As is true in many American cities, black artists are the heartbeat of Baltimore, and perhaps nowhere is that pulse louder than in our world-renowned music scene. Across myriad genres, musicians of color turn out the type of songs, albums, and live events that could only be born in this city. They’re bold, they’re ground-breaking, they’re rich in experimentation, exploration, and vivid storytelling about the black experience. Five years after the death of Freddie Gray, as the nation breaks out in protest and unrest over the death of George Floyd, there’s never been a better time to listen to and learn from what these vital creatives have to say. Here are 25 of the many talented local acts to get you started.

Abdu Ali
From their all-inclusive Kahlon dance parties at The Crown to their latest album, FIYA!!!, Abdu Ali is without a doubt a leading voice of the music community, as well as for queer artists and creatives of color in Baltimore and beyond. With a backbone of their hometown genre, Baltimore Club, with brushstrokes of fervent jazz, their music is an idiosyncratic amalgam of futuristic punk-rap poetry that packs a powerful message about oppression and identity. Kudos are also due for their As They Lay arts initiative, whose recent fundraiser helped raised mini grants for artists of color impacted by COVID-19.
Listen Now: “I’m Here Now (Fiyah!!!),” “Did Dat,” “Chastity”

Al Rogers Jr.
When it comes to spreading positivity, Al Rogers. Jr makes it his mission, even creating his own expression—“swooz”—for the good stuff: joy, happiness, and love. The trendsetting hip-hop artist imbues that optimism into every song—be it a heart-on-his-sleeve ballad or a funky, feel-good experimental rap track—using smart wordplay, infectious beats, and messages of inspiration. That said, he doesn’t shy away from hardships and hurdles either. Combining jazz, hip-hop, and R&B, the beloved rapper is a go-to for exploring emotions, digging deep, and finding a silver lining.
Listen Now: “Crystal Geyser,” “Bright Hard,” “Sayno”

Brandon Woody
The past of Pennsylvania Avenue’s rich and revered jazz history is being shepherded into the future thanks to local musicians like Brandon Woody, a rising twenty-something trumpeter in the city’s resurgent jazz scene. He’s performed brass with local legends of the genre like Eric Kennedy and Jeff Reed, as well as DIY rappers like Abdu Ali and Al Rogers Jr., led open-mic nights at the Motor House, and performed regularly with his ensembles at An Die Musik. An alum of Peabody Preparatory’s Tuned-In program and the Brubeck Institute in California, he’s a highly talented, expressive instrumentalist who brings a fiery flare to every set.
Listen Now: “Woodallou,” “Miking Trumpet to Whammy Pedal,” “Real Love Snippet”

Brooks Long & the Mad Dog No Good
When you first hear the songs of Brooks Long, you will simultaneously think you’ve known them forever and that you’ve been waiting for them all your life. The local singer-songwriter pays homage to the old-school sounds of eras past—particularly mid-20th century soul, funk, blues, and R&B—while adding his own flair, humor, and heart to every mellifluous lyric and smooth melody. Long is also a strong advocate for documenting Baltimore music history, from the present and past, with his Creative Alliance “Songster Series” highlighting both beloved and underdog artists.
Listen Now: “Got Soul,” “Heavy Petting,” “Have You Been Getting Too High?”

Butch Dawson
It’s no secret that Butch Dawson is a name to know now in Baltimore. Over the past few years, the local rapper has emerged from underground rap staple to a front-of-the-pack headliner, carving out his own lane through a formidable fusion of hip-hop, chill wave, and punk with the potent spirit of DIY. Many of his tracks are about surviving the “swamps,” as he calls the West Baltimore streets where he grew up, and the fortitude that comes with it.

Listen Now: “Feel Nobody,” “Trigger,” “Division Street Blues”

Dapper Dan Midas
There might be no greater Baltimore cheerleader than Dapper Dan Midas, aka DDm. From his days on the local rap battle circuit to his role as frontman of beloved hip-hip duo Bond St. District to his star-power solo career, the charismatic, dynamic rapper has carried Baltimore on his shoulders and imbued the city, in all of its beauty and struggle, into all of his buoyant and hard-hitting verses. Most notably in his latest The Ballad of Omar, DDm critically examines the black experience of growing up in Baltimore and along the way bares his own soul. It’s a must listen for everyone who calls this city their home.

Listen Now: “The Ballad of Omar,” “Swivel, “Hooray”

Deetranada
When you finally discover Deetranada, you, too, will ask yourself: “Under what rock have I been living?” This 18-year-old wordsmith and one-time star of Lifetime’s The Rap Game (she placed second) has already garnered a serious fanbase in Baltimore and beyond (think hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of views). And for good reason: as shown on her first two albums, Deetranada has some of the most impressive, bravado-filled flows and sharpest, hardest-hitting rhymes about coming up in Baltimore around.
Listen Now: “Attitude!,” Box,” “Know Me”

Dyyo
In the endless quest to find the next great artist, Baltimore music fans can look no further than the force to be reckoned with that is Dyyo. This alternative rap artist has a singular, shapeshifting sound founded in potent energy, explosive experimentation, and hearty nods to influences like punk rock and improvisational jazz. His latest Live! record bottles that exploratory sound with the clashing drums, driving guitar, and serpentine brass of a full band with Dyyo’s own kinetic vocals at the forefront. As he continues to evolve as an artist, make sure you’re there to follow, and headbang, along.
Listen Now: “Raspberry,” “Checks in the Mail,” “Fight or Flight?”

:3ION

We hope that in the distant future, there will always be love songs, and we imagine that they will probably sound something like the avant-garde R&B of Elon Battle, or :3ION. Come for the dark, romantic melodies and digital dance beats, but stay for the singer-songwriter’s luminously moody falsetto vocals that float like a feather—swinging low, soaring high, and always speaking to the deepest desires of the heart. :3LON has become a stalwart of the local scene, appearing on many a genre-crossing lineup in Station North, and recently touring nationally with acclaimed Baltimore indie duo Lower Dens.
Listen Now: “Haven,” “Aria of Resilience,” “Many Moons”

Eze Jackson
One of the most iconic, indispensable voices in Baltimore music is undoubtedly that of Eze Jackson. Over the last decade, the hip-hop frontman has been a dogged creative force for the local arts scene—putting on powerful performances as an MC through solo projects and his powder-keg alt-hip-hop group Soul Cannon, uplifting up-and-coming artists through the Bmore Beat Club rap series, constantly collaborating, and always speaking honestly about black inequality and empowerment. His recent “Be Great” was played over a loud speaker as marchers knelt in unity on Monday’s youth-led protest.
Listen Now: “Unapologetically Black,” “Be Great,” “You Need Some”

J. Pope

Listen to Jasmine Pope and hear her roar. From her bands the Funk Friday to the HearNow, the alt-soul singer-songwriter’s compellingspoken-word delivery and captivating stage presence has become a stalwart of the local scene over the last decade, capturing the attentions of diverse audiences, beloved by all corners of the city’s scene. Riding on the up-tempo funk and blues-infused, jam-band-style melodies of her bandmates, Pope is a modern-day poet at the core, delivering vigorous verses with rapid-fire flow, honeyed vocals, and powerful messages of truth and positivity.

Listen Now: “Soul Searching,” “Confusion,” “Check Your Soul”

James Nasty
When considering any of the city’s local concert, festival, and event lineups, one thing is for certain: If James Nasty is on the bill, it’s going to be a good time. This veteran DJ and Bmore Club producer has become a household name in Baltimore for his high-energy mixes that master the genre’s rapid pace and patchwork sound but with a nod to the greats who came before him. Even those who think they haven’t heard of him likely have, as his hits have been regularly spun on local radio stations. Over the last nearly two decades, he’s incited instant dance parties at places such as Paradox, Ottobar, Light City, and most recently The Crown, and been a prolific musician performing hundreds if not thousands of sets across the city.
Listen Now: “Them Do It Horns,” “Pop,” “Dynamite”

Josh Stokes
Over the last few years, Josh Stokes has been a quiet pillar of the Baltimore music scene. The drummer-singer dynamo has performed in live bands, recorded backup and feature vocals, and been an opening act for other beloved names across the city—all while working on his own exceptional, experimental tunes, making him undoubtedly one of the most hardworking musicians in the city. But his trippy new-age take on funk is worthy of its own consideration for a textured, throwback sound and Stokes’ own ethereal, gospel-tinged croons.
Listen Now: “Focus,” “Thank You,” “14 Daze”

Joy Postell
Singer-songwriter Joy Postell broke onto the scene with her heart-wrenching recording of “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” in the aftermath of the death of Freddie Gray and the subsequent Baltimore Uprising, asserting herself as a mighty voice to be reckoned with. Her follow-ups, “Consciousness” and “Water,” and the entire album Diaspora, would continue her socially minded music, in which she speaks to injustices faced by the African-American community and incorporates influences of jazz and soul into her hip-hop and R&B. On her latest EP, more personal than political, Postell continues to showcase her ability to speak truth to power.

Listen Now: “Consciousness,” “Water, “Back and Forth”

JPEGMAFIA
He might have moved to the West Coast a few years back, but JPEGMAFIA continues to rep Baltimore, writing songs about his local days, collaborating with local artists, and showing up to perform shows at local venues where the crowds came out in droves. The bicoastal artist’s avant-rap, rooted in dystopian soundscapes and provocative rhymes, is an act of artistic defiance. He refuses to stay inside the lines, to appeal to mainstream audiences, to be bound by genre. For that, from sets at Coachella to rave reviews in indie music publications, all eyes are on JPEG to see what comes next.
Listen Now: “Free the Frail,” “1539 N. Calvert,” “Cutie Pie!”

Kotic Couture

It’s hard to straddle both the poignant and the party, but up-and-coming rapper Kotic Couture excels at both, approaching their music with confidence and vulnerability, tipping a hat to their journey from a small-town upbringing to being a new leader on the Baltimore music scene. Whether it’s an outright club banger, bare-bones ballad, magnetic live solo performance, or their much-loved Version queer dance party with DJ Trillnatured at The Crown, Couture showcases a creative, colorful versatility that’s all their own—speaking honestly to dreams, doubts, and staying true to yourself.
Listen Now: “Grammy Speech,” “Growing Pains, “Drippin’”

Lafayette Gilchrist

Over the last 25 years, Gilchrist has earned legend status in the Baltimore arts community. A winner of the prestigious Baker Artist Award, this Washington, D.C. native, longtime Baltimore resident, and piano guru has cemented himself in the city’s artistic history through his jubilant jazz compositions. They’re fueled by propulsive rhythms and seamless improvisations that effortlessly capture the essence of Baltimore—its energy, its joy, its struggle—as well as serve as iconic scores to David Simon’s HBO series The Wire, Treme, and The Deuce. Be sure to catch one of his upcoming livestreams through An Die Musik.

Listen Now: “Assume the Position,” “Bmore Careful,” “Deep Dancing Suite”

Mighty Mark
Baltimore truly has a soundtrack to the city with the homegrown genre Baltimore or Bmore Club, born here in the 1980s by the likes of Miss Tony and Scottie B with a breakbeat sound that fuses hip-hop, house music, and staccato samples to create a pulsating, frenetic dance party. In recent years, Cherry Hill’s Mighty Mark has been the torchbearer, producing bass-fueled beats for his own tracks, collaborating with other club-minded creatives like TT The Artist, and appearing on national TV, all to assure that the genre continues to make its mark on history.

Listen Now: “Be More,” “Payroll,” “Don’t Want None”

QueenEarth
The music of QueenEarth is like a salve for the soul. With faint touches of influences like India Arie and Lauryn Hill, the acoustic vocalist makes melodies all her own, using expressive beats and soulful vocals across tracks that range from textured, meditative instrumentals to jazz-infused R&B melodies. Through both her mindful tunes and her community education efforts, QueenEarth has made it her life’s work to share a message of empowerment for women of color, LGBTQ pride, social justice, and spiritual uplift.
Listen Now: “Dear Love,” “Quarantined Sax,” “Game”

RoVo Monty
Modern love is complicated, but putting it into song seems effortless for RoVo Monty. The electronic R&B songwriter celebrates black queer romance in his effervescent music, asserting his desires, unpacking his fears, ultimately creating a lush musical environment for self-expression and self-empowerment. Inspired by fashion, dance, and disco, rife with irresistible hooks, bouncy beats, and velvety vocals, each track is club-ready and impossible not to bop along to. Monty is also a choreographer; be sure to check out his accompanying videos to learn a thing or two from his knock-out dance moves.
Listen Now: “Pretty in Pink,” “Pretn’d,” “Fix It”

Rufus Roundtree and Da B’more Brass Factory
A Baltimore institution and high-energy music collective, Rufus Roundtree & Da B’More Brass Factory is hands down one of the most fun, feel-good shows in town, fusing funk, hip-hop, blues, and jazz into a Baltimore-meets-New Orleans get-down that could spark a second line. As the name implies, it’s a brass-heavy sound performed by some of the city’s most talented instrumentalists and led by the smoky, spirited vocals of bandleader Roundtree in his signature chapeau (said to have been a surprise gift from George Clinton).
Listen Now: “Me Think Me Love You,” “In Dem Streets,” “Get Up Live”

Trillnatured
The lack of safe spaces for people of color and the LGBTQ community has long been a point of contention in Baltimore City, but each month, upstairs at The Crown, Jessica Hyman, aka DJ Trillnatured, creates a welcome, feel-good environment in her monthly Version dance party. Since 2017, these events have been a free, feel-good, second-Saturday night ritual full of Hyman’s dynamic mixes, Kotic Couture’s charismatic emcee, and all-out, sweat-drenched dance-offs into the wee hours of the morning. She’s also lent a hand in teaching the next generation of black Baltimore DJs as a former instructor at Baltimore Youth Arts.
Listen Now: “Use a Damn Coaster,” “True Laurels Show Live,” “This Side Up”

TT The Artist

She may have relocated to Los Angeles last year, but it goes without saying that TT The Artist will always be Baltimore. The MICA grad has played a pivotal role in bringing Bmore Club onto the big stage, performing at Coachella, collaborating with Diplo, landing tracks on TV shows like HBO’s Insecure and Comedy Central’s Broad City, starting her own woman-of-color-forward Club Queen Records, and now releasing her debut documentary film on the city’s homegrown genre, Dark City: Beneath the Beat, which should have premiered at SXSW this spring. With vivacious energy, fierce lyrics, and undeniable beats, we hail the club queen that is TT.

Listen Now: “Thug It Out,” “Diamonds,” “Off the Chain”

Warren Wolf

From the Baltimore School for the Arts through Peabody Preparatory to recording and performing with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Cyrus Chestnut, and Robert Glasper, Warren Wolf has made a name for himself, at home and abroad, as a young great of the modern jazz scene­—all while keeping Baltimore’s rich history with the genre alive and well. The West Baltimore native is an in-demand virtuoso on the vibraphones, performing at local concert halls like An Die Musik and prestigious venues around the globe. It’s the sound of another era, made, with groove and gusto that is positively contemporary.
Listen Now: “Montara,” “Soul Sister,” “For Ma”

Wendel Patrick
Wendel Patrick is a man of many hats: rapper, composer, producer, co-founder of the Baltimore Boom Bap Society improvised concert series, co-creator of WYPR’s esteemed Out of the Blocks radio show, and Peabody Conservatory professor of hip-hop, to name a few. The multi-talented, classically trained artist has a gifted ear and is a master at collaboration, winning the 2015 Baker Artist Award and being referred to as “David Foster Wallace reincarnated as a sound engineer” by the former Urbanite magazine. Simply put, everything he touches turns to sonic gold.
Listen Now: “A Tale of Two Producers,” “Time,” “Producer”

The hottest concerts of the summer are once again upon us, and that’s not just because they always coincide with the season’s warmest temperatures. With the mercury climbing to the high nineties, the 38th annual Artscape festival returns to Mt. Vernon, Bolton Hill, and Station North this weekend with three full days of free art. Every year, we wait on the edge of our seats for the musical lineup, and this year’s headliners don’t disappoint. Each one offers a throwback to different decades—from the local James Brown Dance Party featuring Fred Thomas of the Godfather of Soul’s own 1970s band on Saturday night, to the 1980s British ska-punk of the English Beat on Sunday, to the groundbreaking 1990s R&B trio of SWV on Friday.

But for us, the main event really lies in the festival’s trove of Baltimore talent, with dozens of homegrown acts playing on various stages throughout the weekend. From promising up-and-comers to local scene veterans, we’ve rounded up eight sets not to miss.

Astronaut Symphony
Afro House is one of the most inventive arts groups in the city these days, with their unlikely musical experiences breaking down any preconceived notions of what concerts can and should be. See for yourself with this futuristic fusion of beat box, opera, punk, and funk, led by AH co-founder, pianist, and composer Scott Patterson. Saturday, Lyric Opera House, 6 p.m.

Caleb Stine & Friends
There might be few better ways to spend a warm summer night than listening to the hearty folk sounds of the city’s Americana spirit guide, Caleb Stine. With more than 10 records under his belt and more than two decades on the local scene, the poetic songwriter draws a loyal crowd and puts on a powerful show, full of heartfelt ballads, toe-tapping ditties, and rolling-thunder road songs driven by acoustic instruments. Saturday, Johns Hopkins University Stage, 8 p.m.

Eze Jackson
From his role as frontman of alternative hip-hop collective Soul Cannon, to emceeing the recurring Bmore Beat Club, to regular solo and collaborative sets across all pockets of the city, Eze Jackson has undoubtedly been one of the most steadfast and hardworking musicians on the Baltimore scene over the last decade. And every third weekend of July, he has hosted an Artscape after-party in Station North, which he’s doing again this Saturday with a release party for his upcoming album, Fool. Tickets start at $8—a surefire steal for what will be a raw, red-blooded set. Saturday, Metro Gallery, 8 p.m.

Kotic Couture
With rapid-fire flows, honey-coated vocals, and a fierce stage presence as seen during the monthly Version queer dance party at The Crown, Kotic Couture has quickly become a rising star of the local rap scene. Escape the heat in the air-conditioned University of Baltimore Student Center for an infectious set as part of the Worlds In Collusion lineup by the High Zero Foundation. One verse in, and we promise: you’ll be hooked. Saturday, University of Baltimore Student Center, Wright Theater, 8 p.m.

MovaKween
This sultry soul singer’s songs are fit for the extreme heat and humidity expected to hit Baltimore this Sunday. Her earthy vocals flit and flutter, snaking around slow, smoldering melodies rooted in R&B, jazz, and soul. Just pay attention to her lyrics, which speak to the cosmos, creative freedom, and feminine energy and empowerment. Sunday, Johns Hopkins University Stage, 1:30 p.m.

Ratscape
Last summer, this DIY music festival returned to Station North after a three-year hiatus, and this weekend, it’s back for another three days of local bands at The Ynot Lot and The Crown. Among dozens of acts, be sure to check on punk quartet Baklavaa and rapper Toyomansi on Friday, hip-hop artists Josh Stokes and DYYO on Saturday, and soul singer Randi, R&B singer Bobbi Rush, and indie bands Shinji and Romantic States on Sunday. Times & locations vary.

Rufus Roundtree & Da B’More Brass Factory
Push off the Sunday scaries with an afternoon powerhouse performance by Baltimore institution Rufus Roundtree & Da B’More Brass Factory on the Main Stage. This high-energy music collective is one of the most fun, feel-good shows in town, fusing funk, hip-hop, soul, and jazz into a Charm City-meets-New Orleans get-down that should incite a second line. Also catch trumpeter Clarence Ward III’s skillful Sunday set on the Morgan State University stage at 6 p.m. Sunday, Main Stage, 1 p.m.

Super City
We regularly rave about the need to see this Baltimore indie-pop band live, and now is your chance, as the well-clad quintet finally takes to the festival’s Main Stage on Saturday afternoon. Stand in awe of their choreographed moves, but also bring your own dancing shoes and prepare to bop, if not outright mosh, along. They’re likely to bring both old favorites, like catchy slow-jam “Artificial Sin,” and new hits, like “High,” to this don’t-miss show. Saturday, Main Stage, 4:30 p.m.

Abdu Ali

Fiyah!!!

If history were written today, Abdu Ali would go down as a driving creative force behind the Baltimore arts scene. For several years now, the avant-garde artist has been blazing the way for local musicians of every stripe while also inspiring the rest of the world to stop and pay attention to the robust talent of our town. But even after four fearless releases, dozens of powerful performances, and one ambitious podcast, this moment feels like the very beginning. On this new record, you’ll hear an amalgam of influences—Bmore Club, rap, punk, jazz, funk, gospel, soul—fused into a singular sound that could not be created by any other artist, in any other city. These 14 tracks are a glimpse into the black queer experience, with each embarking on a deep exploration into themes of self-love, body positivity, systemic oppression, and modern-day freedom. Intense, electric, introspective, they build on Ali’s past and craft a bold and limit- less vision for the future. Lose yourself in the last track, which captures the essence of their live shows. Its lyrical mantra tells you all you need to know.

See our full interview with Abdu Ali.

Kotic Couture

Diary of a Dreamer

As the city’s DIY music scene evolves, a new flush of artists is moving to the forefront, with Kotic Couture emerging as a clear leader. With fierce flows, infectious collaborations, and their much-loved Version queer dance party at The Crown, they have quickly become a rising rapper, thanks in part to braggadocious party-starters such as “Drippin’” and “Go Awff.” This new record shows off their versatility, as well as their vulnerability and commitment to craft. Lyrical finesse remains an instant hook, be it through breathless rhymes or spoken-word poetry. But what gives their storytelling legs is that it speaks honestly from their own narrative—about dreams, doubts, and staying stead- fastly true to yourself. This record announces Couture’s intentions and ambitions, recognizing how far they’ve come, hailing from the small- town Eastern Shore. “I’m at peace with my past, it can no longer haunt me,” Couture chants over lilting strings on our favorite track, “Grammy Speech.” It’s moments like these that demonstrate just how far they can truly go.

In the latest iteration of The Big Baltimore Playlist, we found five local songs ranging from avant garde rap and heartfelt electronic pop to outright funk. Check back each month for new top songs of the moment, and follow our Spotify playlist as we continue to build a soundtrack for our city.

“I’m Here Now (Fiyah!!!)” by Abdu Ali

This title track is the last song on Abdu Ali’s transcendent new album, FIYAH!!!, released last week, and yet, in a way, it’s a beginning. The experimental artist has spent the last several years defying all musical boundaries in honing their homegrown hometown craft, and with each new release, the Baltimore native has found new ways to fuse the genres that shaped them—Bmore club, hip-hop, jazz, soul. And now, with this fifth record, they emerge anew, presenting a truly unique amalgam of sound that only Abdu and their journey as a queer black artist born and bred in this city could create. This vivacious song, in particular, captures their intensity, ingenuity, and free-spirited live shows, now featuring the sonic elevation of a full band. The lyrical mantra—“I’m here now, I woke up today, fire in my soul, I’m here to stay”—tells you all you need to know. This is just the beginning. See for yourself when they play live tonight at the Ottobar.

“Gnat Booty” by Black Root Underground*

In Baltimore, funk is alive and well thanks to the six-piece hip-hop collective of Black Root Underground. Fusing both sounds with blues, soul, reggae, and spoken-word poetry, these multi-instrumentalists create an all-around feel-good sound, fueled by drums, didgeridoos, trombones, bass, and keys. Together, they create high-octane rhythms that propel forward Blackroot’s own energetic verses, playing on positivity, humor, and fun. Take this new single off the new album Root Canal. It’s as much an old-school James Brown show as it is a trip to Preservation Hall in New Orleans, where the lead singer refers to himself as “a large child with a really nice beard.” Be sure to check out one of their live performances, which include audience participation, encouraging the crowd, like the Godfather of Funk himself, to get on up out of their chairs.

“Grammy Speech” by Kotic Couture

There are few artists in Baltimore these days with better lyrical finesse than Kotic Couture. With a deliberate delivery and warm, husky, heartfelt vocals, the rising rap artist has become a force to be reckoned with on the local scene, drawing on their own story to honestly speak to dreams, doubts, and staying steadfastly true to yourself. “I’m at peace with my past, it can no longer haunt me,” they declare over lilting strings in this new track, featuring singer Lavon, off their upcoming album, Diary of a Dreamer, laying out a mission statement of sorts. It introduces new listeners to their lyrical prowess and storytelling swagger, and cements their ambitions and intentions for longtime fans and their future self. Fans have flocked for braggadocious party starters such as “Drippin’” and “Go Awff,” but this more reserved moment of vulnerability showcases how versatile Kotic can truly be.

“Stay Right Here” by Micah E. Wood

Leave it to electronic troubadour Micah E. Wood to turn heartache into a club-ready bop. On this track, as in much of his forthcoming self-titled third album, due out May 17, Wood’s trademark talk-sing sentimentality returns, but with a bigger, bolder, newly-baring-it-all sound. Heart on his sleeve, he embraces new emotions, reassesses old ones, and doesn’t hold back with fresh vocal highs. As the title suggests, this love song for long-distance relationships is about not wanting to say goodbye, but owning your own desires and needs, and, ultimately, letting go. As the infectious rhythm swells, amorphous local musician Josh Stokes joins in for a soulful verse and smooth backup vocals alongside his sister, R&B singer-songwriter Bobbi Rush, adding an extra dose of urgency to this fiery, fervent track.

“I See Her Face” By Outer Spaces

This first single off Outer Spaces’ upcoming Gazing Globe gives us all the warm-weather feels. It burns like early summer. It rambles like a sunset drive. It aches like the early days of a fleeting crush.
Maybe it’s the jangly strums of guitar, the steady subtle drum beats, or frontwoman Cara Beth Stalino’s low, listless vocals, but it’s all reminiscent of humid Maryland heat. A follow-up to the band’s 2016 debut, this new bittersweet indie-pop record follows the singer’s recent breakup and forges a path for finding herself again. Though you never quite know whose face she sees hiding in the sun, by the end of the searing crescendo, you think it might be her own.

*Not on Spotify. We’ll add it to the playlist when it becomes available.

EAT

March 24: Pig Parts and Pancakes

Foraged, 3250 Chestnut Ave. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

Nothing says Sunday morning like the smell of fresh bacon, and this seasonal eatery’s pork confections will have you out of bed in no time. Join Foraged for its second annual walk-in-only brunch featuring pancakes, a wide variety of pig parts, farm-fresh eggs, as well as mimosas and their slightly more adventurous cousins “beermosas.” Eat fresh from the earth at this Hampden hotspot and be sure to pour some locally sapped maple and black walnut syrup over your pancakes to achieve that perfect local breakfast.

DRINK

March 22-24: Full Tilt Brewing Co. Opening

Full Tilt Brewing Co., 5604 York Rd. Fri. 3 p.m.-12 a.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-12 a.m., Sun. 11 a.m.- 10 p.m. Free.

From artisan craft mead to IPAs named after revered macabre master Edgar Allen Poe, there are plenty of local beer options in Baltimore. And personally, we believe that there’s no such thing as too many breweries. This weekend, celebrate the official grand opening of Full Tilt Brewing Co. with a three-day-long bash to christen this new brewery and taproom on York Road. With new beer releases, arcade games, and live music, this Govans brewery will be a contender for your favorite hangout spot after this weekend.

SEE

To March 31: B&O Best in Service

B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt St. Free.

The B&O Railroad has always been a point of pride for our city, but, as with many chapters in history, the service of African Americans and their contributions to the railroad is largely unrecorded. Through the end of the month, visit the downtown railroad museum to take in paintings by artists Dan Content and Roy Speter that depict prominent African Americans like Thurgood Marshall and Maggie Hudson, as well as many unsung workers, who helped build arguably the most revolutionary railroad in our nation’s history.

HEAR

March 24: Kotic Couture with DDm, RoVo Monty & Chiffon

Metro Gallery, 1700 N. Charles St. 8 p.m. $10.

You may have seen this rising rapper playing MC with DJ Trillnatured during the Version dance parties at The Crown or making a cameo in local singer-songwriter RoVo Monty’s iconic “Pretty in Pink” music video, but you don’t know this fearless artist until you see them perform live. Hear them seamlessly flow between high-energy hits such as “Get Ya Life” and smooth, swaggering rhymes in “Drippin,” before sharing the stage with rapper DDm, R&B duo Chiffon, and RoVo Monty during this much-anticipated show at Metro Gallery.

DO

March 23-24: Baltimore Wing Festival

Power Plant Live, 34 Market Pl. Sat. 2 p.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m.- 8 p.m. $14.95-49.95.

This weekend, dare to step into the carnival frenzy of the first annual and soon-to-be-notorious Baltimore Wing Festival. In between chowing down on the festival’s namesake snack, spend the afternoon throwing axes, playing tailgating games, and enjoying a brew in the outdoor beer garden. With more than 60 styles of wings to choose from and every kind of contest to you can think of (mega hot-wing eating, bleu cheese dipping, and French-fry eating), you’re guaranteed to leave with spicy lips and a full stomach.

In the latest iteration of The Big Baltimore Playlist, we found five local songs ranging from homegrown hip-hop and hearty folk music to disco-infused pop. Check back each month for new top songs of the moment, and follow our Spotify playlist as we continue to build a soundtrack for our city.

“Division St. Blues” by Butch Dawson

It’s hard to pick the best song off DIY rapper Butch Dawson’s new EP, Swamp Boy. Each song is a mini-masterpiece, like “Feel Nobody”—an instant hit with fans now drowning out the artist himself during the chorus at local concerts—and “Distances,” a simply gorgeous dream on which Dawson flexes his singing abilities. But this slow-motion melody paints a poignant portrait. Over a run of piano keys and a knocking bass beat, the 25-year-old unleashes sharp, slow-burning rhymes, speaking to his native West Baltimore, and the steadfast community and confidence needed to survive the city streets. He gives local shout-outs to arts collective Llamadon, hometown favorite New Balance 993s, and of course, the song’s titular stretch between Madison Park and Upton. Weary yet unwavering, the song is a beautiful, honest ode, and Dawson has become an important city spokesperson, as seen in his recent feature in The New York Times. Check out the album’s full review in our upcoming October issue.

“Pink” by Hunter Hooligan

Summer might be winding down, but this airy piece of pop (yes, more pop!) from local singer-songwriter Hunter Hooligan is like a dewy, star-bright July night. With an updated disco beat, this modern love song exudes a lush, shimmering, 1970s vibe, with breathy backup vocals, hushed verses, and seductive sentiment imbuing every inch of its melody. Roses? Check. Champagne? Check. Produced by Will Lederer of Row Homes, the song was crafted for the fall collection of fashion designer Stevie Boi, premiering on the runway during New York Fashion Week, and its buoyant melody is full of flirtation and promise. Hooligan is an artist on the rise in Baltimore, having collaborated with Bmore Club legends TT The Artist and Rye Rye, and this new track is one of his most fun songs yet. We’re looking forward to what he does next.

“Drippin” by Kotic Couture*

Consider Kotic Couture an artist you need to know yesterday. The local rapper is a force to be reckoned with and a fiery live performer, popping up on lineups across Station North, playing MC with DJ Trillnatured during the Version dance parties at The Crown, and becoming an integral part of the DIY scene along the way. We dig his high-energy hits “Go Awff” and “Get Ya Life” but this sparse new beat, produced by Baltimore’s legendary Mighty Mark, lays the perfect foundation for Kotic’s strengths to shine: swift rhymes, infectious hooks, and swaggering style. It’s a take-no-prisoners track, filled with fearless spirit and the trappings of staying power.

“An Eagle” by Marian McLaughlin*

Marian McLaughlin is an old soul, and her songwriting is akin to the folk verses of the 1960s as much as it is the Medieval ballads of the 15th century. The local singer is a true poet, and her labyrinthine lyrics wrap perfectly into her intricate, guitar-forward Americana-chamber music. This song off her upcoming tome of an album, Lake Accotink, named after a reservoir in northern Virginia, represents natural cycles of the environment—leaves falling, trees blooming, life, death, climate change. In a stream of consciousness with the sparse jangle of chimes and bells, her story unfolds as an intimate ode—a vivid country scene with a friend or lover, building into an earthy rumination on love and loss. It’s a wild eulogy of sorts, and it showcases McLaughlin’s greatest strength: through music, wholeheartedly baring her soul.

“Payroll” by TT The Artist

It seems like everything that TT The Artist touches turns to gold. Who else could create a “hip hop sci-fi musical thriller,” set in 2040 featuring strippers, aliens, and androids, and turn it into one of the hottest late-summer jams? As the first release off of TT’s new Club Queen Records, it uses a Bmore Club beat, slowly transforming into a dark circus melody equipped with bouncy rhymes by Baltimore native Starrz and heavy beats and production by prolific producer Mighty Mark. Of course, there are swaggering verses and a catchy chorus, infusing the track with fiery female empowerment, which ties into the music video, where women hold the power, neon reigns supreme, and TT transforms into a no-nonsense cyborg boss. While you’re at it, dig into her label’s debut album, featuring fellow club queen UNIIQU3 and a cameo by Baltimore rapper Tate KoBang.

*This song is not on Spotify. We’ll add it to the playlist if or when it comes online.