UNITED NATIONS: A Landmark Moment in the History of Hip-Hop

DJ Yutaka is a successful Japanese DJ who worked in many discos and clubs in Japan before moving to the United States in 1982. He was a member of the Japanese Chapter of the hip-hop artist collective "Zulu Nation" and Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate. In 1999, DJ Yutaka released "United Nation," a hit album featuring the likes of Guru, Mad Lion, Public Enemy, B-Real, Ice T, and other hip-hop legends.

Alongside Yutaka, KRS-One stands as a titan of hip-hop, channeling the spirit of the South Bronx into anthems like "Sound of da Police" and "My Philosophy." In Japan, Zeebra blazed a trail with his solo career, spearheading the mainstream acceptance of hip-hop with hits like "Mr. Dynamite" and chart-topping albums like "Based on a True Story." Rounding out the ensemble is Qbert, a turntablist virtuoso whose pioneering work with Invisibl Skratch Piklz redefined the art form.

Complementing Yutaka's vision are Troy Staton and Lee Popa, two seasoned veterans whose expertise amplifies the project's potential through prior collaborations with icons like 2Pac, Wu-Tang Clan, and Gnarls Barkely, and add a layer of sonic sophistication to the endeavor. Together, under the banner of the "United Nations" project, this eclectic group of visionaries seeks to celebrate the global diversity of hip-hop culture and promises to be a landmark moment in the history of hip-hop.

MEET THE CREW

ZEEBRA

Zeebra (Hideyuki Yokoi) is a Japanese hip-hop rapper and DJ who first appeared in 1995. He was a former member of the hip-hop group King Giddra. After leaving King Giddra, Zeebra pursued a solo career in 1997 and signed with the Future Shock record label. In 1998, Zeebra released "Mr. Dynamite," the first hip-hop single to break into the top 50 on the Japanese pop charts, followed by his album, Based on a True Story, which sold 250,000 copies. In 2001, Zeebra released the single "Never Enuff," the theme song for a Japanese movie called Brother, directed by Takeshi Kitano and starring Claude Maki and Omar Epps. In 2002, he temporarily rejoined King Giddra but has been doing solo work since 2003, producing songs for rap artists and pop stars like Namie Amuro.

DJ YUTAKA

DJ Yutaka is a successful Japanese DJ who worked in many discos and clubs in Japan before moving to the United States in 1982. He was a member of the Japanese Chapter of the hip-hop artist collective "Zulu Nation" and Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate. In 1999, DJ Yutaka released "United Nation," a hit album featuring the likes of Guru, Mad Lion, Public Enemy, B-Real, Ice T, and other hip-hop legends.

KRS-ONE

KRS-One (Lawrence "Kris" Parker) is an American rapper from the South Bronx. He gained prominence as part of the hip-hop group Boogie Down Productions, which he formed with DJ Scott La Rock in the mid-1980s. KRS-One's most famous songs include "Sound of da Police," "Love's Gonna Get'cha (Material Love)," and "My Philosophy." After the release of the group's debut album, Criminal Minded, Scott La Rock was shot and killed, but KRS-One continued the group as a solo project. He is politically active, having started the Stop the Violence Movement after La Rock's death, and is also a vegan activist, as expressed in songs like "Beef." He is widely regarded as an influence on many hip-hop artists.

QBERT

Qbert (Richard Quitevis) started his musical career in a group called FM20 with Mix Master Mike and DJ Apollo in 1990. While playing a show in New York City, they were spotted by Crazy Legs, who invited them to join the Rock Steady Crew. They accepted the offer and started performing under the name Rock Steady DJs, eventually winning the 1992 Disco Mix Club World DJ Championships (DMC) world title. Qbert was also one of the founding members of the band Invisibl Skratch Piklz. The Skratch Piklz were the first crew to apply the band concept to turntablism, layering drums, basslines, and scratch solos on top of each other, paving the way for other turntablist crews.

LEE POPA

Lee Popa remembers the streets of Chicago, where he once found himself captivated by the soulful melodies of Muddy Waters, symbolize the inception of his career as a sound engineer. In the summer of 1981, Lee had the privilege of joining the Muddy Waters team. Today, he wears the badge of a multi-platinum producer with immense pride. Music and musicians have always been the core of his existence. Lee's journey has taken him to 32 countries, each with its unique culture and musical tapestry, enriching his understanding of this universal language. Music isn't just a passion; it's his life's essence, and he's committed to helping others make it an integral part of their own journey.

TROY STATON

Troy Staton has extensive experience, having worked his way up from audio QC to Senior Operations Manager of LMG in Las Vegas. Troy pioneered hip-hop touring sound with acts like Body Count, Ice Cube and Eminem. When he's not working, he loves putting the petal to the metal in his F1 simulator.