{{Short description|Chicago record label}} {{infobox record label | name = D.J. International Records | image = DJ-International-Records-Logo-1.gif | parent = Universal Music Group | founded = 1985 | founder = Rocky Jones / Benji Espinoza | distributor = UMC/UMe | status = active | genre = House music | country = United States | location = Chicago, Illinois | url = https://www.udiscovermusic.com/genre/dj-international/ }}
'''D.J. International Records''' is a Chicago record label founded in 1985 that specializes in house music, a type of electronic dance music. In the 1980s, DJ International Records released music by key house innovators such as Frankie Knuckles, Ron Hardy (his 1986 remix of the It’s track “Donnie”), Hot Mix 5 member Farley "Jackmaster" Funk (his 1986 track "Love Can't Turn Around"), Steve “Silk” Hurley (his 1985 "Music Is The Key"), and Marshall Jefferson (his 1986 song "Move Your Body").<ref name="udiscover">{{cite web |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/dj-international-chicago-house/ |title=How DJ International Took Chicago House Around The World |last=Smith |first=Phil |date=21 November 2019 |website=www.udiscovermusic.com |publisher=U Discover Music |access-date=18 January 2020 |quote=}}</ref> DJ International Records also released ESP’s song "It's You", Dymond's "Wild About Your Love", and Liz Torres' "What You Make Me Feel". The label also released acid house, such as Adonis's 1987 "The Poke" and Tyree's "Acid Over", as well as late 1980s hip house recordings, such as Fast Eddie's "Hip House" and "Yo Yo Get Funky".<ref name="udiscover" /> In the early 1990s, the label released Mike Dunn's song "Jass Yo Azz Off". Udiscover Music called the "history of DJ International...the history of house music, the very DNA of modern dance music."<ref name="udiscover" />
In 2019, many of the label's master recordings were bought by Universal Music.
In August 2020, DJ International debuted a Frankie Knuckles track "Carefree (I Am A Star)" posthumously as the first release from the forthcoming ''Jackmaster 7'' album, a follow-up to the six ''Jackmaster'' albums the label put out between 1987 and 1991.<ref name="909Originals">{{cite web |last1=909Originals |title=Legendary house label DJ International returns, with a previously unreleased Frankie Knuckles cut |url=https://909originals.com/2020/08/24/legendary-house-label-dj-international-returns-with-a-previously-unreleased-frankie-knuckles-cut/ |website=www.909originals.com |date=24 August 2020 |accessdate=2 September 2020 |ref=2}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}3. Hinton, Patrick. “Rip Benji Espinoza, an Unsung Hero of House Music.” ''Mixmag'', 28 Oct. 2020, mixmag.net/feature/rip-benji-espinoza-house-music-obituary. {{Authority control}}
Category:American record labels Category:House music record labels Category:Universal Music Group Category:Record labels established in 1985 Category:1985 establishments in Illinois
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