Known as “Samurai DJ”, Souljah has also been endorsed by Jay-Z’s long time producer Just Blaze who proclaimed, “DJ Souljah is one of the most powerful DJs I’ve ever known” and big time producer/MC Swizz Beatz acknowledging Souljah as “a real DJ”.
After growing up in Japan, Souljah moved to New York City in 1999.
It didn’t take long time for Souljah to earn his fame in the big apple.
Becoming a resident DJ at one of Manhattan’s popular dance venues, Avalon (formerly known as The Limelight), and spun at birthday parties for numerous celebrities including Grammy award winners John Legend and Timbaland.
In 2005, he opened up in front of 10,000 screaming fans at New York’s Nassau Coliseum for 50 Cent(s) “G-Unit Tour” featuring Ne-Yo, Keyshia Cole & Busta Rhymes.
Ever since Souljah started DJing he always looked up to the legend DJ Kid Capri. One day Kid Capri tapped Souljah on the shoulder to join his tour.
Souljahs list of collaborations kept on coming… Including work with America’s most popular hip-hop radio stations and DJs: DJ Cipha Sound, DJ Camilo and DJ Kast One from Hot 97 in New York, and DJ Felli Fel from Power 106 in Los Angeles. H also became the first Japanese DJ to perform on Shade 45 channel on Sirius Satellite Radio.
Even from the hip-hop bible, “The Source magazine” praised Souljah, profiling him twice in the “Real Hip-Hop” segment and honoring him as the first ever Japanese DJ.
Word of his musical genius began to spread across America, leading to prestigious gigs at the World Music Conference in Miami, the CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association), basketball tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina where he once again collaborated with hip-hop royalty: Rakim, Slick Rick and Biz Markie.
DJ Souljah’s success then extended to the fashion industry as he performed for the house of Shu Uemura at New York Fashion Week in 2009 and 2010, as well as providing music for Adidas, Puma and Nike, DJing at Mercedes Benz and Redbull reception parties.
DJ Souljah spent most of 2010 and 2011 touring Europe and Thailand, Taiwan, Korea and Japan DJing at over 30 venues across the globe.
He has released several mixtapes including “The Exclusives series: Hip- Hop Hits 2, Hip-Hop Hits 3 and 2000-2010 Decade Hits on Manhattan Records in 2009 and 2010
He relocated himself to Tokyo in 2013. Soon after his coming back to home country, Souljah played the first ULTRA JAPAN, the biggest EDM festival in the world and fascinated the Asian audience as well.
2014, he finally released his first album 『BE MY GUEST』. The album marked No.1 on both single and album iTunes Hip hop charts. DJ Souljah put together a big release party with the album participated artists, witch attracted 800 fans.
DJ Souljah extended his field in 2016 with becoming official tour DJ for EXILE THE SECOND, very popular J-pop performance group. For next 2 years, they performed in front of fans 36 places all over Japan. 2017, he released 『THE NINE WORLDS PRESENTS DJ SOULJAH N。1 – JAPANESE HIP HOP EDITON』from SPACE SHOWER MUSIC, again making splash in music industry.
In 2018-2019, he plans the world tour, in order to show his skills and connect the dots to make even bigger music map for Asia.
OFFICIAL WEB SITE : djsouljah.jp
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1999 Traveled to the United States as a teenager.
2002 For the first time in Japan, it was called “Real Hip Hop” and introduced twice in the US “The Source” magazine.
2003 Japan’s first guest DJ appearance on “Shade 45”, a radio program run by Eminem.
2004 Begins every Saturday at New York Manhattan’s largest club, Avalon.
2005 Opening DJ appearance before 20,000 people at 50 Cent / G-Unit concert held in Nassau Coliseum, New Jersey.
2006 DJ appearance at music events such as WMC (Miami) CIAA (North Carolina) in United States.
2007 First official CD released from Manhattan Records (3rd on top chart)
2008 First Japan tour held (total of 30 locations, 15,000 people mobilized)
2009 DJ at Shu Uemura Show at New York Fashion Week.
2010 First Asia tour in Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong.
2011 Conducted US tour with DJ KID CAPRI, the first European tour.
2012 Served as a music selection and store DJ for Adidas, PUMA, NIKE in New York for two years.
2013 Having an activity base in Japan, he has performed at ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL JAPAN for the first time and at many Tokyo events.
2014 Released 1st album “BE MY GUEST”. (ITunes Hip Hop single & album simultaneous 1st place record)
2015 Held “BE MY GUEST” release tours at 20 locations nationwide.
2016 Japan’s largest group “EXILE THE SECOND” Tour as an exclusive live DJ
2017 From SPACE SHOWER MUSIC “THE NINE WORLDS PRESENTS DJ SOULJAH N. 1 – JAPANESE HIP HOP EDITON ”is released nationwide.
2018 First solo tour of the United States LA.
2019 First solo tour of the United States Atlanta and Macau.
2020 Serving as the Opening DJ for the Ms Lauryn Hill concert in New York
● Style
Open Format [Hip Hop, R&B, Reggae, Bass Music, Top 40] & Video DJMix
●Radio
SIRIUS RADIO “SHADE 45″ (Guest DJ’s)
77.8 ZIP FM NAGOYA『SUPERNOVA』23:00 – 25:00 (Every 2nd Sat of The Month)
83.2 JOY FM Miyazaki 『You mix』16:00 – 17:00 (Every 3rd Mon of The Month)
82.5 FM Northwave 『STREET FLAVA』20:00 – 21:00 (Every 1st & 3rd Fri of The Month)
76.1 LOVE FM 『Spin The Wheel』15:00 – 18:00 (Every 4th Sat of The Month)
● Press
Variety, as the saying goes, is the spice of life. And no up and coming DJ exemplifies these
words more prodigiously than DJ Souljah. Born on the Kyu-Shu island of Japan but currently
based on the Lower East Side of New York City, turntable technician boasts an acclaimed
mix-CD series (appropriately enough, subtitled “Spice of Life”) that runs the gamut of musical
styles from contemporary and old school hip hop to reggae, reggaeton, Latin, house, and R&B.
“You name it!” the spin doctor says good naturedly about his diverse tastes. But beyond an
affinity for different musical genres, the variety that characterizes Souljah’s work extends to his
craftsmanship. His mix-CDs are neither strictly exhibitions of turntablism nor previews of
exclusive new and unreleased material, but programs that encompass all the disciplines of DJing
and fuse them into compulsively listenable, party-oriented affairs. Tellingly, Souljah takes much
of his inspiration from the legendary mix-tape master and crowd pleaser Kid Capri. “I think the
number one party DJ is Kid Capri,” says Souljah about his most prominent DJ role model.
“Cause he can rock the house. How he cuts, blends, and mixes all thoserecords is just amazing.
I believe that being able to do a little bit of everything is really important. It’s good to have a basic
scratching technique, but making people dance is as important as having skills.” Souljah’s most
celebrated mix-CD effort to date, 2003’s “SOL: Spice of Life,” very ably demonstrates this
philosophy, utilizing his strong studio production techniques, programming savvy, and cutting
skills to create a seamless collage of old school breaks, sample sources and hip hop hits. Upon
its release, “SOL: Spice of Life” was met with immediate accolades. The Source magazine hailed
the mix-CD as “a crate digger’s delight,” while Urb magazine declared it “a brilliant thematic mix.”
Follow up projects like the Puerto Rican themed “After the Parade,” the club hit-laden “Live In
New York,” and Souljah’s Jay-Z Black Album remix CD are similarly impressive and infectious.
Like all of Souljah’s mixes they’ve all immediately sold out back in Japan. Souljah is grateful for
the support he still receives back home, and recalls the important musical moments of his
formative years with fondness. It was in Japan that he was first introduced to DJing while
messing with turntable at his local record store in Kyu-Shu where he worked during his high
school years; he still remembers the first record he learned to DJ with (Gang Starr’ s “The ?
Remainz”,) and the first mix-tape he ever made (a decade ago for his then-girlfriend). Despite his
roots, however, Souljah embraces the way DJs are perceived in his adopted home of the U.S.
as opposed to back in Japan.
“Unlike the States,” he observes, “people in Japan think DJ-ing is so serious. They tend to be
more technically conscious as opposed to trying to make people happy.” Between a consistent
flow of mix-CD projects, his nternet radio show (“Prime Cuts”on djsouljah.jp which just
celebrated its one-year anniversary), and his weekly DJ residency each and every Friday at the
Rain Lounge (216 Bedford Ave @ N.5 Street in Brooklyn) DJ Souljah I obviously making a lot of
people very happy these days. Though the enterprising selector considers his mix-CD projects
as much a practical necessity (“I think a mix-CD is a DJ’s business card,” he says) as a creative
outlet, his commitment to his profession is as strong as ever, as is reflected by his passion for
every DJ’s favorite pastime, record digging. “I dig for records all the time 々 I mean, ALL the
time,” He boasts.“One of my jobs is buying records here in the U.S. and shipping them to our
stores all over the world. But it’s something I’d be doing even if it wasn’t my job. “That’s just the
foundation of what DJs do.”
Spoken like a true Souljah in the game.
