K-HAND, born Kelli Hand in Detroit, Michigan, was a pioneering DJ, producer, and label owner renowned for her influential contributions to techno and house music. Emerging in the early 1990s from a city celebrated as the birthplace of techno, K-HAND established herself as one of the genre’s few female trailblazers. She launched her own label, Acacia Records, in 1990, which became a crucial platform for her distinctive music—fusing raw, soulful elements of Detroit with relentless dancefloor energy.

Throughout her career, K-HAND released a steady stream of respected EPs and albums, such as *Project 5* and *On A Journey*, which found acclaim with underground audiences in Detroit, Europe, and beyond. She toured globally, playing renowned clubs and festivals, and her talents won recognition from institutions like the city of Detroit, which officially named her the “First Lady of Detroit” in 2017. K-HAND’s artistry was defined by gritty drum programming, hypnotic grooves, and an uncompromising commitment to her musical vision.

As both a performer and an innovator, she carved out space for women and Black artists in dance music’s often male-dominated landscape, inspiring subsequent generations. Her legacy endures through her music, her mentorship, and her lasting impact on the global electronic scene.