DJ Kaori

Background information Birth Name: Kaori Ueta Born: Kochi Prefecture, Japan Genres: Hip-Hop/R&B Occupations: Club & radio DJ, recording artist Years active: 1993-Present Label: Victor Entertainment Japan Universal Music Japan Website: Official Website

DJ Kaori (born Kaori Ueta in Kochi, Japan) is a Japanese female DJ, recording artist and music producer specializing in Hip-Hop, R&B and Reggae music. Know as “The Queen of DJs,” she has sold than 3 million CDs in Japan, earning her the title of “Best Selling DJ In The World.”

Biography:

Kaori Ueta’s fascination with music began at the age of 14 when she began collecting records, leading to her obsession with mastering turntables. After working part time at Tower Records in Shibuya, Tokyo to pay for her college tuition, in 1992 she traveled to New York City to pursue her dream of becoming a club DJ. Kaori studied recording techniques at the New York Engineering School and quickly immersed herself in the downtown Manhattan hip-hop scene. Within one year, she was recognized as a musical trendsetter and attracted the attention of the most influential hip-hop DJ of the era, legendary Funkmaster Flex from New York’s leading hip-hop radio station Hot 97. Flex became Kaori’s mentor and hired her as a member of his “Big Dawg Pitbulls” DJ crew. With the distinction of being his first female DJ, Kaori was affectionately known as a “pitbull with a skirt.”

Flex’s protégé quickly became a star on her own, and by the mid-1990s, she was regarded as New York’s number one female club DJ. Kaori was in heavy demand by numerous superstars, and she dazzled A-list crowds at numerous high profile events including the Michael Jordan Steakhouse Opening Party, P. Diddy’s Bad Boy Records Christmas bash, Foxy Brown’s “Chyna Doll” album release party, and a very special Mike Tyson private celebration at his multi-million dollar Connecticut mansion.

Tour

After entertaining a who’s who of the New York entertainment world, Kaori expanded into touring, beginning with the Guru of Gangstarr Jazzmatazz Vol. 3 Tour in 2000. Hollywood Walk of Fame actor Wesley Snipes also admired her skills and teamed her with another of New York’s top club DJs, Mark Ronson, to spin for the “Blade” movie premiere tour. DMX was also among the stars who utilized her talents on tour.

By the time Kaori opened on tour for Academy Award winner and twelve time Grammy Award recipient Herbie Hancock, she realized her star power, and Hancock was so in awe of her turntable wizardry that he actually accepted “roadie” duties and carried her record crates to and from the stage.

Radio Career

As a member of Funkmaster Flex’s “Big Dawg Pitbulls” crew, Kaori distinguished herself spinning on New York City’s pioneer hip-hop station Hot 97 along with Cocoa Chanelle and DJ Jazzy Joyce. That experience inspired her to launch own radio mix show “FM715” at Tokyo FM when she returned to Japan.

Success in Japan

Following her unprecedented success as a renowned club and tour DJ in New York City and around the world, Kaori took her career to the next level as a recording artist. She was welcomed back to Tokyo with a contract on Def Jam Japan/Universal in early 2000 and released her debut mix CD album “Harlem Presents – DJ Kaori Def Soul Mix” in July, 2000. Her third CD, Kaori’s Ride into the MIX,” was released in 2004 and sold 300,000 copies-extraordinary numbers for a mix CD. During the decade, Kaori released 26 mix CDs, leading to her nickname, “The Queen of DJs.”

Discography

Albums HARLEM PRESENTS～DJ Kaori "Def Soul"Mix（JULY 19, 2000）

DJ Kaori's Def Jam Mix（MARCH 26, 2003）

DJ KAORI'S "RIDE" into the MIX (MARch 24, 2004)

DJ KAORI'S "RIDE" into the PARTY（2004年9月29日）

GIVENCHY presents LUCKY CHARMS selected by DJ KAORI（2004年12月16日）

DJ Kaori's INMIX（2005年10月19日）

DJ KAORI×BLENDA GIRLS NIGHT OUT Part. 1 DownTown Classics

DJ Kaori's INMIX II（2006年11月1日）

DJ KAORI'S BLOCK PARTY GOLD MIX（2007年4月27日）

DJ KAORI'S BLOCK PARTY PLATINUM MIX（2007年4月27日）

DJ KAORI'S JMIX（2007年10月24日）

DJ Kaori's INMIX III（2007年11月14日）

DJ KAORI'S RAGGA MIX（2008年6月25日）

DJ KAORI'S JMIX II（OCT. 29, 20082008）

DJ KAORI'S INMIX 4（DEC. 3, 20092008）

DJ KAORI’S PARTY MIX (MAY 27, 2009)

DJ KAORI'S JMIX III（NOV. 25, 2009）

DJ KAORI’S INMIX V (FEB. 10, 2010)

Remix CD 「FLOOR（DJ KAORI“we all rise”REMIX）」 『U』 DOUBLE（2000年7月19日）

「GOOD LIFE feat. FIRSTKLAS（DJ KAORI Remix）」 『"Uh Uh ,,,,,," feat. AI／baby be mine』 SUITE CHIC（2003年2月5日）

「GOOD LIFE feat. FIRSTKLAS ～DJ KAORI Remix～」

『WHEN POP HITS THE LAB』 SUITE CHIC（2003年3月26日） 「Call me（DJ KAORI REMIX）」 『The Remix』 清貴（2003年3月29日） 「Style（DJ KAORI REMIX）」 『The other side of EX Vol.1』 EXILE（2003年9月10日）

「REALITY －DJ KAORI Mix－」 m.o.v.e 『FAST FORWARD〜FUTURE BREAKBEATNIX〜』 m.o.v.e（2004年5月26日）

「Body Rock ～ DJ KAORI Remix ～」 『Heart Attack 3 ～The Remixes&Video Clips～』 Heartsdales（2006年5月24日） 「Monday Classics mixed by DJ KAORI」 『FOOTSTAMP vol.1』 Miss Monday（2007年7月18日）

DVD

DJ KAORI’S INMIX DVD (JUNE 25, 2008)

DJ KAORI’S INMIX DVD2 (MAY 27, 2009)

References

External Links Official Website DJ Kaori at MySpace