Hampton University showed me that it’s not an East Coast vs West Coast debate. It was all about where you're from inside of where you're from. If you didn’t know that, you better hurry up and pick a side…..Quick.
I was raised in central Maryland, Pasadena to be exact. Looking at the map you will see that Pasadena, Maryland is conveniently located in between Baltimore City, Prince George’s County affectionately known as PG County, and Washington DC. Areas that I frequently visited throughout my entire life. Each area had its own culture. Prince George’s County was and still is recognized as one of the wealthiest black counties in America. Baltimore City is known for crime, HBO "The Wire" and the famous Baltimore Harbor.
Last but not least, the chocolate city, DC. Before gentrification, DC was the go-to place for me and my family when we wanted to experience soulfulness, mumbo sauce, concerts, plays, and meet ups. To me, DC will always be one of the greatest hot spots places on the East Coast but with the way things are moving, the heart and soul of DC might be diminished to small fragments.
Each regions culture provided a significant experience. The people from each area walked, talked, and thought differently. Mind you this is all in one state but one district - three different ways of livin in the same space. However, I’m pretty sure every state deals with some form of cultural division. I had a fair share of friends that had roots planted in these areas. Aside from the museums, restaurants, nightlife and plays that my family and I would frequent, I also got the chance to enjoy the subcultures of these areas that my parents enjoyed in their youth.
Baltimore Club Music
Growing up I was surrounded by various genres of music. Techno. R&B. Rap. Club. You name it, we were listening to it. When I say we I mean, I am referring to my and my dad. My mother was the one who would give me a double dose of the gospel whenever she could. The joy of listening to new music, hearing samples and discovering artists that my folks grew up with were memorable experiences. Two experiences, in particular, shaped my life without realizing it, until now.
“It’s time for the percolator, It’s time for the percolator” played ferociously loud through my dad’s computer speakers “We used to bump this and 'Miss. Tony, Miss Tony' back in the day out in Baltimore” says my dad. Now me not knowing who Miss. Tony is, what a percolator is or where East Baltimore was had me curious to find out more. The song was repetitive and played on a loop while a mashup of beats, drums, and claps mixed in. “It’s time for the Percolator” kept playing for another 2 minutes until I finally asked my dad what the hubba-Jubba was playing. “It’s called Baltimore Club Music, It originally started as house music with people such as Miss. Tony, Miss. Tony”. I didn’t know how much Baltimore Club Music was adored and listened to by people from the “410” and “443” area code. Apparently, it was the voice of charm city.
Wanting to know more about the boom and baps that my Dad hyped about, I did my research. Little did I know that I already knew what Baltimore Club Music was but never put a name to it. Growing up in the Baltimore/DC metro area, people flocked to had 3 main stations; 92.WERQ known as 92Q for listeners in Baltimore and surrounding areas, 93.9 WKYS for all of MD and parts of DC, and 95.5 WPGC that also served MD and Washington DC. Anyone who has driven from Baltimore to DC knows Baltimore stations never reached DC! Anyway, as a kid and even up until now 92Q or 93.9WKYS always played on the radio during trips with my Dad. Baltimore Club Music was played at the same time, on the same night every week. The segment was set up to showcase well-known Baltimore DJ’s such as Dj Diamond K, Rod Lee, Blaqstarr and the most famous, highly respected, The Club Queen K-Swift (I’ll get to her later). The older I got the more I fell in love with a genre that would eventually shape my appreciation for my home state.
As a teen, I moved away sonically to club music with my dad and instead listened to it with one of my best friends who was originally from Baltimore, Jasmine. Hanging out with Jasmine gave me the first-hand experience to the culture of Baltimore as well as the many dance moves taught to us that we would take back to the County to practice. Whenever we would visit Baltimore, I got a double dose of Baltimore Club Music. If you didn't know anything about club music, you were outed as being from the county. Which was true but there was always a different experience that came from that label. Being around Jasmine's family from the city and their friends taught me an abundance of skills. I was introduced to different forms of club music outside the confines of the radio and my house. I was taught the term “Rocking Off” which was a term used to “go off” while dancing to club music. Lastly, I gained my first milestone of successfully executing the “Wu-Tang Dance”, “Dora The Explorer Dance” and the “Spongebob Dance”. Nowadays I’ll only do that dance in front of my mirror but I can still kill it.
Around the age of 14 to 16, I became a frequent guest at the teen clubs in the city and my area, shout out to the A&R! Of course, the genres of choice were frequent bouts of Hip-Hop, R&B (Pretty Ricky era), and Baltimore Club music. In this setting that I only visited when I was with Jasmine or with my other best friend LaShay, we experienced teens from all walks of life in this one setting, “Rocking Off”. I never dared to get in the dance ciphers when it was time to show the moves that I diligently practiced for those moments however, I always commended those who did.
The Club Queen
Moving forward, Baltimore Club Music became a part of me. Although I wasn’t from Baltimore, I felt like I could contribute to the movement a little bit. I studied the genre. I found out about Baltimore based Dj’s such as Blaqstarr, Rod Lee, Dj Diamond K, and the late Club Queen K-Swift. If you want to know about club music then your first source should be Dj K-Swift. My biggest inspiration when it came to club music. She was the voice of Baltimore City. You knew when she was on the radio by her drops, her consistency and by her mixes. Club Queen K-Swift had a specific sound that was uniquely different from her other Dj Counterparts Diamond K and Rod Lee. K-Swift was dedicated to her music but most importantly to her fans. She would drop at least two mixes a month. They were even sold at the Lexington Market and Patapsco Flea Market. Her hustle was notable. The music she was creating was bringing major, positive attention to the City of Baltimore despite what was being manipulated in the media.
With famous tracks such as “Rida Girl”, “Slide to the Left”, “I Can Feel it in the Air” K-Swift had a profound ear for music. Her discography also included her ongoing series “The Jumpoff”, strictly made for every occasion. The hustle behind K-Swift's career got attention from music networks such as BET and MTV. Thus putting Baltimore Club Music on the map. K-Swift had multiple stints at high school parties in the city that maybe My homegirl and I to went one night as well as, local clubs in Baltimore, with one being the famous “Paradox”.
On July 20, 2009 days after her performance at the famous Baltimore festival “Artscape”, Dj K-Swift had hosted a pool party at her Randallstown home. After some wholesome fun and excitement, K-Swift jumped in the pool and never resurfaced. Later that day she was pronounced dead. Her funeral was held at the HBCU, Morgan State University. From that point forward, Baltimore Club Music wasn't the same. You had artists and other DJs who tried to keep it alive and are still doing that but due to the passing of K-Swift, nothing was the same. With K-Swift being my inspiration when it came to djing, I was truly heartbroken by her passing. She was apart of the biggest music culture in Baltimore City. I can’t even tell you the last time I heard a Club song that made we want to hop out my car and crazy leg.
You don’t realize how an era of music impacts your life but Baltimore Club music made a major footprint in mine the same way Go-Go did when I turned 17. However, due to the length of this walk down memory lane, I’m going to need you to stay with me for Part 2 and 3 of “Stuck in The Middle with you: A relationship with Baltimore Club Music and Gogo. My journey with following Go-go included so much, even a chance to be in a very short, short-lived Go-Go band.
I hope you all enjoyed this read, clicked the links to hear some dope Club music and subscribed to my mailing list for announcements, news, and updates!
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Selah
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