Artist: Dj Krush Album: Zen

Year: 2001
Duration: 1:08:01

A Critical Review of the Album: Zen by DJ Krush

Hip-hop and electronic music is an integral part of today's music culture. One classic album that stood out in this genre was by the legendary DJ Krush. Zen, produced in 2001, remains a masterpiece admired by many hip-hop and electronic music lovers. As a listener, you cannot help but draw yourself in the music's intricate mix of rhythms, beats, and vocals as you immerse yourself in the tracks. In this blog post, we will review DJ Krush's Zen, providing the brief history of the artist, the music genre, the best songs on the album, its most innovative parts, and a final critique on the album.

DJ Krush is a legendary Japanese DJ and producer recognized for his unique artistry and innovation in hip-hop and electronic music. Born in 1962 in Tokyo, Krush started his career in music during the 1980s when he visited the United States. Influenced heavily by the emerging hip-hop and electronic music culture, Krush began honing his DJ skills, leading to his debut album, Krush, which came out in 1994. Zen, produced in 2001, is his fifth album and a classic in his repertoire.

Zen is a genre-bending album that blends hip-hop beats and electronic music's elements, creating a unique style that showcases Krush's exceptional sound signature. The album features several guest artists, including Zap Mama, N'Dea Davenport, and Ken Shima, who bring a new dimension to the tracks. The album is a mix of atmospheric and chill-out beats, dense percussion, and eclectic samples that create an immersive experience for its listeners.

Best songs on the album include Song of the Haze, Zen Approach, Danger of Love, and Day's End. Each track has its unique blend of hip-hop, jazz, and electronic sounds, striking an excellent balance between the instrumental and the vocal parts of the album. The samples and the beats in each track resonate with the listener, keeping them hooked to the eclectic mix of sounds.

Zen's most innovative parts are the way DJ Krush blends diverse elements in one unfurling mix, a sonic landscape that takes the listener on an atmospheric trip. The use of ethnic instruments like the koto in the album's intro, Still Island, and vocal samples in Zen Approach adds a new perspective to the genre and keeps the listener engaged. The diverse samples throughout the tracks, including Japanese ballads, blues, and jazz tracks, show how Krush enjoys pushing boundaries.

Critically reviewing Zen, one thing that stands out is the widely eclectic mix of sounds, which can be overwhelming for the listener. While this may suit some music lovers, it can be off-putting for others who prefer more straightforward or conventional music genres. The lack of uniformity and structure in the album can be both a plus and a minus for different listeners, depending on personal tastes.

To sum it up, DJ Krush's Zen is an outstanding album that showcases the artist's unique artistry and innovativeness. It is a blend of diverse musical elements that take the listener on an immersive and atmospheric trip, with tracks resonating with several genres. While some may find its eclectic mix of sounds overwhelming, it's worth giving a listen for any music enthusiast looking for something different and exciting. Zen remains a classic in the ever-evolving hip-hop and electronic music genre and a genre-bending masterpiece that will not disappoint.

To sum it up, DJ Krush's Zen is an outstanding album that showcases the artist's unique artistry and innovativeness. It is a blend of diverse musical elements that take the listener on an immersive and atmospheric trip, with tracks resonating with several genres. While some may find its eclectic mix of sounds overwhelming, it's worth giving a listen for any music enthusiast looking for something different and exciting. Zen remains a classic in the ever-evolving hip-hop and electronic music genre and a genre-bending masterpiece that will not disappoint.