DJ Koco AKA Shimokita Hydra: Underground's Finest

An integral part of the East Coast underground hip hop movement from 1995-2005, Hydra is world reknown for sought-after singles by major label-affiliated artists Mobb Deep (Loud/Sony), Screwball (Tommy Boy), Cormega (Def Jam), The Beatnuts (Relativity), as well as the top tier of a burgeoning independent movement: The High & The Mighty, Godfather Don, Nick Wiz & The Ghetto Pros, and was the launching point for a string of A-list producers: A Kid Called Roots, Alchemist, E-Boogie, Mike Heron, EZ Elpee, Ayatollah, and DJ Fusion are just some of the producers that had their debut or nearly-debut credit on a Hydra single. Most of these tracks are on CD for the first time, taken from vinyl, skillfully sequenced and mixed by Japan’s DJ Koco (Donut Records), who’s as well known for his deep underground hip hop knowledge as he is for his battle, beat juggling and scratching skills. DJ Koco has a handful of critically-praised mixes circulating, and is in demand as an opener for Japanese dates for US hip hop acts.