Contrary to popular belief, grime at Glastonbury isn't a new thing - DJ Cameo brought a whole crew of key London MCs including Trim and JME to the Roots Tent back in 2005. Admittedly there have been some lean times since then. But 2016 proved to be a watershed year, with Skepta shutting down the Pyramid Stage and an amazing all-dayer on the Sonic Stage featuring Stormzy, Kano and Novelist prompting a slew of articles about Glastonbury's Grime Takeover.
Well guess what? It's only getting bigger. With Wiley having made his peace with Worthy Farm and Dizzee Rascal back in the game, Glastonbury 2017 was grimier than ever before.
Return of the Rascal
This was Dizzee's fifth appearance at Glasto but the first since rocking the Pyramid Stage in 2013. It coincides with a new back-to-basics album called Rasket, which ditches the pop direction and should re-establish the boy in da corner as the fieriest MC this country has ever seen. Headlining the West Holts Stage is one thing, but now Dizzee's got his eyes on the big prize, as he told 91热爆 News: "The way I've tore this festival up for years... I need to headline the whole ting!"
Nadia Rose - Skwod goals
Nadia Rose is primed to be one of the big breakout stars of 2017. The Croydon rapper was everywhere at Glasto: opening the festival with Annie Mac on Thursday night as part of the Sonic Stage's annual grime takeover, wowing the Park Stage on Saturday afternoon and kicking it with Mark Radcliffe and Jo Whiley in their TV gantry on Friday night - watch her highlights here:
Wot do u call it? Wiley!
Wiley's had his well-publicised disagreements with Glastonbury in the past. But this year he was fully back on side, basking in the acclaim of an early evening slot on the other stage. Clad in a Barcelona tracky, he did his best to make Worthy Farm feel like Bow, E3 by projecting images of tower blocks on the big screen. The Godfather of grime kept it simple, running through his best-known tracks - Wearing My Rolex included - and leading the crowd in a spot of rowdy terrace chanting.
Whipping up a Stormz
Stormzy's set, following Wiley on the Other Stage, felt like a coronation. More even than Skepta last year, Stormzy has established grime as mainstream phenomenon on its own terms. Sure, his album had a few R&B numbers to sweeten the pill, but live he still trades on his lyrical skills and his awesome stage presence, surrounded by screens making it look like he had a crew of eight other Stormzys rolling deep behind him. There were moshpits at the front, and pure love all the way to the back of the field. And that was before he unveiled his 'Love Grenfell' T-shirt and delivered an urgent a cappella version of his Bridge Over Troubled Water verse. Statesmanlike.
Grime: the next generation
Once again, the Sonic Stage on Friday was the place to be - a festival within a festival for fans of grime and UK rap. Needless to say, it went off from noon til midnight, making the moshpits in front of most other stages look tame by comparison. Nines, Nadia Rose, Dave, AJ Tracey - these guys are the future. Look out for them all on the bigger stages next year!
And don't forget to watch the highlights of both Kano and Boy Better Know's performances too.