AfroPunk Fest is back in NYC with full force, and you don’t want to miss this year’s amazing lineup! If you have never been, AfroPunk is an annual high style, weekend long music festival and market that celebrates beautiful black voices, art and culture in Brooklyn. Last year BUST was blown all the way away by the indomitable Grace Jones, whose set included a bloody lipped crowd surf while rockin’ a giant porcelin plume and topless hula hooping throughout the entire performance of ‘Slave to the Rhythm’. While it may be near impossible to top Jones, with artists like Janelle Monae, Angel Haze, Saul Williams, Skunk Anansie and TV on the Radio, this festival has a 100% shot to rock the block, and rock you. Happening this Saturday, August 27th and Sunday, August 28th at Brooklyn’s Commodore Barry Park, tickets are going fast, so hurry and get yours here!
We at BUST are SUPER excited to attend this weekend and be surrounded by some of our favorite artists. To help you get amped as well, check out this playlist and must-see lineup of artists that we can’t get enough of!
1. Janelle Monae
Why we love her: This former BUST cover girl and fellow cyborg has amazing style, poise and can crumble walls with her powerful voice. Nothing screams confidence and strength more than by owning yourself and your style – that’s why this lady is top of the list.
Janelle Monae: Alex Martinez
Check out this jam:
2. Angel Haze
Why we love her: Straight outta Detroit, this talented queer rapper bares her soul and slays. I mean, just listen to that flow:
“Go, Haze, they can’t stop you.
Heavyweight flow, if they can’t lift you then they can’t drop you
The pinnacle, if they can’t reach you then they can’t top you
Man, they can’t do anything that you’re about to.”
Her beats and lyrics are on point, and her music is perfect for an AfroPunk pre-game session.
Check out this jam:
3. Saul Williams
Why we love him: We. Just. Do! His revolutionary anthem, “List of Demands” is a hard hitting manifestation of the common people’s frustration and rage with a corrupt power system. His newest album MartyrLoserKing (MLK) was written and recorded between Senegal, Reunion Island, Paris, Haiti, New Orleans and New York and features visually stunning videos inspired by Beyoncé, Fredo Santana, and Haitian field recordings.
Check out this jam:
4. Sate
Why we love her: This Toronto band led by the fiercely bad ass Sate, takes the R&B and Funk vibes and combines it with heavy rock guitar. Plus the set of pipes on her, just makes us want to rrrrriot – how can you NOT love that?
Check out this jam:
5. TV on the Radio
Why we love them: The sound is somewhat reminiscent of Bad Brains mixed with The Cure, and it’s freaking awesome! New songs that remind us of beloved classics, but not the same ol’ formula.
Check out this jam:
6. Flying Lotus
Why we love him: Their collection ranges from chilled out trip-hop to jazzy breakbeats, and is a perfect break from a hectic day. You can fade away into bliss, or try your hand at some free-styling yourself.
Check out this jam: 
7. Skunk Anansie
Why we love them: This South African Punk/Metal band from the 90s are back to rock your world and remind you that they are still as badass as ever. And her distinctive voice is a great reminder of how good music was before the ear piercing, auto-tune phenomenon of early 2000s.
Skunk Anansie: Emilio Tini
Check out this jam:
8. Laura Mvula
Why we love her: Her songs are ones to gather your girls and go hard and fierce with at whatever you are doing together. And we love how her style and images convey positive, powerful and uplifting views of African cities and it’s people.
Check out this jam:
9. Thundercat
Why we love him: He is the Renaissance Man of music. Upon collaborating with greats such as Kendrick Lamar (These Walls), and Flying Lotus, Thundercat takes bass, funk, electronica and vocals to a whole other level in his very ear pleasing, soul lifting musical embodiments of why we get hyped for a good time.
Check out this jam:
10. Kelela
Why we love her: Her voice is angelic and mesmerizing, while her music helps deliver her messages like a note on a feather. Reminiscent of classic R&B, with a touch of something more modern.
Check out this jam:
11. Seinabo Sey
Why we love her: She takes you and brings you to a new plain by combining her dusky voice with R&B Pop style ballads and gives it an Indie twist.
Check out this jam:
12. The Suffers
Why we love them: Their classic soulful presence and sound make you want to close your eyes and imagine sipping iced tea on a beautiful, lazy summer day surrounded by your best friends.
Check out this jam:
13. Eden Hagos
Why we love her: Her sound is a combination of underground hip-hop, mixed with percussion heavy, samples-based tunes that shine a light on those “future sounds” you just can’t quite pinpoint.
Check out this jam:
14. Kelsey Lu
Why we love her: What she creates is not JUST beautiful music, she brings art to life. Her music takes a brush stroke to your brain and paints scenes of romance, struggle, strength and tranquility. Her videos are works of art too.
Check out this jam:
Images from AFROPUNK.com
