D.J. International Records

One of the larger two original Chicago house-music labels (the other being Trax Records). Launched in 1985 by Rocky Jones and Benji Espinoza (he passed away on October 24, 2020), it released lots of deep, hard, soulful, and acid house tracks. In the late 1980s, it released many hip-house tracks as well. The label’s releases built one of history’s everlasting foundations of house music. International hits included Joe Smooth's “Promised Land” and "Fast" Eddie Smith's “Acid Thunder,” who, together with Kenny "Jammin" Jason, produced 1987’s smash “Can U Dance,” one of house music’s breakthroughs and one of its everlasting hymns. Tyree’s “Turn up the Bass” was one of the first and best hip-house tracks. Some releases were licensed to Westside Records (2) in Britain and BCM Records in Germany; single releases were licensed to different labels worldwide. For bootleg and counterfeit releases with the DJ International logo, please use D.J. International Records (2). LC 8121 As of 2021, all releases that the label controls have been licensed to Last Man Music.