THIS Friday at Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow’s Sierra Alliance collective bring their juke, footwork, ghetto-tech and booty bass-focused Subcity show Juke Til U Puke from the airwaves to the club for the first time. Glasgow DJ Nightwave, a longtime aficionado and champion of these fast-paced, Chicago-derived sounds, is the night’s headliner. Here she picks out her five top juke and footwork tracks, every one of which, for reasons she explains below, is by the late footwork pioneer DJ Rashad.
I’ve always been a big fan of Chicago music and first discovered juke through Dance Mania releases, Juke Trax and the footwork label Teklife. At that time I’d given up on music and concentrated on studies but getting into juke and footwork reignited the spark in me and I began DJing again, because it was fun, real and full of energy.
It’s hard to describe how much this music means to me, especially after connecting with Rashad, Spinn and the rest of the Teklife crew. Losing Rashad was devastating for the world but we are blessed with the massive catalogue he left behind.
He was a genius, innovator and his light was too bright to ever go out – footwork is now a worldwide culture and movement. I can’t possibly pick my top Rashad tunes but here’s a list of those I play every time I DJ.
Rollin’
This is the Rashad classic, came out on Hyperdub in 2013 and samples Walked Outta Heaven by Jagged Edge. Rashad was a master of sampling and reinventing emotionally charged hooks like this one. He’s done countless edits with disco, R'n'B, rap, jazz, soul samples, you name it. He would work all the time banging out tunes, all day. All the Teklife crew are like that, I don’t know when they sleep.
In Da Club Before Eleven O’ Clock
Slightly older tune from Juke Trax records, with a Ciara sample and signature Rashad chords all the way through. Maximum hype. This is what I like about juke – no pretentious bull**** or chin-stroking. It’s about loving life, having fun and bonding on a dance floor.
Drop Juke Out
Guaranteed-success DJ weapon with a hypnotic vocal loop from a Polow da Don tune. This one sends people crazy and is really nice to mix as it’s half-time.
I’m Gone
This one samples Gil Scott Heron’s Home Is Where The Hatred Is, and it gets me every time. So much emotion.
All We Came To Do Is Party
Love this track, it’s a great example of Rashad working with a vocalist, Christina Mundaca in this case. Everything Rashad made was badass but full of soul, and not many can achieve that magic.
Juke Til U Puke, tomorrow, Glasgow School of Art, 11pm to 3am, £4/£5.
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