1Xtra DJs pick their favourite music moments of 2018

From 1Xtra Live ruling London’s O2 Arena to Stormzy's instantly-iconic Brit Awards performance and Ella Mai breaking America, 2018 has been such a big year for music that it's been difficult to choose one standout moment.

But as the year draws to a close, we asked 1Xtra's DJs to run through their favourite events of the past 12 months, as well as what they're looking forward to in 2019.

Here's what they had to say...

Ella Mai's year has been a phenomenal one, becoming the first British artist to top the US RnB chart in 26 years. Breakfast Show host Dotty crossed the Atlantic in June to cover the BET Awards in Los Angeles for 1Xtra, witnessing the Londoner's taking of America firsthand.

"Ella Mai’s success story this year was amazing... seeing this artist from London who had been pretty much under the radar go over to America and conquer the charts. To be able to travel over there and see the reception she got was amazing - to see one of our own so embraced and championed, with a [LA] Staples Center crowd singing along to Boo'd Up."

"America has embraced British music quite a lot in recent years: Ed Sheeran is one of their biggest stars, they love Adele and Sam Smith is huge there. But what was so special about this was that it was someone from the world of RnB, a genre that America does so well that they don’t need to import it."

Dotty's track of the year: Drake - Nice For What
"I could have picked any Drake track, but I had a great experience this summer while that song was playing. I won’t go too much into it, but whenever I hear it I’m transported back to that."

Favourite album: Ghetts - Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament
"Lyrically, I think Ghetts is the best MC in the UK at the moment. His energy and delivery is at a different level. This album is such an incredible body of work."

Most memorable guest: Oprah Winfrey
"Every broadcaster’s dream is to meet a heavyweight and Oprah is as big as it gets. It was incredible to even share her air. Getting Oprah to rant about people who chew gum was one of my favourite moments of the year, or my life probably."

What to look forward to in 2019: Stormzy headlining Glastonbury
"I think the incredible thing about Stormzy is that we put so much pressure on him and yet he continues to live up to it. He has the opportunity at Glastonbury to prove that he’s a rockstar that transcends genre. I think he’s going to do exactly that."

1Xtra DJs might be eagerly anticipating Stormzy's headline set at Glastonbury next year, but the star is responsible for Yasmin Evans' 2018 highlight too. "I was working at the Brits this year," she explains. "I actually screamed when Stormzy won Best Album, and then he won Best Male too. And to see him bring his album to life on stage was great. It was a real defining moment."

"It was the first time that I’ve really experienced being so happy for someone to win an award like that. I feel like we’ve been on this journey with him since he was starting out and just putting out freestyles on YouTube. This was a moment of finally seeing better representation at these events for the music that we listen to and the people that we support on 1Xtra."

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Yasmin's tracks of the year:
"There’s so many: All Night by Mishlawi, Ay Caramba by Fredo, Young T & Bugsey, Bebey by Theophilus London, London Town by Mr. Eazi and Giggs, Black Rose by Ghetts."

Favourite album: Ariana Grande - Sweetener
"It’s a brilliant album. I think a lot of people who want to listen to some great RnB might not think of listening to Ariana but it has a lot of RnB influences in it. That has been my go-to album."

Most memorable guest: Ghetts
"I’ve had some good interviews this year: Denzel Washington, Letitia Wright, Daniel Kaluuya. Michael B Jordan recently was a late contender too. But having Ghetts on the show was brilliant. We spoke about Colourism, as well as him being a father of a young black girl and how he's preparing her for the trials and tribulations of racism."

What to look forward to in 2019: New talent coming through
"We have so much underground music doing well at the moment and so many artists representing RnB, grime, garage and UK hip hop that are going to blow next year."

Dave and Fredo reaching top spot with Funky Friday was a big moment, and it was even bigger when you consider that they leap-frogged Calvin Harris and Sam Smith's Promises in the process.

It was also the first song without a chorus to reach No.1 and only the third song all year to top the chart in its first week of release. The other two were by Drake, of course.

Funky Friday's success was "a massive moment for the culture," says DJ Target, who actually gave the song its first play, making it his Targo Embargo track during October.

"I knew they had big record on their hands, but I don’t think anyone expected it to make the instant impact on the charts that it did. An independent release that has definitely opened doors for a whole generation of artists."

Target's track of the year: Ambush - Jumpy

"Without a doubt one of the biggest records in my DJ sets this year, and it still gets an amazing reaction in clubs, festivals and on radio. Excited about what Ambush has got coming in 2019."

Favourite album: Ghetts - Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament
"The growth shown on Ghetts’ new album is just incredible. Having known Ghetts since the start of his career, and watched his path over the years, seeing him make such a banging album with so much substance, displaying the harsh realities and issues attached to life in 2018 was amazing. He managed to keep that grime essence we all know Ghetts for, at the same time as proving that he has grown so much as an artist."

Most memorable guest: Swizz Beatz
"We asked him to pick his five favourite productions and it was a really insightful look into the making of his records."

What to look forward to in 2019: Music from new and established acts
"All the music that's set to be dropping in 2019. Albums from Giggs, Fredo, Stormzy, Dave, AJ Tracey - plus I'm excited for new acts like Hamzaa, Serine Karthage and Flohio."

When Dave and Fredo went to No.1 with Funky Friday in October, Kenny Allstar called it "a turning point in the culture". Kenny says it's not just UK hip hop booming at the moment, as homegrown grime, drill, trap and RnB are holding their own too. And it's the moments that this homegrown, underground music has broken into the mainstream that have been Kenny's highlights of 2018.

"DigDat's Air Force remix with Krept & Konan and K Trap was an all-out drill and trap record that landed straight in the charts. Unknown T is on the playlist at Radio 1 with Homerton B. Then there’s Ella Mai getting love in the States, which has brought more love from over there to the UK RnB scene."

"It’s a great time right now. I just really love the moments that have been created this year, and they show just how regular these occurrences could be in 2019."

Kenny adds: "I had Unknown T and DigDat together on my 1Xtra show too. They had never met each other before and we brought them together. I felt like I had directed a moment and, well, we all know what both of those artists went to do after that freestyle. I have to pat myself on the back for that iconic moment."

Warning: This video contains very strong language and adult themes throughout

Kenny's track of the year: A$AP Rocky and Skepta - Praise The Lord (Da Shine)
"This record sums up my year. I’m forever thankful of all the achievements from our scene and grateful for the position I'm in, so this track is my celebratory anthem. An honourable mention goes to Dappy and Ay Em's Oh My, my track of the summer. Every time I hopped off a plane that was my go-to record."

Favourite albums: Ghetts - Ghetto Gospel: New Testament and Travis Scott - Astroworld
"Ghetts' album marks the 10th year anniversary of the first Ghetto Gospel album, which I remember saving up my school dinner money for. 10 years on and my voice can be heard in the intro and interlude of this album. It nearly brought tears to my eyes listening back to it. I’m a huge fan of Astroworld too. The energy across the whole project was remarkable."

Most memorable guest: Aitch
"The Manchester rapper’s energy and delivery is amazing. He’s one of the best rapper in the country currently and proved it with his 1Xtra freestyle. I don’t think anybody could foresee what he was going to do - jumping on the instrumental of Tyga’s Taste. Even though I’m a big advocate of our own scene and believe we don’t need any US influence, he just killed it."

What to look forward to in 2019: 1Xtra Live and AJ Tracey’s debut album

"Of course, I can’t wait for 1Xtra Live next year. It’s going to be a date in the calendar that everyone marks down. Seeing up-and-coming artists like Headie One and D-Block Europe performing in front of 15,000 people this year was something I’ve never forget. But 2019 will be my first time as a 1Xtra presenter and I can’t wait to go out there and own it. I’m also really looking forward to AJ Tracey’s record. I think that’s going to shock a lot of people."

It’s not just been about massive hits and albums this year either, as Jamz Supernova points out, "there's never been a better time for live music. "It's been really instrumental for 1Xtra artists this year. We’ve been seeing acts selling out bigger and bigger venues,” she says.

Jamz's standout live shows have been Kendrick Lamar at London's O2 ("You’d be annoyed if you had missed it") and Canadian RnB star Daniel Caesar's sold-out tour of the UK.

"Seeing Daniel Caesar break through this year has been a definite highlight. Being able to see an artist that I’ve supported and talked about for so long finally connect with the UK was great. He did a session for 1Xtra at Maida Vale and then played Koko afterwards. Everyone was having so much fun and singing all the lyrics. I was on crutches, but so glad that I went."

Jamz's track of the year: Peggy Gou - Han Jan
"It’s been a big year for artists singing in different languages, with Spanish records coming through as well as Korean music from the likes of Peggy Gou and Yaeji. It shows that no matter whatever language the lyrics are in, you can still connect with the music."

Favourite album: Anderson .Paak - Oxnard
"It was my most anticipated album of the year and the one I was most excited for."

Most memorable guest: Brockhampton
"I’ve never interviewed that many people in my life and I don’t think there’s ever been that many people in our studio. There was so much adrenaline and I could see how well they all got on with each other. They were all on a level. I really respect how everyone has a role, they all have parts to play."

What to look forward to in 2019: New music and an album from Solange
"There’s going to be some big albums coming out. It would be great to hear a new record from Solange in 2019. There’s a load of up-and-coming artists that have spent this year preparing themselves and they’ll be ready to release something next year. I’m really excited for the next chapter. Everyone has the tools now to release what they want to release and artists are coming at it at such a different level now. They’re really owning the spaces that they’re in and it’s exciting to watch."

Despite ultimately ending in heartbreak for England fans, the 2018 World Cup will be remembered fondly. Amid Southgate-mania and It's Coming Home getting to No.1, 1Xtra's Nick Bright was fortunate enough to host Barbershop Ballers, a show that provided alternative commentary to the action from some of music's hottest stars, including EO, Nadia Rose, Lethal Bizzle and more.

"Barbershop Ballers was a dream come true for me," Nick says. "I absolutely love both football and music, so to do a show where the two are combined around one of the biggest sporting events on the planet was sick. I think young football fans need a show like that."

"I had such a cool time doing it, everything about it was perfect. It was actually filmed in my old barbershop."

Nick's track of the year: A$AP Rocky and Skepta - Praise The Lord (Da Shine)
"Travis Scott and Drake's Sicko Mode absolutely tears clubs apart, and Dave and Fredo went to No.1 with Funky Friday... but I’m going to go for A$AP Rocky and Skepta. A big US/UK link up, the track does damage in the clubs. The video was sick too."

Favourite album: Ella Mai - Ella Mai
"This answer would probably shock my mates as I’m not really an RnB guy but based on the fact that she decided to chase her dream and head out to the States to realise it, Ella Mai’s self-titled album takes the spot for me, she’s killing life and rightfully so."

Most memorable guest: John Cena
"Raheem Sterling was a big one for me, but my favourite interview of the year was probably John Cena. He’s a WWE legend and was super honest and open. Plus we played a game where we made up some wrestler names and he had to say if they were real or not, he fully got involved with that!"

What to look forward to in 2019: Stormzy headlining Glastonbury
"He’s a south London boy from the exact same area as me and, although we’ve only met each other a few times, I feel pride when I see him doing stuff. Also I can’t wait to see Arsenal lift the Premier League trophy… that last one might be a stretch though!"

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