Baltimore Club music is an underground blend of hip hop and house music with repetitive vocals, often samples of popular songs and TV shows, turned into music for my Friday nights as a teenager. The songs and mixes that came from the speakers were definitely not for the weak and lazy. It required the energy of a west coast dude getting crunk or a Miami chick dancing to Miami Bass. The music came straight out of the clubs of Baltimore, MD, created by locals who could be seen at any club on any given night. We paid homage to Frank Ski, Ms. Tony and Scottie B. and prayed that our favorite DJ played our favorite song. It was my crew against your crew doing the latest club dances, sweating trying to prove that our side was the best. It was our music, our stress reliever and our get away from all of our problems. As I got older I quickly found myself unaffected and unamused by the sound because my “club” scene soon became the scene for the new generation of highschoolers. But when I moved out of my hometown I quickly found myself immersed in the sound I tried to escape once more, but this time it was no longer just a Baltimore thing.  Instead, it was being spread across the entire east coast. So much so, that other cities began to lay claim. And though I had gotten older and was “over it,” I still was proud that it was a Baltimore thing. Our thing. At least it used to be.

With local DJs traveling and others being signed to major labels, the music had become highly exported and widespread like diamonds. Press coverage of the music scene also increased the world’s awareness of this gem hiding in what most considered one of the roughest cities in America. I admit, the fact that Baltimore was being recognized for something other than heroin made me proud. But the fact that  New Jersey and Philadelphia was creating a sound similar to what we created and giving it a different name was troublesome. Brick City Club and Philly Party Music soon became the new music for these towns. Both cities staking claim in the sound I grew up on. The issue with both is that they are trying to brand something that has already been branded. Take the time to play a mix from each city, one after the other, and tell me if you can tell the difference. Club music has been and will always be Baltimore Club Music. Detroit House is recognized as Detroit House. Miami Bass is recognized as Miami Bass. Even in hip hop there are clear defining lines. West coast rap is just that, west coast rap. The same goes for southern rap. But none of these regions claim that they are the pioneers of rap. They know that title goes to New York. The same should go for club. In my hometown, we all knew that Baltimore club was a clear extension of house music. We never doubted it and we admit that our music grew from this, and over the years it evolved and now has an undeniably distinct sound. That’s the key. Baltimore Club grew from house and separated itself sonically to ensure that it wasn’t mistaken for anything other than Baltimore Club. Therefore, slight reinterpretations doesn’t afford you the right to rename it and strip it of its originators. Respect should be paid where it’s due and it’s time to pay up.

The question is why? Why not Baltimore? Is Baltimore only capable of producing a violent and drug filled history worthy of an HBO special? Of course not. It’s capable of creating a sound that Diplo appreciated. My city was capable of creating a beat that M.I.A. was compelled to drop dope lyrics over. Baltimore created a song that Kanye and Jermaine Dupri just had to “get up on.” So the next time you step into a party and the sound is at 130 beats per minute and your heart races, and your feet move at an unthinkable pace and you feel like you are “dancing your pain away”, just remember where you heard it first. Baltimore.

By: KC