DJ Kentaro, born Kentaro Okamoto in 1982, is the thoroughly modern musician; a multi-faceted DJ who works all over the world. Kentaro began DJing at age 13, practiced diligently, and was soon in possession of serious skills. By the age of sixteen he was entering and placing in DJ competitions. In 2000, the youngster was a finalist in 2000's worldwide Vestax Extravaganza, and in 2001 he placed first in the DMC Japan Final (and placed third in the world), returning in 2002 to take first in the DMC World Championship. His style incorporates various techniques and types of music, including turntablist, hip-hop, drum & bass, electro, and house. He has, in fact, adopted the motto "no walls between the music". His earliest recorded works can be found on obscure Avex and KSR compilations dating back to 2001. There are also a number of white label Kentaro mix performances floating around in DJ circles. Starting in 2001 Kentaro began doing shows together with fellow DJ team
Hifana and Gagle under the Zamurai banner, and has continued to do so occasionally since. In 2002 Kentaro toured as the live DJ for popular R&B singer
Double. He did his first shows in non-Japan Asia during his No-Waller Tour of 2002. In 2003 he did a tour of Japan with the popular American rap group Pharcyde. He also performed on his own in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as at a Garnet Silk tribute event in Jamaica, which saw him share the stage with Sizzla, Wayne Marshall and Bounty Killer. Later in 2003 Kentaro ...
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DJ Kentaro, born Kentaro Okamoto in 1982, is the thoroughly modern musician; a multi-faceted DJ who works all over the world. Kentaro began DJing at age 13, practiced diligently, and was soon in possession of serious skills. By the age of sixteen he was entering and placing in DJ competitions. In 2000, the youngster was a finalist in 2000's worldwide Vestax Extravaganza, and in 2001 he placed first in the DMC Japan Final (and placed third in the world), returning in 2002 to take first in the DMC World Championship. His style incorporates various techniques and types of music, including turntablist, hip-hop, drum & bass, electro, and house. He has, in fact, adopted the motto "no walls between the music". His earliest recorded works can be found on obscure Avex and KSR compilations dating back to 2001. There are also a number of white label Kentaro mix performances floating around in DJ circles. Starting in 2001 Kentaro began doing shows together with fellow DJ team
Hifana and Gagle under the Zamurai banner, and has continued to do so occasionally since. In 2002 Kentaro toured as the live DJ for popular R&B singer
Double. He did his first shows in non-Japan Asia during his No-Waller Tour of 2002. In 2003 he did a tour of Japan with the popular American rap group Pharcyde. He also performed on his own in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as at a Garnet Silk tribute event in Jamaica, which saw him share the stage with Sizzla, Wayne Marshall and Bounty Killer. Later in 2003 Kentaro made his first appearance at Fuji Rock, followed up by a 19 date solo tour in Europe. In December, 2003 he returned to Europe to play additional dates, including the 25th Anniversary Trans Musical Fest in Rennes, France, dates in Scotland, and at London’s Mean Fiddler where he performed with legendary turntablist Q-Bert. He also appeared on the BBC Radio One show
Breezeblock. In 2004 Kentaro again fired up Zamurai, and did dates in Japan with
Hifana and Gagle, also playing dates in Taiwan in May and October, 2004, and making his second appearance at the Tokyo club music event Metamorphose. Adding fuel to his growing internatioal reputation, in December, 2004 Kentaro released his most high profile recording,
On The Wheels of Steel (in Japan called
Boy On the Wheels of Steel), a mix album using mostly material from the UK’s esteemed Ninja Tune label, which was released worldwide by Ninja Tune. In January, 2005 a DVD showcasing his DJ skills,
National GeoScratch, was released in Japan. Furthering his international profile, Kentaro gave a sensational performance at Fuji Rock in July, 2005, scratching both records and video to an enthusiastic crowd at the Red Marquee. In August he played Unit in Tokyo’s hip Daikanyama with Afrika Bambaata. Now established as the leading DJ in Japan, DJ Kentaro is steadily growing his worldwide profile, and it seems he is just getting warmed up.
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