Hideaki Ishi (石 英明), commonly known as DJ Krush is a producer and DJ based in Tokyo known for his atmospheric instrumental productions which incorporates sound elements from nature along with extensive use of jazz and soul samples. (9:40 min)

Ishi was born in 1962 in Tokyo. Ishi dropped out of school at an early age and joined a local gang, and a few years later, the Yakuza. Early into his career as a Yakuza underling, Ishi discovered a severed finger wrapped in paper on his desk. Later, after discovering that it had belonged to his best friend, he decided to leave the Yakuza and cut ties with the criminal underworld.

One day in the early 1980’s, Ishi went to the movies with his girlfriend and saw the film “Wild Style”, the first hip-hop motion picture directed by Charlie Ahearn. It was here that he got the inspiration to become a hip-hop musician and firm decision to become a DJ. The day after seeing this movie, he headed to instrument shops looking for equipment. At this time the term “mixer” was unknown to most of Tokyo’s electronic store salesmen. Despite having a difficult time buying the things he needed, Ishi started his career as one of the first hip hop pioneers in Japan.