"You Better Work" by Kai Fikentscher

If the "History of House Music" was an elective course in college, Kai Fikentscher's book "You Better Work", published in 2000 from Wesleyan University Press, would be required reading. "You Better Work", at 160 pages is the first educated account of this world we call House music. No, the title is not derived from Ru Paul's dance track back in the mid-nineties.

I had the opportunity the meet with Kai in his New York apartment. He was introduced to UDM (underground dance music), or House music, through a friend who had some 12" records of the early Chicago style of the genre. Kai then fully exposed himself to House music at none other than the legendary Paradise Garage. While attending Columbia University, Kai did his dissertation on Underground Dance Music in New York City, earning his degree in ethnomusicology. This gave birth to the book that put Kai in the Mecca of New York clubbing days to perform research.

Receiving much skepticism from Academics, (who gets a PH.D in House Music?), he continued his research with bags under eyes, as a student in the New York nightlife. The Underground Scene in New York gave Kai much grief about his studies too. Finding and getting feedback from the mysterious NY dance community prior to 1996 was true detective work. A turning point for his research was writing for Dance Music Report, giving him direct association and respect from the scene. He eventually received open arms and minds from Francois Kevorkian, Tony Humphries, Roger Sanchez, Mel Cheren, Louie Vega, Danny Tenaglia, Frankie Knuckles and Todd Terry to name a few.