Tag Archives: DJ Krush
Japanese Hip-Hop Comes to Delancey St.
January 22nd, 2010
Hideaki Ishi was born in Tokyo in 1962. He discovered hip-hop upon seeing Wild Style in the early ’80s. The next day he decided to become a DJ and—under the name DJ Krush—he became one of the pioneers of Japanese hip-hop. He formed the group Krush Posse in 1987 and then went solo when they disbanded in 1992. Soon enough, he earned his reputation as an artist, producer and turntablist on the international club scene, and he’s put out 12 albums since ’94, often dabbling in ambient music and trip-hop. DJ Krush continues to work as a producer, remixer and DJ, and he does plenty of music for TV shows, movies and commercials. But you can appreciate his multiple talents in person when he plays The Bowery Ballroom next Tuesday.
Spend Your Weekend with Method of Defiance
September 11th, 2009
When it comes to the world of music, multitalented downtown legend Bill Laswell has just about done it all as a performer, producer, record-label owner (Celluloid) and sideman. He’s worked with an astonishingly diverse cast of characters, including Afrika Bambaataa, George Clinton, Peter Gabriel, Herbie Hancock, Mick Jagger, Carlos Santana, Sting and, yes, even Yoko Ono. And while he’s known most for his work in funk, jazz, ambient and dub, he’s also dabbled in hardcore punk and heavy metal, plus he’s even backed William S. Burroughs’ spoken-word performances. The bottom line is this: The man has gotten around. In a good way.
His most recent creation, the DJ- and musician-fueled hard-edged mashup of dub, electronica, fusion and drums and bass, Method of Defiance, features, among others, out-there keyboardist Bernie Worrell (P-Funk) and DJ Krush. The band—or musical concept, if you will—rarely plays any U.S. dates, so it’s a real treat for them to be playing New York City twice in one weekend. So go see them tonight at Music Hall of Williamsburg or tomorrow at The Bowery Ballroom. And if you really know what’s good for you, go see them twice.
(Check out Bill Laswell Presents: Method of Defiance, above, playing “The Method” at last year’s Fuji Rock Festival.)
