Episode #23: GHETTO HOUSE [1995-1997]

While Cybotron, the first major release from Juan Atkins in Detroit, may be considered the first techno record it is also arguably known as the first electro record. Across the United States, Afrika Bambaataa released "Planet Rock" in 1982 while Hashim released "Al-Naafiysh" in 1983. Electro was dominated by staccato, percussive rhythms with heavy use of effects such as reverbs and delays. Electro was a primary influence in the development of Miami Bass.Miami Bass became popular at the start of the 90's. The genre was a type of rap music that was geared towards fast-paced dancing. 2 Live Crew is said to have a large influence and with their hit singles like "Me So Horny" the genre became more widely popularized. By 1993 the underground sound of Miami Bass was becoming extinct as groups like Tag Team released "Whoomp! There It is" and Quad City DJ's with "C'mon And Ride It (The Train)." These releases made it onto mainstream radio and many dance cd compilatons. With the commercialization of Miami bass, a few dedicated dj's in Detroit began similar productions of their own. DJ Assault & Big Red were a hip hop group that dj'ed fast-paced dance music. While working at Buy-Rite Records their owner encouraged them to incorporate techno into their mixes. Right around the time that they signed with Buy-Rite Records, DJ Godfather was popping up on the Detroit scene. DJ Godfather and mentor DJ Dick had put together a couple of bass singles in 1993 and 1994 as Bass Association. In 1995 they founded Twighlight 76 along with DJ Nasty, moving their production in a more techno direction but still combining Miami Bass samples. Leading up to this point the electro & techno community in Detroit was a primarily black scene. By the mid-nineties a white teen from Ann Arbor, Michigan had climbed into the DJ scene and started combining Detroit's new style after seeing Assault and Godfather at a rave. The style of this sound was often considered to be "fast stuff" or "mix show music" but Disco D quickly coined the phrase "ghetto house." This term rubbed the originators of this music in a very wrong way, however the name stuck. The term also has other monikers such as booty house and ghettotech.Booty house took on it's shape around 1992 an features stripped down, 4 to the floor, drum-machine driven tracks layered with sexually explicit lyrics. It was also known as Juke House upon it's conception and was said to be founded in Chicago. Ghettotech is the cousin of Juke/Booty House and follows the groundwork described earlier regarding Detroit and the incorporation of techno, juke house and electro gave it a Miami Bass feel.This mix was recorded in 2003 but the wax selections are from 1995-1997. This recording, like many of the previous, has never been distributed. This particular mix never had a name associated with it and I shortly gave up mixing this genre after the tape was dubbed.DJ Slugo - BallsDJ Slugo - Track Is For The MenUnknown - Beat That Shit UpDJ Godfather - Playa Haters In Dis HouseTwighlight 76 - Roll It, Ride It, Shake It (12" A Side)DJ Deeon - Where The Hoez (Uh Oh)Dance Mania - T-N-E = TarisBig Daddy Rick - Hoe Bend OverDJ Godfather - PumpUnknown - Giggle DatBig Daddy Rick - Beyond The InfernoBig Daddy Rick - BalloonsTwilight 76 - Roll It, Ride It, Shake It (12" A Side)DJ Nasty - Where Them Hoes AtDJ Slugo - Wouldn't You Like To Be A HoeFarley Jackmaster Funk - Beat That Bitch With A Bat