DJ Rashad has been instrumental to the creation and evolution of Chicago Juke music and has been lifelong friends with other key players on the scene, such as Paul Johnson, DJ Gant-Man, DJ Spinn, DJ Godfather, and Jammin Gerald.
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A surprise for some, but also a perfect fit, Chicago Footwork don DJ Rashad releases his Hyperdub debut after long period of admiration and support from Hyperdub artists, in DJ sets and on the Hyperdub radio show on Rinse FM. These four tracks show DJ Rashad at his unpredictable best. The EP opens with the sorrowful R&B vocal cut up of ‘Rollin’. It’s half time drums and layered, pitch shifted vocals give way to double time 808 kicks and hi hat rushes, building up to tense arpeggiated tones. ‘Let It Go’ does something else entirely different; with a nod to past UK Jungle and hardcore but gradually mutating into footwork's present, it opens with a perfect recall of early jungle’s mix of 160 amen breaks, euphoric diva wails and surging, ravey strings before the drums pull away, leaving a carpet of bass tones and firing 808’s, the euphoria of the track kept moving over hectic drums and a frantic piano melody. ‘Drums Please’ featuring DJ Manny, adds a tough rush of rolling, martial snares to the morse code of clattering toms, sweet Detroit techno chords, and a siren-like tune that breaks out into the upper register, somewhere between melody and noise. ‘Broken Hearted’ is more familiar territory for Rashad, this time featuring long time partner DJ Spinn. Vocal lines and synths layered and chopped to gorgeous effect with half words left echoing and punctuating the stop start rhythm of the track. The launch party for the Rollin EP is on 8th March in Fabric Room One. DJ Rashad plays alongside Kode9, Ikonika, Scratcha DVA, Cooly G, Terror Danjah and Walton on the night.
A. DJ Rashad – Rollin B. DJ Rashad - Let It Go C. DJ Rashad & DJ Manny - Drums Please D. DJ Rashad & DJ Spinn - Broken Hearted