Following on from his debut in 2012, Channel Orange, this year saw Frank Ocean’s return with an album entitled Blonde. I don’t think anyone fell in love on a first lesson, but it definitely grew on us. It’s a mood album, druggy and sometimes dark but Pink & White had enough to be commercially successful and enough soul to make one of our top picks for 2016.

Heavily influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Bill Withers & Otis Redding, North London born singer, guitarist and songwriter, Michael Kiwanuka gave us his second studio album, Love & Hate. The title track Love & Hate didn’t just make the best of show, it’s probably in my top 5 for 2016. It fully deserves all 7 minutes, just enjoy the journey.

When I was first sent this promo, I spent a few minutes trying to figure why I hadn’t heard this Marvin Gaye track before, before realising it was actually something brand new. Discovered & signed by Snoop Dogg, October London came from the shadows of ghost writing for other artists and gave us his debut. We chose Color Blind but easily could have selected Black man in America or Quiet Storm. A great listen from front to back!

We were fortunate enough to be joined in the studio by the legend that is Leroy Burgess earlier last year, he had recently re-recorded Convertion – Let’s do it for a Louie Vega mix, little did we know less than a year later Opolopo would raise the bar and give us so many fantastic memories on the dance floor. A great record for radio but even better for the clubs.

One of the most instantly recognisable vocalists on the planet. We have always been huge fans of this man and this year he returned with his fourth studio album, Take me to the Alley. Again, there were a few tracks we could have selected in our best of, but we have chosen Holding On. It was first released as a single with Disclosure and worked on the dance floor, then Mr Porter dropped the album and gave us the most beautiful , lazy, back room Jazz rendition. He also released a documentary this year, Don’t Forget Your Music, well worth a watch.

A very late entry but completely deserved, the man with the midas touch has just given us a solid body of work that doesn’t really sound like anyone else. Redbone seems to be the most popular track but we fell in love with Terrified & Stand Tall. Particularly Stand Tall, such a powerful & uplifting piece of music, just when you think it’s done, it takes a trippy, electronic turn but manages to perfectly swoop itself back around into the beautiful & soulful chords. I’m sure we have plenty more to come from Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambimo, whether it be on screen or on stage.