Dirtybird Residents on What Makes Campout Unique

This B2B Set from Daft Punk & DJ Sneak is Disco House Heaven

How Louie Vega Introduced DJ Sneak's Sound to New York City

How Dj Sneak Inspired Daft Punk

5 DJ Sneak Tracks from the ‘90s that Only the Real Heads Remember

DJ Sneak's Outspoken Relationship With Social Media

How DJ Sneak First Discovered House Music

10 Influential Hispanic House and Techno Artists

 emerged as one of the key figures in the second wave of influential Chicago house producers. Though not native to the Windy City, Sneak's musical journey began in the early 1980s when his family moved from Puerto Rico to Chicago. Unable to understand English, Sneak found solace in instrumental music, which would eventually shape his unique artistic path.

Chicago, a city teeming with diverse musical styles, provided the perfect backdrop for 

 artistic development. It was here that he discovered the mesmerizing world of underground house music, attending warehouse parties and immersing himself in the sounds of early pioneers like Farley Jackmaster Funk, Ralphi Rosario, and Steve Hurley. Sneak's passion for house music deepened as he absorbed mixtapes played on local radio station, WBMX.

 due to his involvement in the graffiti tagging scene, the young artist soon found himself working as an airbrush artist in retail stores. It was during this time that he sharpened his DJing skills by playing at various mobile gigs and local nightclubs, contributing to the already bustling DJ scene in Chicago. However, Sneak's true calling lay in music production, and he wasted no time in establishing his independent label, Defiant Records.

In 1992, armed with the fundamental pieces of a studio, Sneak embarked on recording tracks that showcased his distinctive style. It was in 1994, while working at the renowned Gramophone Records store, that Sneak crossed paths with Cajmere (aka 

), the owner of Cajual and Relief Records. Cajmere recognized Sneak's talent and released several pivotal tracks, propelling Sneak into the international spotlight and kickstarting his global DJing career.

Untouchable Funk

The year 1995 marked a turning point for Sneak, as his sound revitalized the house music scene. With innovative disco-filtered house grooves, he carved out a signature style that resonated with audiences like never before. His music became a beacon of inspiration for emerging talents such as 

In 1996, Sneak's iconic track "You Can't Hide from Your Bud" on 

 Classic Recordings emerged as a masterpiece, laying the groundwork for the wave of funky, disco-influenced house music that would sweep the world. The track served as a blueprint for subsequent "filtered disco" releases and solidified Sneak's status as an innovator.

 has also made a mark in the realm of remixing, consistently delivering highly anticipated remixes that ignite dance floors across the globe. His intense beats and rhythms have earned him a place among the top DJs, securing his position in the prestigious Top 100 DJs of the world for five consecutive years.

 has graced the world's most renowned venues and events, becoming a frequent visitor to the spiritual party island of Ibiza and captivating audiences with his mesmerizing sets. Additionally, Sneak founded the booking agency "All World Entertainment," representing fellow Chicago talents 

, J-dub, as well as Canadian DJs Gryphon and Jason Hodges.

The first volume of a classic series of House Music for the ladies. This mix is the original and it is simply amazing! Turn it up and let DJ SNEAK play the sexy Beats!

DJ SNEAK - For The Ladies - Volume 1 by DJSneak

 continues to evolve as an artist, exploring avenues such as live streaming and creating captivating video experiences. As the party scene transitions into new territories, Sneak remains at the forefront, harnessing the power of music to shape the future of dancing and entertainment.

United States

acid house

chicago house

classic house

deep house

disco house

DJ Sneak

Luna Mar

Superior Ingredients Roof

DJ Sneak [4 Hour Set] Pop Up Party

United Kingdom

house

tech house

uk tech house

Darius Syrossian

Ryan Hendo

Kika

DJ Sneak Open Air with Darius Syrossian

Senaerya

Germany

german techno

minimal techno

techno

Loco Dice

Kyruh

Netherlands

dark techno

Reinier Zonneveld

uk dance

Jess Bays

latin house

tribal house

bass house

Crusy

pop dance

Goodboys

german house

hamburg electronic

nu disco

Tensnake

South Africa

fidget house

Kyle Watson

Loudpack

Words like legend, icon, and pioneer are tossed around wildly in dance music, often ascribed to those whose time in the industry falls far too short for such superlatives. However, when it comes to DJ Sneak, you'd be hard-pressed to come up with any other way to describe the multi-hyphenate artist who has influenced the direction of dance music in such innumerable ways. From leading the charge as part of Chicago's second wave of house music to inspiring Daft Punk with his trailblazing filtered disco sound, the DJ, producer, songwriter, label owner, and often outspoken self-professed "House Gangsta" helped draft the blueprint for modern dance music.

High

Born in Puerto Rico, he moved to Chicago in the dead of the winter in 1983. Spending the first months in the States inside, avoiding the bitter cold, and being unable to speak English meant the only way he could soak up American culture was through Chicago's vibrant and cutting-edge radio stations. WBMX FM's groundbreaking mix shows like 

 took early house music out of the bedroom studios and dark warehouses into homes, car stereos, and boom boxes.

"A couple of radio stations were dedicated to dance music, even though it wasn't called dance music [at the time]. It was semi disco, funk, and early electronic house. But it was every day, and it was 24 hours a day. We were getting educated by just listening," he explains.

No one knew they were at a critical inflection point for modern music. Hip-hop, funk, disco, and house formed the foundation for the following four decades of urban culture. On the weekends, DJ Sneak listened to Farley Jackmaster Funk and Ralphi Rosario, who he later learned was also Puerto Rican. "And once I put one and one together, my interest in the music became bigger because his music was early Latin house with his vocals. I was like, 'Holy shit. That's so me!' That really brought me into house music."

DJ Sneak spent the next ten years immersed in the city's DJ culture, eventually working at 

one of its most celebrated record stores, Gramaphone Records

. Alongside coworkers like Derrick Carter, he was at the epicenter of the second wave of house music and trusted by customers like Bad Boy Bill and 

—to slip them the best cuts and most exclusive white labels. The relationships he formed allowed him to promote his homegrown house music. After two years, he was on the rise off the back of the 

 released on Green Velvet's Relief Records.

Show Me The Way

DJ Sneak's ability to shapeshift while maintaining a raw and edgy sound across subgenres earned him early praise from the likes of 

. On his first trip to New York, Sneak was floored when Vega dropped his track "Show Me the Way" at The Sound Factory for a room of industry icons, including Roger Sanchez, Armand Van Helden, Francois K, and Barbara Tucker.


He explains that there were two DJ Sneaks. Chicago Sneak brilliantly fused the city's deep and funky side with its bangin' booty bass alter ego. Todd Terry inspired New York Sneak to reimagine disco into what would become the prevailing sound of the late '90s, filtered disco house. And while French producers like Daft Punk eventually dominated it, he's largely credited with creating the subgenre's warbling, futuristic soundscape. Daft Punk even name-checks his influence in their single "Teachers" and enlisted him to write the lyrics for "Digital Love," released in 2000.

Digital Love

What's most impressive is that he did all this without a massive studio. He crafted his first hits with only four pieces of gear. And the filtered disco sound emerged due to experimentation and limitation.

"The first 20 records I did, I was messing around and practicing, and people liked what I was doing," he explains. "The filter came from the necessity of not having anything else to use."

In his early days, he ran across mixtapes from Ron Hardy, known for his disco edits. But Sneak explains that his primary influence for digging through old disco records was Todd Terry. He used the SP1200 sampler similarly to hip-hop producers to add his patented bone-crushing swinging drums to disco.

Sneak took the idea one step further when he acquired an Akai S950, a sampler with a less gritty sound.

"I went through each little button, and then one day, I found the filter. And I twisted a button. I was like, 'Whoa, what?' And that became my trademark. So, Todd was doing straight disco. I started filtering and making basslines out of shit. And then sampling the same sample on another channel [for] the high end. The only people that were doing that shit were the drum and bass guys from the UK."

For all of his influence musically, DJ Sneak has never been one to let his music solely speak for itself and has often been outspoken about the prevailing state of dance music. He's quick to mention that it's not house music that's changed. It's the industry. And throughout the EDM boom, he was sure to point out the hypocrisy of a culture founded by social outcasts and Black and Brown people, overrun with a celebrity ideology that put the DJ on a pedestal.

"Everybody says I make moves because I'm DJ Sneak, and I haven't put up with people's shit," he says. "I speak my mind. I've always been true and original towards the love I have for house music and the craft of DJing. I take pride."

He explains that when he spoke out about those at the upper echelons of EDM making a mockery of the art and culture, he did so with a complete understanding of the cash cow the industry had become.

"I was like [you're all] a bunch of phonies. It's a show, I get it. You're entertainers, you're not disc jockeys. You're not DJs who love music. But I grew up in it. So I took a lot a lot of low blows."

After a period of being a boisterous proponent for preserving the culture, and a lot of negative press that often took his words out of context, he hung up social media for good. Instead, he took back control of his masters and carried on as he had before, with the full intention of being an unapologetically authentic curator of the culture.

 saying, 'The first 30 years, you're just practicing to get it right. After 30 years, you're gonna get recognized, and people are going to really know,'" Sneak says, emotionally remembering his friend and mentor. "I'll stand on my own two feet. And still do what I do. I still make music. I still love everything about the music part of it. [The] music industry, the business of that. I can care less. I can survive on my own."

Todd Terry

diva house

Frankie Knuckles

Words like legend, icon, and pioneer are tossed around wildly in dance music, often ascribed to those whose time in the industry falls far too short for such superlatives. However, when it comes to DJ Sneak, you'd be hard-pressed to come up with any other way to describe the multi-hyphenate artist who has influenced the direction of dance music in such innumerable ways. From leading the charge as part of Chicago's second wave of house music to inspiring Daft Punk with his trailblazing filtered disco sound, the DJ, producer, songwriter, label owner, and often outspoken self-professed "House Gangsta" helped draft the blueprint for modern dance music.







Born in Puerto Rico, he moved to Chicago in the dead of the winter in 1983. Spending the first months in the States inside, avoiding the bitter cold, and being unable to speak English meant the only way he could soak up American culture was through Chicago's vibrant and cutting-edge radio stations. WBMX FM's groundbreaking mix shows like Hot Mix 5 took early house music out of the bedroom studios and dark warehouses into homes, car stereos, and boom boxes.




"A couple of radio stations were dedicated to dance music, even though it wasn't called dance music [at the time]. It was semi disco, funk, and early electronic house. But it was every day, and it was 24 hours a day. We were getting educated by just listening," he explains.




No one knew they were at a critical inflection point for modern music. Hip-hop, funk, disco, and house formed the foundation for the following four decades of urban culture. On the weekends, DJ Sneak listened to Farley Jackmaster Funk and Ralphi Rosario, who he later learned was also Puerto Rican. "And once I put one and one together, my interest in the music became bigger because his music was early Latin house with his vocals. I was like, 'Holy shit. That's so me!' That really brought me into house music."




DJ Sneak spent the next ten years immersed in the city's DJ culture, eventually working at one of its most celebrated record stores, Gramaphone Records. Alongside coworkers like Derrick Carter, he was at the epicenter of the second wave of house music and trusted by customers like Bad Boy Bill and Cajmere—aka Green Velvet—to slip them the best cuts and most exclusive white labels. The relationships he formed allowed him to promote his homegrown house music. After two years, he was on the rise off the back of the Blue Funk Files EP released on Green Velvet's Relief Records.




DJ Sneak's ability to shapeshift while maintaining a raw and edgy sound across subgenres earned him early praise from the likes of Kenny Dope, Todd Terry, and Louie Vega. On his first trip to New York, Sneak was floored when Vega dropped his track "Show Me the Way" at The Sound Factory for a room of industry icons, including Roger Sanchez, Armand Van Helden, Francois K, and Barbara Tucker.


He explains that there were two DJ Sneaks. Chicago Sneak brilliantly fused the city's deep and funky side with its bangin' booty bass alter ego. Todd Terry inspired New York Sneak to reimagine disco into what would become the prevailing sound of the late '90s, filtered disco house. And while French producers like Daft Punk eventually dominated it, he's largely credited with creating the subgenre's warbling, futuristic soundscape. Daft Punk even name-checks his influence in their single "Teachers" and enlisted him to write the lyrics for "Digital Love," released in 2000.




What's most impressive is that he did all this without a massive studio. He crafted his first hits with only four pieces of gear. And the filtered disco sound emerged due to experimentation and limitation.




"The first 20 records I did, I was messing around and practicing, and people liked what I was doing," he explains. "The filter came from the necessity of not having anything else to use."




In his early days, he ran across mixtapes from Ron Hardy, known for his disco edits. But Sneak explains that his primary influence for digging through old disco records was Todd Terry. He used the SP1200 sampler similarly to hip-hop producers to add his patented bone-crushing swinging drums to disco.




Sneak took the idea one step further when he acquired an Akai S950, a sampler with a less gritty sound.




"I went through each little button, and then one day, I found the filter. And I twisted a button. I was like, 'Whoa, what?' And that became my trademark. So, Todd was doing straight disco. I started filtering and making basslines out of shit. And then sampling the same sample on another channel [for] the high end. The only people that were doing that shit were the drum and bass guys from the UK."




For all of his influence musically, DJ Sneak has never been one to let his music solely speak for itself and has often been outspoken about the prevailing state of dance music. He's quick to mention that it's not house music that's changed. It's the industry. And throughout the EDM boom, he was sure to point out the hypocrisy of a culture founded by social outcasts and Black and Brown people, overrun with a celebrity ideology that put the DJ on a pedestal.




"Everybody says I make moves because I'm DJ Sneak, and I haven't put up with people's shit," he says. "I speak my mind. I've always been true and original towards the love I have for house music and the craft of DJing. I take pride."




He explains that when he spoke out about those at the upper echelons of EDM making a mockery of the art and culture, he did so with a complete understanding of the cash cow the industry had become.




"I was like [you're all] a bunch of phonies. It's a show, I get it. You're entertainers, you're not disc jockeys. You're not DJs who love music. But I grew up in it. So I took a lot a lot of low blows."




After a period of being a boisterous proponent for preserving the culture, and a lot of negative press that often took his words out of context, he hung up social media for good. Instead, he took back control of his masters and carried on as he had before, with the full intention of being an unapologetically authentic curator of the culture.




"I remember Frankie Knuckles saying, 'The first 30 years, you're just practicing to get it right. After 30 years, you're gonna get recognized, and people are going to really know,'" Sneak says, emotionally remembering his friend and mentor. "I'll stand on my own two feet. And still do what I do. I still make music. I still love everything about the music part of it. [The] music industry, the business of that. I can care less. I can survive on my own."

DJ Sneak

Articles

Other artists