Live Music: DJ Kentaro @ The Shelter this Friday

Shanghai DJ collective The Lab celebrates their second anniversary this weekend. As a sort of reverse birthday present, they've gifted us with turntablist wizard and mixologist DJ Kentaro. Kentaro is the 2002 DMC World Champion and a two-time DMC Japan Champion, so he knows a thing or two about scratching records. But don't just take our word for it. Kentaro's label Ninja Tune describes him thusly:

Kentaro is a mad dexterous surgeon who slices and dices beats into a breathtaking sonic concoction in his Sendai laboratory and at events all over the world. When Kentaro is behind a set of 1200s and a mixer, he's on stage: sometimes he's shy, sometimes he's sassy, but I've never heard him be anything short of absolutely splendid.

Where some turntablists are content to fill their routines with the same ol' thang, Kentaro uses his awesome technique to move beyond the crab scratch and has catapulted drum 'n' bass and dance music into a realm that nobody has yet to explore. My Favorites Songs - Kentaro's first ever mix CD - stands as a testament to his pioneering vision of melding the mentality of a battler with the street smarts and savvy of the hip-hop elite.

Lauded for years by hip-hop aficionados, Kentaro has won the respect of Japan’s Hip Hop Best Artists (tied winner was Eminem from USA) which explains why revered Japanese labels like Endeavor Entertainment, W + Kennedy Tokyo Lab, Artimage and Jazzysport. Undiluted and Virus have presented him with exclusive tracks you won't be able to hear anywhere else. And let's not forget Kentaro's exclusive turntablist cut ups - three mind blowing pastiches that are all ahead of its time. Kentaro is moving at the speed of vox. Sleep on his skills and he's gonna leave you in the dust.

It all goes down at The Shelter this Friday night at 9:30. 50 RMB gets you in the door. The Lab crew and Elnomo open.

For more information, visit:

http://www.djkentaro.com
http://www.thelab.cn
http://www.ninjatune.net