Raff Alpha — “Yah Guides My Pen”
From East Baltimore’s Cedonia neighborhood comes Raff Alpha, a hip-hop artist whose sound blends authenticity, spirituality, and grit. Known offstage as Tyrese Coleman, Raff creates music that tells truth over trend. Growing up in a musical household — with his mother and brother singing R&B and playing Southern hip-hop — he was drawn to ‘90s boom bap and New York-style beats that continue to define his sound.
In response to emailed questions, he said, “I’ve been surrounded by music since I was a child. I follow my creative instincts, not trends. I never aim to fit in; I aim to stand out.”
Raff Alpha’s Album “Yah Guides My Pen” feels like a spiritual journal written in real time — a soulful, boom bap-driven reflection of life in Baltimore’s Northeast streets, where faith and survival constantly intersect.
The album opens with gritty warmth about challenges and life changes. The final track, “Message From God,” sets the tone toward the end of the album as honest dialogue, structured like a prayer but with lyrics expressing struggle, self-awareness, and divine purpose: “This correlates with Matthews 21:12 through 17 / Angels in my dreams, it seems that I’m speaking for Elohim / Sippin’ lean and prescription drugs lowered their self-esteem / Familiar coping mechanisms to hide from the scene.”
Above all, Raff Alpha’s creativity is rooted in faith. In response to emailed questions, he shared, “My biggest inspiration is God, the most high. He placed a pen in my hand to express myself and impact lives.”
Full disclosure: I am featured on the track “Omega In The House” under my alias, boombap dlow, with production by Travi. The song captures Raff Alpha and me representing his label, Omega Academy, punctuated by the repeated shout of “Omega in the house” — a bold declaration of the label’s presence and energy.
Raff Alpha’s music is available on all streaming platforms and YouTube. Follow him on Instagram @RaffAlpha for more sounds grounded in truth, faith, and Baltimore soul. (Derrick Little Jr.)
DJ Beast — “Sound of the Beast”
Baltimore’s own DJ Beast is known for commanding dance floors with his high-energy blend of club styles — from electro and dirty Dutch to Baltimore and Jersey club, trap, and moombahton. With nearly four years in music production, his ear for heavy bass and gritty rhythm has made him one of the region’s standout DJs.
He’s opened for major acts across the East Coast, including Morgan Page, Designer Drugz, DJ Sliink, and Gangsta Fun, with his mixes featured on The Lot Radio, Balamii in London, and Doppler Radio in Paris. But it’s his latest single, “Sound of the Beast,” that captures the raw energy of his artistry.
In an email interview, Beast explained, “Honestly, the true inspiration was to see how well I could make a unique spotlight on me. I wanted the track to feel raw and gritty while keeping the elements of my sets and my personality, all in one monstrous song.”
Blending KRS-One’s iconic “Sound of da Police” vocals with his own thundering production, DJ Beast delivers a track that’s bold, defiant, and unmistakably Baltimore.
Stream “Sound of the Beast” on Spotify, Soundcloud, and Bandcamp now, and follow @djbeastbaltimore on Instagram for more high-voltage club energy straight from the heart of the city. (Derick Little Jr.)
Baltimore emcee and producer NVSV (pronounced “nasa”) brings sharp introspection and poetic honesty to his new album, “Magic Man.” Known offstage as Aaron Adkinson, the Northeast Baltimore artist blends gospel-rooted soul, classic hip-hop, and experimental production to craft music that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant.
The “Magic Man” title track, “NOT ANGRY JUST ANXIOUS” featuring Cam Chambers, unfolds as more than a self-realization record — it’s a meditation on survival, self-control, and emotional balance. Cam’s soulful R&B backing vocals add warmth and depth, grounding NVSV’s reflections in a sense of calm perseverance. Through the track, NVSV explores the discipline of managing emotion without losing authenticity, turning inner conflict into strength.
He captures this perfectly with the line, “Keep my feelings on a leash, power in my reach / I call it magic — you can do it, you just got to practice.” It’s both a mantra and a message: that resilience isn’t luck or illusion, it’s learned — the product of self-awareness and constant work.
“The magic isn’t fantasy — it’s survival,” NVSV says. That statement becomes the heartbeat of the album. The magic he refers to isn’t about escapism or spectacle — it’s the quiet power of resilience, the art of finding light in struggle. It’s about transforming pain, expectation, and invisibility into something sustaining and self-defined.
Across “Magic Man,” NVSV channels that duality — the glow and the grit — blending introspection with sharp social awareness living in Baltimore City. Each track becomes a meditation on what it means to stay grounded and authentic in a world that constantly tests both. The result is an album that feels lived-in and revealing, where survival itself becomes the truest form of magic.
Across tracks like “PILLAR OF SALT,” “SCARED OF THE OUTCOME,” and “TEENIE HARRIS,” NVSV balances vulnerability and critique with lyrical precision. His verses question stagnation, pride, and the cost of self-awareness in a world that demands performance.
On “PILLAR OF SALT,” NVSV delivers one of the album’s most striking moments of reflection. The chorus — “Everything burns when it’s said and done / everybody runs when the future comes / everybody guns when we go to war. / Money on my mind, money on the floor” — captures a world consumed by chaos, greed, and survival. Through these lines, NVSV paints a picture of a society on fire, where the pursuit of power and wealth overshadows humanity.
It’s not just social commentary — it’s a weary acknowledgment of how conflict and capitalism intertwine, leaving individuals trapped in cycles of reaction and defense. The song’s tone is both urgent and mournful, balancing the boom bap grit of its production with lyrical precision. “PILLAR OF SALT” stands as a theme of endurance and awareness in a stark, almost prophetic vision of the modern world.
Produced entirely by GloverOfficial, Magic Man is textured and intentional, built on moody basslines, ghostly samples, and quiet tension between beauty and unease.
NVSV’s honesty and vulnerability make him a rare voice in modern hip-hop — one who refuses to chase validation, instead choosing truth, reflection, and freedom.
Stream “Magic Man” now on Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music. (Derick Little Jr.)
The Luv Rox Project — “Luv In You (Luv Rox)” feat. Lekisha Taylor, Ill Conscious & Roxie
Baltimore native Michal “Roxie” Johnson, the creative force behind The Luv Rox Project, is a true reflection of Luv Rox’s artistry — music rooted in emotion, self-discovery, and community connection. Blending R&B, neosoul, and spoken word, she creates soundscapes that feel deeply personal yet universal. Her goal is simple but powerful: to use music as a way to heal, connect, and remind people of their own worth.
Written as the theme for her interview series Luv Rox!, the song explores love in all its forms. In an email interview, Roxie shared the inspiration and structure behind her song “Luv in You”: “The first verse covers self-love, the second focuses on romantic love, and the rap feature brings it back to the community. The track features powerhouse vocalist Lekisha Taylor, a sharp verse from ILL Conscious, and a heartfelt cameo from my nephews, making it a true family affair. I wanted the song to feel authentic and personal. Including my nephews and working with talented artists like Lekisha and ILL Conscious reinforces the message that love isn’t just about me. It’s about connection, support, and community. It felt right to have everyone contribute to that energy.”
Roxie also explained how her Baltimore roots influence her work. “The city’s energy and creativity always shape how I make music. Performing at local events and collaborating with other artists here keeps my sound connected to the community. On ‘Luv In You,’ I wanted listeners to feel that love is personal, romantic, and communal all at once.”
With uplifting production and emotionally charged lyrics such as “I see the Luv in you, trust me they see it too / no matter how they move, keep doin’ what you do,” “Luv In You” reminds listeners that love isn’t just a feeling — it’s a practice. The song’s warmth and message earned it a finalist recognition in the 41st Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, a testament to Roxie’s gift for merging purpose with melody.
Stream “Luv In You (Luv Rox)” featuring Lekisha Taylor, Ill Conscious & Roxie on all platforms and discover the sound of Baltimore’s heart — raw, radiant, and full of Luv. (Derick Little Jr.)
K. Wood$ — “when the morning comes”
K. Wood$ returns with a brand new single, “when the morning comes,” beside cyclical collaborator GoodBoy. The track opens with melodic acoustic guitars that set the groundwork for the tranquil feel woven throughout the three minute, twenty second duration of the track.
Wood$’s charismatic and playful wordplay entices you in to enjoy the auditory experience created. Wood$ displays vulnerability when the track drops its drums to show emphasis on their lyrical content with lines like:
“I don’t think I’m moving slow / but I don’t wanna waste my time, I can’t really waste these lines / and I just miss your face this time. I just wanna know, will you stay or go? / ‘cause I been losing patience crying, I been in the way just trying, I don’t wanna waste your time.”
This track comes at the perfect time of the year and audibly demonstrates the feeling of the seasons shift while perfectly fitting into your playlist rotation.
“when the morning comes” is now available on all platforms. (Kylynn Couture)
Cunty MeMe – “DAISIES”
If you’re familiar with the talent Cunty MeMe possesses, “DAISES” should be no surprise to you — however, if this is your introduction to them, their EP “Jezebel Diaries” will give you a raw and experimental view of exactly who they are.
“DAISES” presents pitched-down vocals over slightly reverbed hypnotic bass chords that easily draw you in. Though this style is a bit tame compared to MeMe’s boastful and powerful delivery in their raps, it’s equally as transparent and in-your-face, a style of delivery that is continuous throughout their artistry.
With the simplistic but effective production and lyrical choices teamed with the vocals’ hair raising delivery, it’s easy to get entranced in feelings and immediately find yourself making an emotional connection to the soulful work of MeMe.
Stream ‘DAISIES’ on Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, and Bandcamp. (Kylynn Couture)
Moliy feat. Tyla — “Body Go (Traps N Trees x SDOT Remix)”
It’s now more important than ever for the cities that originated the ever-growing sound of club music to preserve the culture, and that’s exactly what Baltimore native SDot and Philly club connoisseur Traps N Trees have done with their latest collaboration.
“Body Go,” originally performed by Moliy featuring Tyla, speaks to the true DNA of club music with a gritty remix on a popular track. The producers flex their ability to marry two cities’ sounds with Baltimore breaks, vocal chops, and layering over signature production stabs that are sure to get you moving, right before dropping into that signature Philly and Jersey drum pattern that has been popularized and integrated into other subgenres.
The current exposure of club music is at an all-time high and actively taking the world by storm while remaining a true underground genre that hits hard and maintains the heartbeat of its respective cities. “Body Go” is perfect for a pregame playlist to get you amped for a night of memories, as well as expertly crafted to blend into any set that caters to club music lovers.
Stream “Body Go” on Soundcloud now. (Kylynn Couture)