In January 2015, Strut Records revisited the groundbreaking sounds of Chicago house music with ‘Dance Mania: Ghetto Madness’, a compilation paying homage to the iconic Dance Mania label. This release, a successor to Strut’s acclaimed ‘Hardcore Traxx’ from 2014, shines a spotlight on the raw energy, stripped-down beats, and rapid tempos of ghetto house. It captures the thrilling emergence of a new wave of talent in the mid-90s, featuring pioneers like DJ Deeon, DJ Funk, Jammin’ Gerald, and DJ Milton, all central figures in the dance mania that swept through Chicago.
This album meticulously narrates the evolution of Chicago’s unique sound during a pivotal period. Mix tapes became the lifeblood of the scene, circulating through local record stores and fueling the rise of underground DJs who cultivated devoted followings at intimate parties within Chicago’s housing projects. Audiences were electrified by the accelerating beats per minute and the unapologetically explicit, gangsta rap-inspired lyrics that defined the ghetto house sound. DJ Deeon aptly described this shift, noting, “it bridged the gap. It made it OK for guys in the ghetto to like house again and it brought the women onto the dancefloor too.”
Dance Mania Records, under the guidance of Ray Barney, was perfectly positioned to capitalize on this burgeoning dance mania. Barney’s record store was a hub for these innovative DJs. As a respected figure in Chicago’s music scene, he consistently received the most cutting-edge tracks, granting Dance Mania a first-mover advantage in releasing these sounds commercially.
‘Ghetto Madness’ expertly curates a selection of underground anthems and enduring classics that solidified Dance Mania’s legendary status as ‘Ghetto House’s Motown’. The compilation features essential tracks including DJ Deeon’s electrifying party starter ‘The Freaks’, the gritty and raw energy of DJ Funk’s ‘Computer Sex’, and Paul Johnson’s unforgettable ‘Give Me Ecstacy,’ a favorite of Nina Kraviz. Further gems unearthed from the Dance Mania archives include Steve Poindexter’s early dark and intense track ‘Computer Madness’ and Tyree’s highly sought-after jam, ‘Nuthin’ Wrong’. These tracks encapsulate the dance mania that defined an era and continue to resonate with house music enthusiasts worldwide.
