DJ Class

Born Daniel Woodis in Baltimore, Maryland, DJ Class worked underground for roughly two decades before issuing his first major-label single in 2009. He first gained notice on the city’s club circuit in the early 1990s, performing and producing under his own name. An association with Unruly Records soon developed, placing him among the central figures of the Baltimore club movement that expanded throughout the decade. “Tear the Club Up,” one of his key productions for the label, surfaced in 1999 and remained in regular rotation for years as a recognized staple of the local scene. His Universal Republic debut arrived that same year with the single “I’m the Ish,” which initially drew scant notice outside its regional base. Circulation of several remixes, most prominently those featuring Lil Jon and Kanye West, transformed the track into a national club success.