It’s no question that juke and footwork are vastly underrepresented in the realm of dance music. Although they date back to the early ’90s, the styles’ popularity was largely centralized in the Chicago/Midwest rave scene. DJ Manny has been about that life for several years. Lauded as one of Chicago’s most talented footwork dancers, the one-time protégé of footwork legend DJ Rashad has solidified his place as a mainstay within the genre.
Out on Movelworxx, DJ Manny’s latest is part of a limited vinyl release paying homage the imprint’s 15th edition of the Street Bangers Factory. “Its What U Need RMX” pulls its main sample from Kaytranada‘s soulful “What You Need” featuring Charlotte Day Wilson. Manny has raised the tempo, but he hasn’t diffused the spirit of the original in any way. Pumping breakbeats underscore the jazzy synths, and Manny finds the perfect moments to let the samples stutter and pause. In this way, he exemplifies everything that has made footwork such a phenomenon. It draws a clear throughline to hip-hop, finding the best parts of all that is soulful and funky, and breathing new life into them for the dance floor.
“Its What U Need RMX” and the entire Street Bangers Factory album has already sold out on vinyl. You can still purchase on the digital release on BandCamp, however, with fees waived if you wait until the platform’s next no-fee holiday on Friday, October 29th.
