Cutting to the Chase: DJ Kentaro at Yugong Yishan

He may be shy and he may look humble, but DJ Kentaro has skills galore. That’s why he’s a DMC champ, that’s why he gets the ladies, and that’s why he’s signed with the illustrious Ninja Tune label, who releases Kentaro’s second album later this year. Before that happens, however, the Japanese golden boy makes a stop at Yugong Yishan – as he packed his bags, he told tbj about his favorite place to scuba dive, his most beloved stalker, and what he does with his set of gold turntables …

the Beijinger: Coming to China is becoming a regular thing for you. What have you been up to in the past year?
DJ Kentaro: I’ve been working on my second album. Last year I did lots of shows, and produced my own events in Tokyo and Osaka called “Freestyle Lab Japan Tour,” featuring DJ Krush, Dexpistols, Fantastic Plastic Machine, DJ Baku, Akihiro Namba, Ryukyudisko, 80kidz and Hifana. This project was really successful. I also had a "Snow Golden" night in December last year featuring DJ Craze and Crazy B from Birdy Nam Nam … that gig was really successful as well!

tbj: Winning the DMC World Title in 2002 came with a prize of two gold Technics turntables and a matching mixer. Are the turntables really made out of gold, and what do you do with them these days?
DJK: I actually use them in my studio! They are really great turntables – they actually work, you know.

tbj: What’s the best thing about being a DMC World Champ?
DJK: At that time, to reach out to the crowd and fans, and to get my name out to ordinary people. At the same time, to get to go to many countries and tour is really great.

tbj: Are you still lugging records around or have you gone digital?
DJK: I’m about 70 percent vinyl and 30 percent Serato. I still press my own records as well.

tbj: What was the first record you ever bought?
DJK: “How High,” by Redman and Method Man.

tbj: What is the nature of your relationship with Ayumi Hamasaki, other than remixing her songs?
DJK: I’m a fan of her! That remix I did was really interesting …

tbj: Your music has been classified as hip-hop, dance, drum & bass, reggae – but of what school do you consider yourself?
DJK: I think I’m a hip-hop artist, even though I don’t play too many American rap songs when I DJ … but what I’m doing is hip-hop, which is sampling good parts of music and mashing it up.

tbj: Is there a certain aspect about hip-hop in Japan that makes it different from the States or Europe?
DJK: Well, of course there is a Japanese rap scene, and there is UMB (Ultimate MC Battle), and this is becoming really big across Japan. Now they do it in big venues (even the regional competitions), and tickets get sold out all the time!

tbj: What are your plans for the future? What direction do you want to take your music in?
DJK: Other than making my second album with Ninja Tune, coming out later this year, Ninja Tune is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, so lots of plans for that as well. I’ll also be doing compilations and playing at big festivals in Europe and the USA …

tbj: Who’s the best or worst fan you’ve ever encountered?
DJK: I don’t know about “worst,” but there was a girl who came to all of my shows last year (all over the world!), and now I remember her. I always look for her to be at the very front!

tbj: What was your favorite and most hated subject in school?
DJK: I always liked math and always hated history.

tbj: What does DJ Kentaro eat for breakfast?
DJK: I eat brown rice – no white rice.

tbj: What do you do to de-stress?
DJK: I go scuba diving in Koh Tao, Thailand! That’s the one thing I always do at least once a year. I’m going there again this month.

tbj: Tell us about a book or movie you’ve watched or listened to lately.
DJK: I went and saw Avatar, which is like Princess Mononoke plus Star Wars plus Spirited Away all put together.

tbj: Three words to describe yourself.
DJK: Ninja Tune, DMC Champ, Japanese.

Catch DJ Kentaro at Yugong Yishan on April 15. RMB 80, RMB 50 (advance), 9pm.