On this week’s we re-run the first Dig Deep to feature legendary Chicago house and techno producer / DJ K Alexi Shelby, better known as K'Alexi aka El Chocalata, in the mix for 1 hour. Originally broadcast back in December 2012, K's mix shows us all how it should be done and will leave you in no doubt as to why he is regarded as one of the top DJs on the planet.
We are truly honored to post this podcast featuring Chicago House Legend K'Alexi Shelby in the mix for one hour dropping exclusives back to back!
It's K's 2nd time on the Dig Deep Radio Show and he is easily one of our all time favourite DJ's to come out of Chicago. To say K is prolific is an understatement and we are always in awe of his past and current output. This guy IS house and his sets epitomize the real sound of house music. A true inspiration.
Kicking things off is our man PT with a pile of new vinyl - tracks include a new summer anthem from Watson and that Stripped and Chewed bomb from Chris Grant aka Simba!
Check the post here for K's first appearance for a raft of information on the man.
On this week’s show we are truly honored to bring you legendary Chicago house and techno producer / DJ K Alexi Shelby, better known as K'Alexi aka El Chocalata, in the mix for 1 hour.
One of The founding fathers of house music since the late 80’s, K Alexi is a time served pioneer of the true house sound with a DJ and a phenomenal production career spanning over 20 years.
At the age of 12 Mr.K' Alexi Shelby developed friendships with Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy whilst attending seminal venues like The Warehouse and The Music Box in the mid 1980s. It’s here that he took inspiration from artists such as Stevie Wonder, Prince, Curtis Mayfield and David Huff. Influences that continue in his music to this day.
K’s early tracks helped lay down what is now the trademark Chicago house sound; a solid kick drum, rumbling dark bass, smooth strings, incredible percussion and poetic spoken word.
In 1987 he released Essence Of A Dream under the guise of Risque III, a track that firmly established the name of Mr.K' Alexi Shelby amongst the most prominent of all house producers at the time and still sounds fresh today.
The B Side features Risqué Madness which was inspired by Kikrokos - Life Is A Jungle on Polydor Records from the ‘Jungle DJ And Dirty Kate’ LP released in 1978; a track that Ron Hardy re-edited on his reel to reel.
In 1988 K'Alexi released More Than Just A Dance under the alias of Risqué Rhythm Team. It's the Backyard mix that passes the Dig Deep test, a deep solid string laden house cut with a great bassline that's in the same field as Larry Heard.
1989 saw the release of the jaw dropping acid killer All For Lee-Sah which came out on Transmat under the name K. Alexi Shelby. Definitely one of the standout tracks for me, and a recent sharing led up and coming UK based producer and DJ Cottam to say "that's right up my strasse, kinda stuff I'm buying and playing now".
