From 1985 up to the early 90's, D.J. International was one of the most influential record labels in Chicago - and subsequently - the world. Alongside the slightly better known Trax imprint, they released some of the all-time classic House tracks from artists like Larry Heard, Chip E, Mike Dunn and Steve Poindexter. At decadent crucibles of dance music like Ron Hardy's Music Box and Frankie Knuckles' Powerplant, crowds of Hispanic, African American and Gay dancers were ingesting the latest Italo imports mixed with European EBM, British synth pop and classic disco edits. DJ International picked up and released the productions of those clubs patrons, churning out a succession of the most futuristic, ruggedly effective and influential dancing music of the last 50 years. The drug/technology interface at play would inspire tracks like Steve Poindexter's 'Work That Motherf*cker', making use of newly democratised technology to recreate the essence of hypnotic tribal drumming, while producers like Larry Heard aka Fingers Inc would make strangely elegant future-soul music that continues to amaze to this day. Now in 2009, a new wave of producers are turning to this stripped and functional aesthetic as inspiration for a new generation of dance music. Long live the Jack!