Aphrodite

If you danced to Drum 'n' Bass in the mid-1990s, chances are you've boogied to the music of Aphrodite. He's one of the masterminds behind the infectious, party-oriented style known as Jump-Up, whose name stems from its aim: to make folks "jump up and hit the dance floor running." His style weaves perfectly-placed hip-hop and Ragga samples around various permutations of the classic "Amen" break, spiced up with deep, droning basslines which sound equally good at the club or booming out of your Jeep. Aphrodite often uses well-heeled, instantly recognizable samples in the service of dancefloor hits. His history of rehashes includes "Mission: Impossible," "Carmina Burana," and the O'Jays' "For the Love of Money." But his street cred's been restored by his work with well-respected hip-hop artists such as The Luniz and Jungle Brothers.