dj sneak

A major figure in the second wave of Chicago house, DJ Sneak and his varied tracks, whether raw and jacking or smooth and layered with Latin percussion, excite dancefloors on a global scale. While the self-described "house gangster" is not originally from Chicago, and has been based out of Toronto and Los Angeles since establishing his career, he'll always be associated with the Windy City. Early Sneak productions such as "U Can't Hide from Your Bud" (1997) -- sample-based disco loops fused with raw, jacking rhythms -- drew the blueprint for the "filter house" sound taken above ground by the likes of Daft Punk, who later had Sneak write the lyrics for their worldwide hit "Digital Love" (2001). Sneak could have coasted on the impact of his '90s releases for his own Defiant label, Cajual/Relief, and Strictly Rhythm into the third millennium, but he has skillfully acknowledged his past while moving forward. The balance struck between two of his most popular commercial mixes, the classics-oriented Back in the Box (2009) and the contemporary Fabric 62 (2012), exemplify his philosophy. His work behind the decks remains in demand, and stylistically indebted labels such as Circus Recordings, Toy Tonics, and Phonogramme have been home to his occasional 12" releases throughout the 2010s and 2020s.