shekdash & Tromac NIGGA MODE – REMIXES
Some things are just for us. Released just in time for Juneteenth, the “NIGGA MODE – REMIXES” EP is an unapologetic sonic declaration of Black sound. Curated by producers shekdash and Tromac, the project is a powerful reclamation of electronic music as a Black art form, made by and for the culture it represents. The project assembles 17 of the brightest producers from around the world for a single, resonant purpose: to forge a new club classic. The throughline is the titular chant, a recurring impetus that weaves through each artist’s unique reinterpretation, creating a unified front of creative expression. It’s a statement that Blackness is expansive, multifaceted, and the foundational source of the rhythms that make us dance.
The EP is anchored by a formidable contingent of Baltimore’s finest. Cadeem LaMarr brings the frenetic, hip-swaying energy of his live sets, cleverly layering a “Happy Juneteenth” chant over a Baile funk beat in a moment of pure, timely celebration. Meanwhile, Kade Young’s remix brilliantly builds on the original with his signature percussive flair, and S.DOT contributes a track driven by titanic, epic drums that feel monumental.
This local brilliance is part of a global conversation. The project is an exhilarating journey through the diaspora of dance music, connecting Baltimore to Brazil, New York, and beyond. The groovy mix from NYC’s Amal (of Black Rave Culture) sets a vibrant tone, while the intergalactic footwork from Chicago’s TekLife legend DJ Manny feels like a transmission from the future. DAYE.’s deep house version, which layers a Nina Simone sample into the mix, is a standout that demands to be heard on a proper sound system. From jersey club to juke and jungle, the EP showcases the rich variety and shared roots of club music. It’s a powerful, joyful, and essential collection built to carry us through the rest of the summer and well beyond.
HAPPY JUNETEENTH!
Support the artists directly by purchasing the project on Bandcamp.
Yaira Wang – XX
“Sometimes what you really need/ Sometimes what you really need it’s not what you really want sometimes what you really need it’s not what you really don’t , sometimes you need to just get in the lime light , sometimes u need to rewind and go about your life”
Baltimore’s downtown scene remembers Grey Dolf, an artist known for her wonderfully unpredictable and genre-defying approach to rap. Now, she has re-emerged as Yaira Wang with “XX”, a deeply personal and triumphant new EP. The project marks a powerful evolution, born from adversity and offered as a lifeline. “I hope this boosts you up like it helped me get through the roughest time of my life,” Wang shared upon the EP’s release, and that raw, restorative energy is felt in every track. On standouts like the dreamy “PINK BOW WHITE TEE” and the defiant “I KNO HOW IT BE,” she crafts soundscapes that are both tough and tender. It’s a stunning re-introduction and a testament to the healing power of making music for yourself and your community. Welcome back (and thank you!), Yaira Wang.
You can listen to the full XX EP here.
Nourished By Time – “Max Potential”
“If I’m going to go Insane, least I’m loved by you
If my heart shall burst or break, it was overdue”
Nourished by Time — the alias of Baltimore singer, songwriter, and producer Marcus Brown — has officially announced his much-anticipated new album, “The Passionate Ones,” out August 22 on the legendary XL Recordings. The album’s lead single, “Max Potential,” arrives with a music video that is an elegant, heartbreaking short film directed by Brown himself. It opens with a person silently mouthing the words, “You’re fired,” before cutting to a crash of ocean waves. This is followed by a flurry of birds and the introduction of Nourished by Time, building anticipation. The video then settles into a dreamlike state, wrapped in a muted color palette of surreal, navy hues. Scenes of Brown lighting red candles or swaying against a backdrop of blurred city lights enhance the feeling of a waking dream.
The song’s power is crystallized in a single, melancholically triumphant lyric: “If my heart should burst or break, it was overdue.” It’s a moment of pure, resonant truth. The video’s climax builds to a crescendo as Brown sways before a blurry cityscape at sunset, finding a strange peace in the chaos. The final, lingering shot — his tie discarded on a concrete sidewalk as traffic rushes by — is a perfect metaphor for the resignation, and quiet victory, that comes with accepting a relationship is truly over. If this stunning single is the preview, “The Passionate Ones” is shaping up to be one of the most essential Baltimore releases of the year.
Building on the momentum from a busy spring, which included a conversation with writer Lawrence Burney for his Sonic Legacies series, the artist is kicking off a tour this summer. Highlights include performances at Lollapalooza in July and Outside Lands in August, culminating in a hometown show at Ottobar on September 11.
Download “Max Potential” and pre-order “The Passionate Ones” on Bandcamp.
Moon Tide Gallery – “Sweat You Out”
“I always break first, give me your worst/
I can’t sweat you out”
Speaking of love that lingers, it’s always bittersweet when a beloved local project takes a final bow. Moon Tide Gallery, the creative alias of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mason Tyler Gainer, has announced that his next project Denim will be his last. “Sweat You Out,” is the single, and the track is a fitting send-off; lyrically, it speaks to the struggle of not being able to shake the feeling of someone, while sonically, it’s a colorful and moody blend of psychedelic pop and sharp indie-rock hooks. It’s one last mesmerizing trip from an artist who has carved out a unique space in the Baltimore scene.
This is your last chance to see the project live. The official Moon Tide Gallery farewell show is happening next Friday, June 20 at Metro Gallery, with frequent collaborator notcharles performing a DJ set. It’s an opportunity for the city to give a proper, memorable send-off to a fantastic musical endeavor. Don’t miss it.
You can stream Denim in its entirety, including “Sweat You Out” on Spotify
If you would like your music to be considered for Baltimore Beat’s Best Beats, send us your project, along with a short bio (no more than 100 words) and a photo of yourself (with the photographer’s name) to music@baltimorebeat.com.