KEN-U

KEN-U

Ent Deal League Featuring Artist

Occupation: Singer, Songwriter,Brand Producer

DOB: 9.20.1978



Known for use of minor keys and its intriguing flow, Ken-U describes urban Tokyo style.



In spring 2002, Ken-U first participated in the album Rodeo Caan Done together with Micky Rich and Domino-Kat. Then he joined a Dancehall compilation album Escape with “Doko” in fall 2003. This song became his 1st big tune and got heavily played at the scene all over Japan. He then went to Jamaica to get studio work done. Followed by his back from Jamaica, he released his 1st solo album Doko. This album scored in Oricon Annual Indies Chart Top 15 in 2005 and 2006, in total sold over 200,000 copies. Since around this time, Ken-U became known nation-wide.

In recent years Ken-U has worked with many of well-established artists including DJ Yutaka, Corn Head, Ryo the Skywalker and Moomin. He also has worked with youth generation singers such as May J., Munehiro and Hibikilla. In early spring 2007, he again went to Jamaica to work with big Dancehall track-makers Steven “Lenky” Marsden and Craig “Left Side” Parks. Also world famous mixing engineers Lynford “Fatta” Marshal and Colin “Bulby” York put the vibes on his album. He then went to NYC and worked with one of the world’s best mixing engineers James “Bonzai” Caruso to masterwork for his 2nd Album Next Cruising. Featuring single “Natsu no sonosei”(Because of Summer) hit FM radio network and got heavily rotated all over Japan.

Another talent of Ken-U is street fashion. From the beginning of his career, he has been often featured on a wide variety of music and street fashion magazines. In 2005, he co-founded an apparel brand Dzee together with a Downtown based professional skater Ryujin.