DJ KRUSH

Dropping out of school at an early age, Hideaki Ishi became involved with the yakuza, Japan's vast organized crime group, but quickly realized that a life of crime wasn't what he wanted and thus began DJing. Donning the pseudonym DJ Krush in 1985, the turntabilist and producer became known for his experimental sound bites that amounted to an ambient form of hip-hop in the vein of DJ Shadow. Often considered the father of hip-hop in Japan, DJ Krush has since also become an international legend for his mixing skills.