TEKLIFE

Teklife began as a close-knit community of Chicago friends united by their passion for footwork-a high-energy dance and music style rooted in the city’s neighborhoods. The movement traces its origins to the high school friendship of DJ Rashad and DJ Spinn, who, in 2006, co-founded the legendary Ghettoteknitianz crew. This crew of DJs and producers became known for pushing the boundaries of Chicago’s footwork culture.

Over time, Teklife evolved from a local thing into a global collective. Today, its members include DJs, dancers, visual artists, and vocalists from cities as far-flung as Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Lille, Tokyo and Belgrade, all connected by their dedication to the footwork movement.

In 2015, Teklife Records was launched to honor the legacy of DJ Rashad, whose visionary work shaped the sound and spirit of the collective. The label’s inaugural release, Afterlife, featured a trove of Rashad’s unreleased tracks. Since then, Teklife Records has become a hub for innovative projects from core members like DJ Spinn, Traxman, DJ Manny, Taso, Gant-Man, Ashes57, DJ Paypal, and many more while expanding into vinyl and digital releases, merchandise, and international collaborations.

Though DJ Rashad’s passing left a profound void, his influence continues to resonate. Through TEKLIFE Records and the ever-growing global community, his spirit endures as Teklife carries Chicago’s footwork culture to new audiences around the world.