DDm has bars. Duh. The Baltimore artist has consistently dropped heat. In July, he dropped Beautiful Gowns, an eclectic album that captures two things: blazing and humorous bars along with reality. This combination showcases the grittiness of Baltimore and the struggles of being a Black man in America (specifically one who happens to be gay) while still having fun with it.

One of my favorite tracks off the project is “Fly on the Wall,” as it combines a chilled instrumental with poignant lyricism. There’s a sense of hope within the darkness, though, such as within the tracks “Supernova” and “Til Midnight.” We have to find our joy within the wild situations of the world, or else we’ll lose ourselves. Check out the project below via Spotify (or your favorite DSP) and remember to support dope music in all its forms.