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.

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.

Chicago dance crew Creation Global has organized the music camp, which will consist of three Zoom masterclasses as well as a beat battle called “Werk The Beat.” Participants can sign up for both days for $50 or “drop in” for $20.

 

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Along with the late DJ Rashad, DJ Clent (real name Clenton Hill) and RP Boo (real name Kavain Wayne Space) are the artists most commonly associated with the origins of footwork, which The Quietus notes emerged parallel to juke from ghetto house in the mid ’90s. Traxman (real name Cornelius Ferguson), on the other hand, has played a wide range of music since the ’80s and is known more for his frenetic turntablism than for ties to any single genre.

Although based in Chicago, Creation Global boasts 70 members worldwide. “Our crew is dedicated to the performance and preservation of Chicago-based African-American art forms, development of the next generation of leaders and artists, and building global connections to strengthen our multicultural movement,” reads a passage of the Chicago Footworkology description.

Register to Chicago Footworkology via this form.