For anyone tuned into the sounds of today’s club culture, you’ll be aware that one of the most exciting and well championed of dance musical frequenices and beats is the  ‘Baltimore’ or ‘B-more’ sound. Spotlighting a genre whose artists dabble and dwell in the "b-more" scene on an international level. From Diplo, Annie Mac, M.I.A, Aaron La Crate, Scottie B and Sinden  – One artist who truly stands out is Tittsworth (yes, that’s his real last name). Up until recently this sonic movement was mostly confined to the city which gives it its name, however things are already changing with the clever combination of hip-hop attitude and house music, the energy and enthusiasm is spreading like wildfire on an international scale.

It seems Baltimore provided the answer to the ‘what’s next?’ question that left many scratching their heads as hip-hop’s former appeal dulled out and the youth of today were left needing something to claim as their own once again. It’s also fair to say that B-more provided a much-needed dose of energy and fun to the dancefloor, with its bass-heavy, cut up approach proven to achieve the ‘hands in the air’ seal of approval.

Smack dab in the middle of this wave is Washington D.C. bred DJ/producer Jesse Tittsworth, who for the past few years has been lighting up blogs and dancefloors with re-edits and remixes galore which have taken this formerly obscure music man on a non-stop whirlwind of touring; notching up festivals and headlining clubs in just about every place on earth where club music means anything.

Tittsworth’s debut album, the not so annonymous 12 Steps, showcases his talent as producer, not content with simply editing and remixing other people’s music. Instead, he has crafted an original record of beats and songs that draw from different genres and places on the map, demonstrating the full gamut of Tittworth’s vision.  The first guest vocalists heard on the record is none other than Fool’s Gold/Downtown Records’ Kid Sister from Chicago and Pase Rock of Spank Rock fame. On WTF, a club record that kicks like a mule, Kid Sis and Pase drop clever, party-flavoured speed raps while Santi White of Santogold lays down the unforgettable chorus. From there, Tittsworth invites Detroit kind of ghetto-tech, DJ Assault, a legend of ridiculous proportions, to get behind the boards and mic, resulting in a collaboration that is not only a party monster, but one of the funniest raps you have heard since the humpty dance.  Taking a slight left turn, Almond Joy mellows things out a bit but still keeps it club with a sweet and sexy R&B number written and performed by NYC veteran songwriter Michelle Bell, who has penned hits for Mary J Blige, Jennifer Lopez and others. 12 Steps continues to entertain and keep it club with the unabashedly titled "Drunk As F*ck" featuring west coast hyphy group The Federation. Here He Comes, with it R&B/pop flavor, featuring Jamaican songstresses Nina Sky as well as a Hot 16 from Cuban-American and Miami-based Pitbull, who’s fast, aggressive emceeing has always lent itself well to Baltimore club music, and here is no exception. Taking it back to B-more, Tittsworth then revisits the monster club classic by DJ Class, Tear The Club Up, but updating it for 2008.

It’s fresh, it’s exciting, it’s the Titts.
12 Steps – Out August 12th (plant music)

album sampler! not full tracks!

1. Haiku
2. WTF
3. Broke Ass Nigga
4. Almond Joy
5. Bumpin’
6. 911
7. Drunk As Fuck
8. B-Rockin’
9. Here He Comes
10. Tear The Club Up 2008
11. 4.21
12. Tittsworth’s Theme