DJ Funk, the creative mind behind ghetto house music in Chicago, has passed away at 54 due to cancer, according to his friend DJ Slugo.
Charles Chambers, known as DJ Funk, started his journey in the Midwest rave scene during the early ’90s. He and other artists like Traxman and DJ Assault mixed fast-paced house beats with Miami bass and hip-hop chants. This unique sound was dubbed “ghetto house,” first mentioned on Chambers’ EP Street Traxx II from Dance Mania—a label he eventually owned. In 1996, Jeff Mills featured some of DJ Funk’s tracks in a famous mix in Tokyo.
In 1999, Chambers released Booty House Anthems, which became hugely popular and sold over a million copies. Songs like “Pump It” and “Work That Body” became club favorites. Later on, he launched Funk Records in 2006 and remixed Justice’s track “Let There Be Light.” Daft Punk even mentioned him as an influence on their song “Teachers.”
2013 saw a resurgence of interest in his work when tracks like “House the Groove” appeared on a compilation album celebrating Dance Mania Records’ history. Ghetto house paved the way for Chicago’s juke and footwork scenes—artists from RP Boo to Night Slugs have honored DJ Funk online for shaping their music.
Fans love it when they can dance to music that makes them happy.
Back in 2012, Chambers shared with Crack, “I’m not trying to be a super-producer, but what I do is just make stuff that’s relevant to my life.”
