2011 has been a year of dramatic highs, shocking discoveries and tragic loss. We will remember the legendary talents of Amy Winehouse, Gil Scott-Heron and Nate Dog, and look forward to the next generation their influence will give rise to.
These past 12 months have taken a tumultuous course and we have all grown a year older and become a little wiser. Offering opportunity to the unestablished, new pastures have been ploughed, seeded with fruitful crops and watered with love and care! i-D online nurtures new life.
Rude girls, good girls, bad girls and hot girls. Fierce females, in all forms stepped up, clad in flats, heels and flashing some serious ‘tude. Keeping things real, whilst still looking out of this world, Iggy Azealea, Azealia Banks, Phlo Finister, Lana Del Rey and Little Dragon materialised from nowhere and left audiences agasp with their fast-chatting opinions.
Housing bodies to the bass and housing beats all over the place, this summer’s sexy, future-dub sounds did Bristolians proud. Local lads Julio Bashmore, Benoit & Sergio and Eats Everything topped international DJ charts, bringing new blood to the fore and joining the respected ranks marked out by Seth Troxler, Hot Natured and Danny Daze. Meanwhile, Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, A$AP Rocky, Theophilus London and Mac Miller kept things street, laying down smooth, sensuous sounds loud, proud and unapologetic, straight out of NYC and CA.
From breaking newbies to steezey MC’s, stadium filling DJ’s to platinum selling recording artists, i-D online’s top tracks of 2011 is the essential atlas of the musical elite. These are the tracks, songs and mixes which have invaded our head-spaces, all day, everyday. Reminisce, get familiar and be inspired. This was 2011 from bud to bloom.
Describing his colourful, psychedelic and detailed etchings as “deranged but polite”, Bath Spa university grad Toby Triumph is the eager pair of eyes and hands behind this month’s marvellous mixtape cover art. Contracted to work for creative and major label brands, Toby carves out a living crafting illustrations for Sony, Playstation and Google and is currently organising his first exhibition, scheduled for early next year. Citing Sir Peter Blake as his hero and newcomers Andrew Archer and Tstout as ones to watch for 2012, Toby’s triumphs are his expert abilities and brave aesthetic. Fun, fly and super chic!
See the full 2011 mixtape back catalogue here.
