DJ Dolla, “2.22FM”
Released on February 22, 2025, in celebration of his birthday, DJ Dolla’s “2.22FM” EP is a vibrant testament to the energy and diversity of Baltimore club music. Dolla opens the EP with a dynamic remix of A Tribe Called Quest’s “Scenario,” setting the tone for the lively and deeply talented cohort of collaborators that follow.
DJ Dolla, who started DJing with a controller gifted by his girlfriend, has become an undeniable force in the Baltimore music scene. His Dolla Sto Parties at venues like Phlote and 1722 have become legendary.
The EP features a wealth of familiar faces from the Baltimore music scene. “Drop It Low for Jesus,” a hilarious and infectious club track with a traditional hook — “drop it low for Jesus, in the club” — was co-produced by DJ Beast. The drum-and-bass-infused flip of Doja Cat’s “Agora Hills” showcases the talents of Tromac, and the entire project was expertly mastered by Kade Young.
DJ Dolla emphasized, via email, that “2.22FM” is best experienced in its intended order. In a digital age dominated by streaming, TikTok virality, and fleeting soundbites, this directive serves as a welcome reminder of the artist’s intention and the artful construction of a musical project.
Following a raucous New Year’s Eve DJ set at Royal Blue (where he played alongside Cash.liss and Jourdan) that kicked off 2025, it’s clear that Dolla’s passion for music, particularly club music in all its forms — from juke to Baltimore club — is boundless. This EP, like his energetic live sets, showcases the expansive possibilities of the genre. Compiled from six club remixes created over the past six months, “2.22FM” further solidifies Dolla’s status as an exceptional producer and DJ.
As Dolla himself proclaims, “Shoutout Baltimore! Shoutout club music!” (Teri Henderson)
Buy “2.22FM” on Bandcamp for only $2.22 (you can also pay more). Follow Dolla on IG.
Megazillion, “Don’t Get Sick/Clout”
When Baltimore punk band Megazillion released their double single “Don’t Get Sick/Clout” back in November, they couldn’t have possibly imagined that three weeks later, the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson would take place, sparking widespread conversation about the vicious and predatory American health care system. “Don’t Get Sick” speaks to exactly that:
don’t get sick
don’t check that lump
just bet your life
another body to the dump
The 42-second song delivers the message with morbidly sarcastic quickness and is followed by the power-packed “Clout,” a song about the current lack of quality in almost everything as clout has become a more valuable commodity than friendship or love.
If you’re a fan of much-needed unapologetic, socially conscious music, check out these great tunes from the self-proclaimed “wild punks.” (Eze Jackson)
Buy “Don’t Get Sick/Clout” on Bandcamp for only $2 (you can also pay more). Follow Megazillion on IG
Giant Wave, “Part of Me”
Giant Wave’s “Part of Me” is a shimmering, dreamlike single that pairs evocative visuals with introspective lyrics. The music video, shot on an iPhone in late summer and early fall 2024, is an experimental travelogue, expertly embellished with animations by Brendon Sullivan. It seamlessly blends familiar Baltimore scenes, like the purple-hued lights of Current Space’s Garden Bar and Charles Village porches, with evocative shots of deserts and mountains, creating a captivating visual journey.
“Part of Me” is the first single from Giant Wave’s debut full-length album, “Year of Space,” a multi-genre experimental project led by William Rockwell Ryerson.
Ryerson is a Montana-based musician with deep roots in Baltimore’s DIY scene. He has contributed to bands like Other Colors, Chiffon and Outer Spaces, and his solo work on Bandcamp showcases a wide range of styles, from ambient synth to experimental pop.
Ryerson’s vocals, with their steadily delicate and almost whispered quality, serve as an inviting introduction to the textured soundscapes of “Part of Me.” The introspective lyrics, such as “Part of me is closed to function, Ready for the next thing on my list,” are woven into the music’s fabric, creating a sense of both vulnerability and anticipation. The layered melodies create a hazy, ethereal soundscape, with Ryerson’s vocals weaving in and out of the instrumental textures. The song builds with a gentle, driving rhythm, as guitars and keyboards create a warm, enveloping atmosphere. The song’s melancholic beauty is both comforting and cathartic, a perfect soundtrack for those yearning moments, and evokes the feeling of a perfect Baltimore summer day. (I recommend you listen to it anytime you feel the last tugs of seasonal depression pull at your heartstrings.)
This marks Ryerson’s first full-length release since 2016. “Year of Space,” created in studios in Baltimore and Billings, Montana, is an ambitious collaborative effort featuring a diverse cast of Baltimore-based musicians, including the rising experimental hip-hop duo Infinity Knives + Brian Ennals, shoegaze band Jupiter Rex, and members of the new-music collective Mind on Fire.
And although Ryerson has relocated to Montana, he frequently returns to Baltimore to perform with collaborators like Chiffon (with Amy Reid and Chase O’Hara). You can catch Ryerson with Chiffon on Thursday, March 13, at Royal Blue.“Year of Space” is set for release on June 1, 2025, via North Pole Records. Don’t miss the chance to experience “Part of Me” and preorder “Year of Space” on Bandcamp today, available in digital, vinyl, cassette, and CD formats. (Long live print media!) (Teri Henderson)
Knika, “It’s My Body”
Baltimore entertainer and arts activist Knika is climbing some charts with a timely anthem. “It’s My Body” is a social justice song about bodily autonomy, climate change, gun violence and the right to vote. The song placed number 6 on Amazon.com’s “Movers & Shakers” list and 28 on Pop Vortex iTunes Top 100 Pop songs list. Both the original version and the remix are infectious dance tunes that fit perfectly on a gym workout playlist. Why not work out your mind and body with affirmations of self-worth and protest? (Eze Jackson)
We hope you enjoyed reading this first edition of Best Beats. Send your music (or your friends’ music) for a chance to be reviewed: music@baltimorebeat.com.