Over the weekend, Pittsburgh enjoyed all the "Think"-breaks, gunshot samples, and grimy vulgarities that Baltimore club music has to offer. Sharing is caring and if other cities want to hear what we have to say (and man, do we have a lot on our minds), who are we to deny them the pleasure? So Pittsburgh promoter, Obvious, hosted an array of Baltimore club producers spanning multiple generations of the sound, including Scottie B, TT The Artist, Mighty Mark, Normaling, DDm, and Thunderbird Juicebox, for the ultimate post-Thanksgiving shake off.
To celebrate Baltimore's invasion into Pittsburgh, our own .rar Kelly mixed a proper hour-long Baltimore club set to prepare the city for what was to come. You might know .rar Kelly from his work with DJ Lemz in their Baltimore-based production duo, Normaling, in which they create their own interpretation of Baltimore club music that sounds a lot like future club met dark techno on the fashion runway. The sound is so personal and genuine - there really is nothing else that sounds like it right now and that's what makes it incredible.
.rar Kelly said this mix was a totally spontaneous creation. Nothing was planned - he just worked the decks the best way he knows how and I just can't get over how one hour perfectly encapsulated his main ideas about club music. First, that club music should be shared with everyone who is willing to listen - even those outside of our respective city lines - so that's why you'll hear Philly artists, like Emynd, and DJ Sega, naturally sharing space with Baltimore's myriad of club producers on this mix (Share the wealth!).
Second, this whole club movement works best when the original pioneers mingle with the up-and-coming generation of artists. Baltimore club is constantly evolving but it doesn't start and end with one producer's arbitrarily defined hey-day. Magic happens when the first generation of club music is engaged with current club producers and contemporary artists. This is evident with Booman remixing Bobby Shmurda and Samir remixing Astronomar. Club music is truly more interesting, complex, and engaging when it's generational.
And third, everybody has a voice here. Before the show, .rar Kelly told Pittsburgh City Paper that "Baltimore club music is one of the most authentic, regional sounds in America, period." As a city, it's hard to deny that this sound is so uniquely us - yet exclusivity will only hold us back. We're all in this together now. So you'll hear OG pioneers like Scottie B, KW Griff, and DJ Technics harmoniously mixed in with today's current favorites like Mighty Mark, James Nasty, and TT The Artist, along with up-and-coming producers you might not be familiar with yet, like Thunderbird Juicebox, DJ Dizzy, and Grz. This special sound that we're nurturing belongs to all of us.
Club music just never ceases to amaze me. This mix proudly showcases the unique interpretations of each producer and the amazing evolution the sound has taken so far. In fact, this would be a great way to introduce a new fan of Baltimore club to the depth of its culture by moving past the hits and straight to the underground that drives the movement forward.
Tracklist:
Mike Jay - It’s Going Down in Baltimore
Scottie B & King Tutt - African Chant
Thunderbird Juicebox - The Quickness
Blunted Dummies - House For All
Blunted Dummies - House For All (KW Griff Edit)
James Nasty - Back It Up 2.0
KW Griff - Phil Collins
DJ Say Wut - Hey Hey
James Nasty - My Body (Dub Mix)
Emynd - Nowhere To Run
TT the Artist - New New
A Dub - Big Girl Anthem
DJ Dizzy - Hands On The Ground
Schwarz feat. TT the Artist - 12 O’Clock Boyz
Booman & KW Griff - Pick Em Up (Oh Snap!! Remix)
Grz - Uber
DJ Dizzy - Charlie Brown
Emynd - Hangin On
Dane Ierna & Vices - Beatin' Down The Block
Steve Starks - Git Em
Murder Mark & Mike-Mike - Cherry Hill And Down Ya Block (Instrumental)
Azealia Banks - 212 (Thunderbird Juicebox Remix)
Bobby Shmurda - HOT NI%#A (Booman Remix)
DJ Technics - Throw Ya Handz
Rod Lee - Hollaback (Tony Quattro x Cliff Muh Headly's Edit)
KW Griff - Pork & Swift
Murder Mark feat. TT the Artist - Get Low
DJ Technics - Everything (Beatdown Mix)
TT The Artist feat DDm - Elevator (Thunderbird Juicebox Remix)
Chavy Boys (Scottie B / Shawn Caesar / King Tutt) Feat. Jon Kwest - Wet
DDm - Come Thru (Mighty Mark Remix)
Astronomar - Look At Her Butt (Samir’s Horn Mix)
DJ Sega - My Girl’s Orgasm (The Diva Dance)
Swick feat. TT the Artist & Lewis Cancut - Dat A Freak
Double Duchess - Girl Girl Freak Out (Normaling Remix)
R. Kelly - Bump & Grind (.rar Kelly’s Bodymore Tellin’ Me Yes Edit)