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.

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.