Tradition flows through RP Boo. He’s often called the inventor of Chicago footwork, yet the DJ (born Kavain Wayne Space in 1972) sees his role as lifting up those who came before him. His sample-heavy productions, which flip iconic scraps of soul, funk, and hip-hop over sped-up 808 beats, are a form of tribute, he tells Apple Music: “That particular sample is for me to say to the artist and the producer, 'This is my way of complimenting your gift.'” Space started out playing uptempo house music for a local dance crew, then pioneered footwork’s distinctive syncopations with 1997’s “Baby Come On.” But it took a spot on Planet Mu’s groundbreaking 2010 compilation, Bangs & Works, Vol. 1, followed by his own 2013 debut LP, Legacy, to give him the shine he deserved. Since then, he’s remained a tireless ambassador for the form, expanding its possibilities with his minimalist, head-spinning funk.