Dot Dev, the Boston-based indie rap project of Devin Bailey, exists in the liminal space between abstract poetry and playful, jazz-kissed beats. Sounding at times like a spring morning filtered through retro cartoons, their music is mellow, yet eccentric. Drawing from the lyrical depth of folk songwriters like The Mountain Goats and the avant-garde flows of MIKE and MF DOOM, Dot Dev’s songs feel both studious and spontaneous, balancing heady themes with an infectious sense of fun. 

Critics have taken notice: Pitchfork awarded his 2023 album How to Capture Playful a 7.6, praising their “complex writing and dexterous command of rhythm,” while his live set of video game-inspired tracks at PAX East 2024 secured their reputation as a performer with a low-fi charm with razor-sharp wit. Now, Dot Dev is preparing a folk-adjacent companion piece to his rap work to be released through EveryDejaVu Records.

Born into music (their father was a musician, and they joined their first band at fifteen), Dot Dev thrives at the intersection of rap and internet surrealism. Whether dissecting pop culture or reveling in absurdity, his authenticity reverberates, soothingly bridging the gap between existential introspection and lighthearted escapism.