Jitterbugs

The roots of footwork go back to the early 1900s in Detroit and Chicago, but obviously you can go on forever connecting the dots back the beginning of time. However, it's probably more interesting to take it one step at a time because while I like to believe music is all caveman grunts in the end, that label cloud on the right makes it hard to back up my theory. We are lucky to have some video proof of the existence of older dance crews available to us, this particular individual being Freaky Will who was important to the new wave of footwork dating back to the late 80s jit scene that rode the ghettotech wave.

For a deeper reading into Detroit history, go here.

I'm Ready

DJ Assault - I'm Ready vs Footwork (from Straight Up Detroit Shit vol 4 2000)

Don't be fooled because this isn't exactly straight up Detroit shit. This is straight up classic italo matched to Waxmasters footwork anthem, possibly requiring more than just sliding up the pitch control. Back before laptops but during the rise of ghettotech it's rumored that DJs would actually break open their Technics and solder in more powerful potentiometers to speed slower records up faster than the turntables could handle. I believe I even heard a story about somebody using a power drill to get the plates to spin faster or something ridiculous, but I can't seem to find my sources at the moment. In general these Assault mixtapes are good, with lots of surprises such as this one. I can't help but think about old Jeff Mills sets, done a bit faster.

Whooditech

This isn't so out of the ordinary as far as Ghettotech goes, but almost every track from this guy seems to be based on a sample by a New Orleans rapper. I mean the vocals are in the same Detroit tradition and cars aren't an uncommon theme, (see DJ Assault - My Caddy) but it's surprisingly uncommon to come across "unoriginal" material in this environment. The music wasn't birthed from a sample like Bmore, therefore has different responsibilities. There are even some DJs who frown upon this method, and while a lot of Ghetto House/Tech lyrics are written in less than 5 minutes, I'm partial to the raspiness of Slugo's baritone, neighborhood kid choirs, and Assault's lisp. I would rather get some Katey Red or Chev up on something like this, but Mannie Fresh works out out OK in the end.

I'm not morally against putting an mp3 up since I can't find any legitimate places to buy this (released on Thorn Entertainment, a tiny subsidiary of the Twilight 76 web that exclusively put out AJ McGhee records), I just don't have one.

More Nateisms and Jittin Jesuses

Dollah Jones - Bang It! 2009

Been lending my ears to more Detroit sounds lately, a place which always confused me musically. This is the result of reading this article which roots Jittin to the Jitterbug in a century-long time line leaning towards the notion that it didn't start in Chicago. You don't think anyone already tried that with Juke? Ether way a good read, and there is some very interesting history to the way people dance in Detroit. I've always been curious how Ghettotech got so much more notice than Ghetto House, yet DJ Nate probably has a lot more Youtube views than Jittin Jesus. I mean Ass N Titties is a household name, but even DJ Funk has probably only been to Europe once. However, is there like a Kid Sister of Jit? This Dollah Jones song is a Rap track you can Jit to. I can't help but give a nod to Tha Pope's Bob That Back Down also from this year. Not that it's also a Merengue infused Jukerap, but as far as blurring the lines between rhymes and sines, it does the job right and we don't end up with anything like Hip-House. In both instances, the Non-Rap hook permits one to dance rather than just nod your head. The abundance of Rap related Ghetto House/Juke and Ghettotech/Jit tracks out there can be blamed on the radio that has ignored the source material for so long. Here in Chicago, the majority of Juke tracks you will usually hear on the radio are Hip-Hop remixes, and the ones that aren't are played at weird hours of the night when most people are drunk. Hell I've heard DJ Spinn play sets that were over half Baltimore House. The love triangle between the "Ghetto" club genres is a filthy relationship.

Global Ghettotech

DJ Assault - No Vaseline (from Fuckadancemania 12" 1998)

Most people don't know it, but DJ Assault composed the Jeopardy theme song. Before he was born even. This was his original version, which he fought for years to keep uncensored. Anyone who can tell me what street in Chicago has this engraved in the sidewalk gets a gold star.

Comedowntech

DJ Slugo - I'm a Hoe ("Screwed") ( from Disco D - Ghettotech for Slow People 2006)

I've always been confused as to why Disco D decided to pull down the beats-per-minute on these tracks from his Midwest peers, but Slugo at the wrong speed is well, even heavier. The quirkier Ghettotech synths are pretty confusing as well. So the Jewish kid from Ann Arbor not only helped pioneer Midwest booty music, worked with Dancehall artists, and had a black belt in Karate, but he was also a codeine fiend. Somebody needs to write a book on him and his incredibly productive, unfortunately short life.

One more Disco D fact: He helped bring those clear rolling papers to the States.

Juking in Japan

D'Kawa - Kurokin (DJ Deeon Remix) (From Kurokin 12" 2005)

I have a large interest in the impact that both Detroit and Chicago have made on the world outside of the states, especially looking at whether Techno or House music took the lead. Obviously plenty of producers in Europe have been buying imports and even putting out their own Midwest singles for years, but I guess my knowledge outside of a few countries on the mainland and the UK is pretty limited. D'Kawa is a very Detroit influenced producer from Japan who in this case has another add in a layer of Chicago sound to the mix. While comparisons to the Percolator are kind of tired and/or obvious when talking about Ghetto House, this remix sounds like the "Keep Movin'" mix of Kurokin. It came from the slums of Middle America, went to Japan and came back again. Like the blues, the British Invasion, the 1970s.

Been on vacation in Portland but I'm about to start things up big again very soon.

"Your Grandparents Suck"

DJ Assault - I Say Uuuah (from Everybody Fuck 12" 2003)

Craig Diamonds at his finest in my opinion. Probably my favorite use of a sample in the ghetto club world, though I might go with something from Chicago depending on the day of the week. This one came on out Assault's own Jefferson Ave records. The flash videos on the website have to be seen, especially the one for Yo Relatives.

I'm long overdue for a trip up to Detroit, but nobody in Chicago ever wants to go there with me.

The Ski Mask Way

Disco D - Keys to The Whip (from Booty Bar Anthem 12")

It is rumored that Disco D was making people fuck on the dancefloor before he had even had his own cherry popped. The frontman for Ghetto Tech, he put out dozens of 12"s on his own as well as producing and remixing 50 Cent, Pharrell, Dj Slugo, and 8ball & MJG. In any format, "If the music makes the girls want to take off their panties at the end of the night, then you know that the music was good" was the D standard. Strange pitched up Metroplex sounding techno dragged through the Brewster-Douglass homes by some skinny jewish kid. A pioneering force in the corruption of house music and a grammy nominated producer working with rappers, Brazilians and TV jingles, Disco's mental health caught up with him late in his career. Detroit lost a good one in 2007 when D was found in his NYC apartment with a belt around his neck at only 26 years old, who had suffered from Bi-Polar Disorder all his life. It would be rude of me not to mention Disco with all of the Ghetto House I have been enjoying lately, so here's 2002s gold digger anthem.

RIP my friend (1980-2007)