The diverse beauty in his music means every DJ Krush fan will have their own favourite album to cherish. Such is the vast catalogue of releases. And though it’s more than likely I’ll have to re-visit my choice to accommodate his superb 1994 debut album Krush, Zen—released a lengthy 7 years later—is, in this humble writer’s opinion, the one to fall in love with.

An album you’ll return to again and again, it crosses misty lines between trip-hop, hip-hop and instrumental percussion leaning on a love for jazz, break beat and electronica. Just the right amount of eerie vocals and ill raps add to the balance too, tipping the record over the edge.

Because Krush is first and foremost a hip-hop head, it goes without saying that every track starts with a beat, and for the majority of the tracks on Zen (’Sonic traveller‘ is nuts), it’s a subtle and mellow one.

And that love for the genre couldn’t be more evident than on ‘Zen Approach’. Housing one of the finest and most underrated rappers of all time, Black Thought offers laidback commentary within an unusual but successful setting for the Philadelphia legend. Thought doesn’t walk alone either, with fellow Roots crew brother from another mother Ahmir ‘?uestlove’ Thompson providing ridiculous drum patterns on ‘Railway Gateaway’. ‘Candle Chant’ shares the same branch but with Japanese spoken tales from Boss the MC it sits even more peacefully.

The main adoration for this release, however, stems from Krush’s overall concentration to nurture mind body and soul. It’s the most chilled and thoughtful of his releases, painting a spiritual place in Japan of blossom trees and vibrant green mountains (yes, I’m off my head). Beat-tastic opener ‘Song 1’ with a trickling xylophone and echoing piano notes along with crafted beauty ‘Day’s End’—a trumpet monologue helped by simplistic, looping acoustic guitar—are examples of his ability to achieve that meditative state.

For your own sake, make sure you find this.

Words Ali Raymond

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Buy Zen