, culture, and good vibes? Afropunk supplies that and more. For those who don’t know, Afropunk is a weekend music festival centered around creating a black space and appreciating the uniqueness of black culture. None the less, you are surrounded by the beauty and excellence of a plethora of cultures, mainly black culture. Fashion, discussion, music and art are just a few of the many things to look forward to at any Afropunk festival. Afropunk wants to create an environment where there are no harmful social standards, such as racism, sexism, ableism and more. Afropunk is normally held in once a year in either Brooklyn, London or Paris. This year, they expanded into Atlanta,GA. I was lucky enough to go to Afropunk Atlanta and I was so thankful. The artist line up filled with humbled up coming artist, producers and dj’s. Here are some of the acts I had a chance to see.
1. Thrice Groove
Thice is a very fresh producer/dj hailing from the very own Atlanta, GA. His set for Afropunk hosted nothing but a hype crowd and funky house music. His set really caught attention with the samples and beats he introduced. I got a chance to talk to him before and after his performance, and I found him very humbled.
2. SZA
For those who don’t know, SZA is a singer from Top Dawg Entertainment, in relation to Kendrick Lamar, Isaiah Rashad, and ScHoolboy Q. This beautiful soul had a great performance. She interacted with the crowd, made us comfortable with her vibe, and gave us a show we’d all remember.
3. GoldLink
Washington, DC artist GoldLink hit the stage at Afro Punk. The XXL Freshman performed his most recent songs, and also brought out Atlanta native artist Raury as a surprise for the audience.
4. Kelela
Another DMV artist, Kelela is known for her soothing voice and unique sound of alternative R&B. The crowd danced and sang to her songs all the way to the end. As a fan, I was very excited to see Kelela live.
5. Tyler The Creator
As my first time seeing Tyler The Creator live, I must say I enjoyed it a lot. His set was very packed with dedicated fans that knew every word to all the songs he performed. Not only that, but everybody was so energetic.
6. Gallant
Another fresh face, Gallant blessed us all with his effortless vocals and energetic performance. Gallant was such an amazing performer. With undertone synonymous to Maxwell, and Prince, he is an artist to definitely look out for.
7. St. Beauty
These ladies are from the Wonderland Music Society, including artists like Jenelle Monae, Deep Cotton, and Jidenna. These two ladies had a great performance. This was my first time seeing them and I’m already a fan.
I really encourage anyone to go to Afropunk at some point. If the music isn’t the only attraction, come for the abundance of positive energy. You’ll take away appreciation, fashion inspiration, and much more.