The Re-Birth of Dayne Jordan (aka the 22nd Birthday Party).

Text by Sofiya Ballin. Images by Tiesha Miller.

“AHH! What the fuck?!” said Dayne Jordan, gripping his leg in agony in the green room of The Blockley. It seems tornado-ing across the stage for an entire set had done some damage. “This fucking hurts!”

A charlie horse was a small price to pay for a packed show last weekend. Jordan, formerly known as Dosage, threw a successful birthday party for himself, to say the least.

“It honestly showed the time and effort we put in,” he said, as the pain subsides.

The Dayne Jordan 22nd Birthday Celebration kicked off with a performance with fresh-faced AL-1Thing.

“We about to have some real rowdy ignorant motha fuckin’ AL-1Thing fun!” he yelled out to the crowd.

His personality and pistachio pants won the crowd over.

“Dosage is a friend I came across in the last year,” he explained. “It meant a lot when he asked me to perform.”

Beano and Chill Moody

DJ Ferno

Beano was there for the ladies. Taking full advantage of Beano’s live band, Chill Moody hopped onstage – beer in hand – as the  two performed “What’s For Breakfast?” from Moody’s  Who Do You Love? Valentine’s Day series.

“You ever had that one person that got away?” Beano smoothly said into the mic as before singing covers of “Thinking About You” by Frank Ocean and “Lotus Flower Bomb.” He serenaded a few ladies while the others sang along. An encore was demanded.

“The crowd was very, very responsive,” Beano said. “Dosage and I did our first show at the VIP Lounge. That’s my boy and I wish him good health and success.”

Rapper STS took the stage with a chill and self-assured flow. Bouncing with a grin, he offered his 3 W’s to life, “All I know is women, weed, and what to wear.”

Jordan said, “All of those dudes are like family. They’re on the rise, building their own brands. I choose people I thought would be the most entertaining.”

The lights dimmed and fog rose up from seemingly nowhere. A projector cascaded down. The birthday boy was up. His niece showed up on the projector with an adorable monologue demanding Jordan kill it on stage.

Dressed inconspicuously with the hoodie of his sweatshirt covering his head, he started his set with his energy level already at 10. DJ Ferno spun the 1’s and 2’s as Jordan yelled, “I think it’s time to tell the people who I am!”

The crowd erupted.

“ I like to make it feel like a movie from beginning to end,” Jordan explained. “I like to take to you on a ride. It allows me to not run out of ideas.”

Halfway through his set, Jordan announced the reason behind his name change. He’s no longer giving people a dosage of who he is. Now, they get the whole prescription. He also announced the release of the Which Way 3D Mix, featuring 18 Philly artists and 12 Philly producers.

“It’s a great project,” Jordan said. “Great intro in reference to me going by my government name. Definitely something you can put in and play from beginning to end.”

Jordan also performed a few tracks off his newly released project In Due Time. After his set, he was drenched in sweat and so was the crowd. Everyone was his hypeman.

In the green room, people stopped in to congratulate him on a great show, including, Mic Stew, who offered birthday wishes.

“I’m always blown away by his breath control, energy and presentation,” Stew said.

DJ Ferno came in and collapsed on the couch, the fatigue written across his face.

“It went well,” he said. “The crowd was intense!”

Jordan’s birthday celebration was a success but he was already looking forward to the next step.

“Between 20-25, you’re still finding yourself,” Jordan explained. “You’re still figuring out what you don’t like. I have to set the bar high.”

Jordan looked around the room for a moment, then continued.

“I’m curious to see what I’m going do next.”