Just one in the cast of crucial producers that made Strictly Rhythm the premiere American house label during the early '90s, Roger Sanchez grew into a prolific remixer, world-class mainstream DJ and top global-house name by the end of the decade. Though he concentrated more on mix albums than proper studio productions under his own name, Sanchez gained much respect with club kids as well as the dancefloor intelligentsia.

Born in New York to parents of Dominican heritage, Sanchez attended Manhattan's School of Art & Design with several future hip-hop legends including Kurtis Mantronik. He was well into the graffiti and break-dancing scene during the early '80s and began DJing by the age of 13. After mixing for several years at New York hotspots like the Tunnel -- even while he was studying architecture at the Pratt Institute -- Sanchez finally left college in 1987 to give music a full-time shot. His club Ego Trip was soon booming (with Sanchez mix-tapes selling briskly on Broadway) and he never looked back. By 1989, Gladys Pizarro from Strictly Rhythm Records had touched base to see if Sanchez was interested in production; one year later, he had recorded his first single, "Luv Dancin" as Underground Solution.

The single's tough underground grooves charged the New York house scene, then just on the cusp of a turnover from the smooth garage sound to a rougher style influenced by European trance and techno. Despite stumbling into remixing by accident -- after giving a bad review to a single, he was tapped to rework it -- Sanchez became more than competent at the game, and beginning in 1991 he worked on tracks for Babyface, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Janet Jackson, Chic, M People, Basia, Incognito and Soul II Soul.

Later Sanchez productions -- a 1994 Latin dub-house burner named "Sumba Lumba" (as Tribal Confusion), the following year's hard-hitting Livin 4 the Underground EP (as Roger S) and that same year's "Release Yo Self" (as Transatlantic Soul) -- cemented his status as one of Strictly Rhythm's greatest assets and one of the world's leading mainstream producers. Though his own One Records collapsed in 1995, Sanchez formed another label named Narcotic and signed up with the British club Hard Times to release his first full-length. The mix LP Hard Times-The Album featured the S-Man (with just two decks, a mixer and a crate of records) proving his worth as a DJ in addition to his much-hyped studio work. He continued in the mix-LP vein, releasing volumes in two high-profile series (Mixmag Live!, United DJ's of America) and the Freeze collection Roger S. Mega Mix. In 1997, Narcotic Records released "Back" (as S-Men), the fruits of the dance super-group formed by Sanchez, Junior Sanchez and DJ Sneak. One year later, Sanchez released S-Man Classics, a two-disc collection including his best remixes backed with his best own productions. A few mix albums followed during the next three years, but a full production album, First Contact, finally dropped in 2001.

DJ Boris started his ascension to in 2004, when the native of St. Petersburg, Russia took up residence at New York super club Crobar. It was the culmination of years of workhorse gigging at almost every club across the Big Apple. But it was more than that too: It was a movement that has shown no signs of fading.

Boris (birth name: Boris Inzhin) started moonlighting as a DJ while taking classes at the Institute Of Audio Research in New York. With a metronomic mixing ability and a penchant for expansive, groove-based power-house music, the jock quickly found work both in DJ and production booths, playing at clubs like Exit, and Roxy, and remixing artists like Janet Jackson, Jewel and Gloria Estefan. In 2002, his mix of Pink’s “Get This Party Started” hit No.1 on the Billboard Hot Club Play chart.

His relentless approach to bring his cult of followers the best sound and experience possible has taken his production to even greater heights. Powerhouse industry labels like *69 Records, and Stereo Productions have wasted no time in signing Boris projects to their labels. Dancefloor missiles like "Automatic," "Everybody Tweakin'," "Lights Go Out," and Lisa Pure's "Movin On" have been embraced by a culture of beat aficionados, in and out of the many clubs DJ Boris has grown to call home.

And if home is where your heart is then Boris must be endowed with a heart the size of North America. His movement has rewarded him with residencies in every major city. Now a regular on the city’s club circuit, the name of Boris started to become associated with unapologetically massive music: big drums, big riffs, huge build-ups and lots of energy. Propelled by the promise of a great party experience and by a growing affection for the approachable DJ and his humble manner, his crowd swelled. By the time Boris debuted at mega club Crobar in May 2004, his faithful numbered in the thousands, united under a spontaneously created banner: “Believe in Boris.” Boys stamped it on their T-shirts in masking tape, girls Sharpied it on their flesh, and eventually Crobar flashed it on their video screens: A battle cry for a clubber’s revolution.

Boris’ faithful service to the clubbers of New York has been rewarded with two Club World Award “Best Resident DJ” nominations (one while at Crobar, and one while at Pacha), a DJ Times cover story, a top 5 finish in the national America’s Best DJ fan poll, and a new residency at super club Space in Miami. Add this to the already accomplished residencies he holds at Rise in Boston, Therapy in Rhode Island, as well as his regular appearances at Ruby Skye in San Francisco, 960 in Connecticut, Deko Lounge in New Jersey. He’s also become one of the reigning kings of Winter Music Conference week, throwing massive pool parties by day and after-hours marathons by night for thousands of fans.