Last fall saw the release of the Detroit ghettotech figurehead’s debut studio-length effort, Electro Beats For Freaks. On November 12th, he will follow it up with another longform work titled This Detroit Thing Of Ours [DB-103] via Databass.

The sophomore album follows a format similar to the first. Its 46 tracks transition seamlessly for continuous listening, exploring styles like ghettotech, ghetto house and electro. Featured artists Parkhouse, Goodmoney G100, Lil Mz 313 and King Saaidi return in This Detroit Thing Of Ours. The effort also includes collaborations with DJ Deeon, Missy and Gettoblaster.

As with Electro Beats For Freaks, DJ Godfather (real name Brian Jeffries) will follow up the release of This Detroit Thing Of Ours with a series of EPs. Each vinyl record will consist of a handful of tracks from the album in a format better suited for DJ sets.

Jeffries’ name comes up in conversations about ghettotech as often as artists like DJ Funk, DJ Assault, and the late Disco D. At only 18 years old, he cofounded Twilight 76 Records alongside DJ Dick and Brian Gillespie in 1994. Today, he runs the label Databass in his downtime from worldwide touring.

Find the album artwork and tracklist for DJ Godfather’s This Detroit Thing Of Ours below.

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 consists of 15 stripped-down cuts. Songs such as “WORK DAAAT,” “NO ONE!!!!!!” and “HOW TO PLAY OUR MUZIC 2021” pair nostalgic sound design with punchy vocal samples, whereas “FREAKKEY,” “DO THE FILA 1986” and “WHIPTRUN” are purely instrumental. By and large, each entry of the tracklist would make for a deadly weapon in the hands of a formidable turntablist.

Who is Traxman?

Although a forerunner of Chicago scenes like ghetto house, juke and footwork, Ferguson is equally capable as an open format DJ and controllerist. Having disc jockeyed since before the emergence of house music in the early ’80s, he debuted on Jesse Saunders‘ Dance Mania record label with 1996’s Westside Boogie Traxs – Vol 1.

Over the past decade, U.K. label Planet Mu has exposed Ferguson’s music to new audiences by giving a home to his Da Mind Of Traxman album series. In recent years he has also put out music via Teklife, Tekk DJz and Geto DJ’s Inc, not to mention a growing number of self-releases.

On April 10th and 11th, Ferguson will join fellow footwork and juke figureheads DJ Clent and RP Boo to deliver Zoom masterclasses on the styles. Chicago Footworkology, as its called, costs $50 for both days or $20 for a “drop in.”

TRAXMAN The Return of Ghetto House Trackz is available for purchase in digital format via Traxman Bandcamp.