Last week Dorchester Art Project announced the launch of “Tiny DAP Concerts,” a new intimate, virtual showcase inspired by NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts that will look to highlight Greater Boston artists who are rising the ranks in New England Hip Hop.

Led by creative director Jay Hunt of Smokehouse Media, one of the area’s most sought-after filmmakers and producers, the series will offer professionally produced, pre-recorded performances that put the spotlight on local artists.

The series comes after DAP’s popular monthly Open Mic sessions were put on hold due to the pandemic. DAP founder Sam Potrykus sees the series as a way to unify the city and elevate local artists to a global audience: “after COVID took away our premier monthly showcase, the only way to bounce back is to go big.

The Tiny DAP Concert series will debut on June 17 with a performance by DJ WhySham, the video of which will be uploaded to Boston Compass’s Youtube channel. Season 1 of the series will feature five artists from the DAP Open Mic and is funded by The Boston Foundation. Community partners for the series include LFOD Radio and Spark FM Radio.