The title track sees Traxman build a ghetto house soundscape around Richard Groove‘s vocal before the juke stylings of “Take Dat Wig Off.” “West Grimy” follows with a danceable take on techno, and those who purchase the effort via Bandcamp are afforded a bonus track titled “Ya Betta Work.”

Traxman Revisited

Traxman (real name Cornelius Ferguson) is one of the artists most closely associated with juke and footwork, alongside RP Boo, DJ Clent and the late DJ Rashad. His credentials extend further back than that, though. He first cut his teeth as a DJ in Chicago in the early ’80s and is often credited as one of the first to play Italo disco.

Earlier in 2021, Ferguson released a ghetto house-focused album titled TRAXMAN The Return of Ghetto House Trackz. Shortly thereafter, he led masterclasses for an online music camp called Chicago Footworkology.

Stream or download the Freaky Brotha EP across platforms here.

As noted in a description, the four-track effort encapsulates a fusion of the two Chicago-born styles. Fast paced yet fluid and danceable, the tracks “Tek 57” and “Living that Teklife” offer more melody whereas “Respect The Fact” and “Herbal Grinder” leverage gritty sound design.

DJ Rashad (real name Rashad Harden) passed away on April 26th, 2014. A few months later, an autopsy declared his death the result of an accidental overdose.

DJ Deeon (real name Deeon Boyd), whose style of ghetto house helped lay the foundation for footwork, has faced a different sort of health crisis as of late. Last July, he launched a fundraiser while unable to work due to the COVID-19 pandemic to help cover medical costs from a series of strokes he had suffered.

“To Rashad. Much love and respect, thanks for the motivation,” reads a quote from Boyd in the description for Destiny. “Missing you young bro.”

Destiny released via Teklife on June 18th. Purchase it in digital format via Teklife Bandcamp.

The effort opens with “Can You Dig It,” an 8-bit-infused dance floor weapon whose titular sample comes from the 1979 film The Warriors. Tracks like “Crossover,” “Dance” and “Move it Bang Like” pair nostalgic synth work with clips from a range of hip-hop tracks, and “That Funk” closes the EP out on a gritty yet intelligent note.

DJ Clent (real name Clenton Hill) is widely credited as one of the originators of the footwork genre, which is said to have evolved from ghetto house parallel to juke. Other early pioneers of the style are RP Boo and DJ Rashad, the latter of whom passed away of a drug overdose in 2014.

Alongside RP Boo and fellow Chicago DJ and producer Traxman, Hill will lead a music camp on footwork in April. Chicago Footworkology, as it’s called, will consist of three Zoom masterclasses as well as a “beat battle” competition.

Purchase Living Legend Pt.2 in digital format via DJ Clent Bandcamp.

The selection showcases more jit and footwork-oriented permutations of the DJ Godfather (real name Brian Jeffries) sound. The title track pairs Lil Mz 313‘s attitude-filled verses with upbeat bass and percussion, followed by an ode to Detroit jitters in the form of “King Of The Circle.” “Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself” falls closer to the electro end of the dance music spectrum, and “Certified Freak Hoe” featuring King Saadi, of which there are three versions, offers more straightforward ghettotech.

Jeffries first made a name for himself at only 18 by launching a record label called Twilight 76 Records alongside DJ Dick and Brian Gillespie. In the 26 years since, his name has been as closely tied to ghettotech – which has seen a recent resurgence due to Chicago’s footwork scene – as those of DJ Assault, DJ Funk, and the late Disco D.

In March, DJ Godfather will follow up the Keep My Name Out Your Mouth EP with the Up All Night EP.