dj Krush

Artist

dj Krush
Agent

Serena Parsons
Based

Tokyo

DJ and producer who launched his solo career in the early 1990s. Widely acclaimed for his releases on the UK label Mo’ Wax, he is recognized as a pioneer of trip-hop and abstract hip-hop, known for his heavy, spatial beats and genre-defying productions. He has performed in over 60 countries and 350 cities, appearing at major festivals like Glastonbury, Sonar, and Coachella. In 2024, he released his latest album Saisei and toured across Europe&Asia. He remains one of Japan’s most internationally respected artists.

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dj Krush

In the early 1980s, DJ KRUSH was deeply inspired by the film Wild Style, leading him to pursue the path of a hip-hop DJ. In the late ’80s, he formed the hip-hop crew B-FRESH3 and performed on the streets of Harajuku alongside breakdancers. There, he met MURO and DJ GO, and together they formed KRUSH POSSE. With their unique 1MC/2DJ setup, they became one of Japan’s most formidable hip-hop groups, frequently appearing across media outlets.

After KRUSH POSSE disbanded in 1992, he embarked on a full-fledged solo career. Striving to explore and express a form of hip-hop that could stand on its own through DJing alone, his work began gaining international attention. In 1994, he released his debut solo album KRUSH. That same year, his second album Strictly Turntablized, released through the UK label Mo’ Wax, generated considerable buzz, especially across Europe. This was followed by a string of seminal releases: Meiso (1995), MiLight (1996), Kakusei (1998), and Ki-Oku (1996), a collaborative album with legendary trumpeter Toshinori Kondo. These albums featured underground and major artists alike, establishing DJ KRUSH as a key figure in the global trip-hop and abstract hip-hop scenes.

In Japan, he joined the first wave of the DJ/producer collective KEMURI PRODUCTIONS in 1995, founded by DJ YAS. The group included DJ KENSEI, DJ HAZU, DJ HIDE, and DJ KRUSH himself. For their live performances, five DJs manipulated ten turntables like instruments on stage, leaving an unforgettable impression. KRUSH also formed the group ryu with DJ HIDE and DJ SAK, releasing the album GA in 1999.

His solo works have consistently ranked high on domestic and international charts. His 2001 release Zen received the AFIM Indie Award for “Best Electronica Album,” often dubbed the “Indie Grammy.” In 2004, his 8th album Jaku achieved a rare feat: topping the CMJ RPM charts (college radio electronic music) in the U.S. for three consecutive weeks. Beyond albums, his work spans film, TV, and commercial scoring. In 2009, he composed the entire score for the Russian anime film First Squad, which was screened at the Moscow International Film Festival and won the Kommersant Newspaper Award.

As a remixer, DJ KRUSH has worked with Herbie Hancock, k.d. lang, Ronnie Jordan, and contributed to projects by Miles Davis, Black Thought, Galliano, Pete Rock, Coldcut, and others—transcending genre and borders with consistently acclaimed results. He also joined Bill Laswell’s supergroup Method of Defiance, performing alongside artists such as Bernie Worrell and Toshinori Kondo, and appearing at festivals like Montreux Jazz Festival. In 2010, he contributed to their album Incunabula, which also featured Herbie Hancock.

In 2015, after an 11-year gap, he released his 9th album Butterfly Effect. His 10th album Kiseki (2017) marked his first vocal album featuring a wide range of Japanese rappers across generations. With Cosmic Yard (2018), he crafted a unique cosmic soundscape alongside Japanese musicians like Toshinori Kondo, Shuzan Morita, and Yukihiro Atsumi. His 12th album Trickster (2020) showcased his complete control over beat-making and engineering, solidifying a new phase of his sonic identity.

In 2022, commemorating the 30th anniversary of his solo career, he launched the project “道 -STORY-”, producing new works and touring both Japan and abroad.In February 2024, DJ KRUSH released his latest full-length album Saisei. The record reflects a deep introspection and a spatial, minimal approach to beat-making, resonating strongly with fans worldwide. Available in both digital and vinyl formats, the album has been praised for its evolution and subtle experimentation.

Following the release, he embarked on a European tour with dates in Vienna (where the release party was held), Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, and more. All shows were well-received and further reinforced his long-standing global presence.

He also appeared in an interview with the Polish music media outlet Popkiller, offering insights into his creative process and his enduring philosophy as an artist.

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dj Krush