Here are some songs that you can play..
Steppin is an urban dance that continues to evolve defining its unique style and culture within in the context of mainstream Swing dance. Steppin has gained popularity, particularly but not limited to the urban neighborhoods of America. Steppin makes reference to other urban styles of dance found throughout the United States larger enclaves in cities such as Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore and Washington DC. In these and other cities one will find very similar customs and cultures accenting local dance movements which are very similar to movements of the Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Jitterbug and the Shag, just to name a few. Each city bears its own name such as the Bop, Hustle or Swingout. Although unique to its own style, customs and accents the basic structure involves the movement of triple steps, rock steps and anchors with the lead and follower synchronizing their steps in a complementary manner.
Steppin as it is affectionately known has it roots imbedded in the traditional dance movements of its predecessors such as the Texas Tommy, Lindy Hop and Bunny Hug. Historians have noted that the early dance movements of Swing dances laid a superb foundation for elements of dance to be shared and improvised over a period of time. However the history extends as far back as the predecessor of modern American music, Ragtime, which documents the polyrhythm movements and sounds of its heyday. Ragtime was not only an unique music form it was a dance as well. Ragtime was a play on John Phillip Sousa's music combining improvisation and syncopation in between to draw upon melodic themes and percussions. The end result was a richer melodic sound which was well received by local patrons as well as those abroad who would hear the new sounds coming from traveling musicians and dancers on the Vaudeville circuit.
[edit] Disco and the Chicago Step
Even with the onset of Disco music, there was still a strong contingent that would still Bop (now called Step) to any kind of music. Stepping didn't gain a real foothold until local station WBMX (102.7FM/1390AM) started playing two particular records by artist Jeffree, "Love's Gonna Last", and "Mr. Fix-It" in the mid to late 1970s. Neither song was a major Billboard R&B chart hit ("Mr. Fix-It" made it to #53, "Love's Gonna Last" didn't chart) but they perfectly complemented the newest version of the Chicago Step. In a classic case of a dance making a record a (local) hit, due to the massive request and playing of "Love's Gonna Last" on WBMX, it is now considered the ultimate "stepper's cut".
[edit] Today
Steppin is still in its infancy gaining popularity particularly in the urban community social and nightclub scene. Steppin has gained an increased visibility in media and entertainment mediums with recent R&B videos featuring local Chicago dancers. R&B crooners have been highly successful starting with R. Kelly's "Step in the Name of Love" and Happy People, and Gerald LeVert's "Didn't We?", the nation has gotten a taste of the steppers style. Additionally, movies such as "Love Jones (film)" (which depicts an event formerly hosted by local Chicago DJ Herb Kent, known as "The World's Largest Steppers Contest"), brought the dance and culture to the big screen. Steppin is usually coordinated into events called "Stepper's Sets", which typically cater to an older crowd.
[edit] Regional Variations of Steppin
Other parts of the USA have created their own forms of Chicago Steppin. One form is Detroit Ballroomin', which is popular in Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburg, Buffalo, and Toledo. Another form is Texas Swing Out, which is popular in Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Beaumont, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and New Orleans. Also, DC Style Hand Dancin' is popular in Washington DC, Baltimore, and Richmond(and the remainder of Virginia).
[edit] Culture of Stepping
Stepping is not just a dance, it encompasses a style of dress as well as music. As R. Kelly states in his #1 hit, "Step in the Name of Love":
Stepper songs:
2 Pieces Carl Thomas
20 Years Later Bobby Hutton
A Little More Lisa Stansfield
A Million Ways Will Downing
After Hours Ronnie Jordan
After The Laughter Swingout Sister
Ain't Understanding Mellow Jerry Butler
All I Want Walter Beasley
All In My Mind Liberty Silver
Am I Am Smokey Robinson
Anythings Possible Willie Hutch
Ashanti's Only You Remix DJ Mellow Khris
At Last Glenn Jones
At Your Best Steppers Remix Aaliyah
Be Thankful For What You Got William DeVaughn
Before you break my heart Gene Dunlap
Best Friend Ledisi
Blowin' My Mind Solo
Body Talk Eddie Kendrix
Break of Dawn Michael Jackson
Brown Sugar D'Angelo
Can We Talk Tevin Campbell
Can We Try Again Glenn Jones
Can You Wait Giorge Pettus
Can't Stop Loving You Kem
Chunga's Revenge Gotan Project
Click A Glass Gerald Levert
Closer Goapele
Coco (Jazz Cut) Joe Thomas
Come 2 Me Zoe Spencer
Come Get to This Marvin Gaye
Come Live with Me Angel Marvin Gaye
Come To Me Kenny Lattimore
Come To Me Will Downing
Concentrate On You LTD
Creepin Stevie Wonder
Dance With My Father Luther Vandross
Danger She's a Stranger Five Stairsteps
Daylight & Darkness Smokey Robinson
Daylight Ramp
Deep Waters Incognito
Do you want to Dance Bette Midler
Everlasing Love Rufus & Chaka Khan
Facts Of Life Bobby Womack
Family Reunion Jill Scott
Feel Like Steppin Alvin Stone
Fell In Love Dramatics
Gigolo Nick Cannon
Girl Please Blu Cantrell
Got To Be Funky Remix JB's
Groove With You G. Womack
Haunted House Lee Oskar
Heaven must be like this Ohio Players
Heavenly Temptations
Here's A Kiss Portrait
Hey you get of my Mountain Dramatics
Hopes Too High Marcell & the Truth
How did you find your way Kem
I can't believe Mother's Finest
I Cried (RMX) Dramatics
I Don't Know Immature
I loved & Lost Diamond in the Back Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions
I only meant to wet my feet The Whispers
I Won't Let You Do That To Me Luther Vandross
If You Were Here Alexander O'Neil
I'm Still Here The Notations
Imagination Earth Wind & Fire
In The Air Tonight Phil Collins
In The Land Of Smooth Byron Woods
Indigenous Love Keni Burke
It's Alright It's OK Veronica Maxwell
Jam Tonight Freddie Jackson
JB's Steppers Mix DJ MJ
Jealous kind of Fella Intruders
Just Be True Gene Chandler
Just For Your Love Memphis Horns
Keep An Open Heart Gary Taylor
Keep On Steppin Marzette Griffin
Keep Turning Me On Angela Winbush
Key To The World LJ Reynolds
Killer Joe Quincy Jones
King Of Fools Will Downing
Lady of Magic Frankie Beverly & Maze
Lady you are One Way Ft Al Hudson
Last Dance Zhane
Late Night Cruise DJ Calvin
Let Go Lalah Hathaway
Lil Red Boat Angel Grant
Listen To Me Phillipe
Live It Up Randy Crawford
Livin' It Up John Legend
Lost Without You Remix DJ Sonitus
Lost Without You Robin Thicke
Love Ambition Jason Weaver
Love Calls Remix Kem Florety
Love is stronger than Pride Sade
Lovely Day Luthor Vandross
Loves Gonna Last Jeffree
Making of You Gladys Night & Pips
Marathon Raheem DeVaughn featuring Floetry
Me and Mrs. Jones Billy Paul
Mind Blowing Decision Brother 2 Brother
Mind Blowing Decisions Heatwave
Misunderstood Marzette Griffin
Monorail JB's
More Latoya London
More than Friends Freddie Jackson
Ms I wanna write you a Love Song David Oliver
My Baby's Gone Away The Chymes
My Love is True The Temptations
My Na Na Ali Ollie Woodson
Natural Thing Freddie Jackson
Never Too Busy Kenny Lattimore
Night And Day Al B Sure
No Diggity Blackstreet
Nobody To Love Luther Vandross
Not On The Outside Eddie Kendricks
Oh What A Night Dells
Oh, What A Night For Dancing Barry White
Old School Lovin Chante` Moore
On The Ocean K-Jon
One Less Bell Fifth Dimension
One More Of The Night Dirty Dancing Whispers
Ooo baby baby Five Stairsteps
Over And Over Kalvin Bishop
Pathway To Glory Loggins & Messina
Perfect Angel Minnie Riperton
Pieces Of A Dream Incognito
Pleasure Island Trancendental Funk
Prize Possession Ronald Isley
Promise Me Your Love Marzette Griffin
Queen of My Soul AWB
Rain from the Sky Kenny Lattimore
Rest My Lips Whispers
Riding High Faz-O
Satisfy You Damion Hall / Chante' Moore
Say You Won't Adriana Evans
Secrets Glenn Jones
Sets Up Remix DJ Steppin Shorty Smooth
Sexy Mama Moments
Shake Down Steve Butler & Ron Haynes
Should I Grenique
Slow Down (Can't Stop Remix) Bobby Valentino
Slow Down Bobby Valentino
Smooth Lina
Stars Kindred The Family Soul
Stay In My Corner Dells
Stay with Me Al Green ft John Legend
Step To The Name Of Love R Kelly
Step Wit Cha Long Shot Sessions Featuring Mr Liou
Steppers Mix (Bossy/It's Goin' Down/In The Club) DJ Mellow Khris
Strawberry Letter 22 Brother's Johnson
Stroke Of Genius Gerald Levert
Summer Breeze Seals & Crofts
Summer Madness Kool and The Gang
Sweet Summer Days Peabo Bryson
Take it Slow Boozoo Bajou
Take Your Time Loose Ends (Feat. Pete Rock)
Tell her Love has Felt the Need Eddie Kendricks
That's When You Fall In Love Gordon Chambers
The Baby Maker Carl Thomas
The Jones Temptations
The Look in Your Eyes Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
The Way You Love Me Michael Jackson
Thoughts and Wishes Hamilton Bohannon
Tin Man America
Tipsy Instrumental J-Kwon
Touch Seal
Treat Me Like A Man (Original) Michael Henderson
Used To Be My Girl Brian Mcknight
Walk right up to the Sun Delfonics
We both need each other Norman Conners
Welcome Home Walter Jackson
Welcome Into My Heart Isley Brothers
Whats Goin On Remix Frankie Knuckles
Wishing on a Star Atlantic Starr
Womans Gotta Have It LV
Wrong Lover J Holiday
You Are My Starship Dazz Band
You Are The One Whispers
You Can't Stop the Rain Loose Ends
You Go Your Way Spinners
You Like Me Don't You Jermaine Jackson
You Send Me Roy Ayers
You Sure Love to Ball Marvin Gaye
Zoom The Commoders
Mahalo Rox BTW
