Although DJ Shadow is considered more than just trip-hop, it’s just wise to say he’s a huge part of it in some way or another. DJ Shadow (Birth name Josh Davis) is a producer and DJ in the genres of trip-hop, instrumental hip-hop, turntablism, and more. He has one of the largest record collection, with over 60,000 records and in 2001 would make the Guinness World Records book for “First Completely Sampled Album” in 2001.

I love DJ Shadow. If I was able to write this article with just those three words I would, The truth is though there’s so much behind DJ Shadow that many interesting stories arrive right down to his sound and to the fact that his knowledge of sampling is beyond many of those out there. Although DJ Shadow carries his alias as just a disc jockey he’s also a musician. I don’t consider disc jockeys musicians first of all, but DJ Shadow does a lot more than just sample. He can put together an arrangement along with his own touch on the keys. The history behind DJ Shadow is pretty lengthy if you want to consider his career where it started right before his highly acclaimed “Endtroducing” album.

DJ Shadow began everything he does now as a disc jockey for the University of California for the campus radio station. He was significant for mixing many genres of funk, hip-hop, ambient, jazz, and soul. He was influenced by Kurtis Mantronik, Steinski, and Prince Paul. This is where the whole trip-hop genre makes sense. Many people many have cited him as a leading creator of U.S. trip-hop. Score for the U.S. in trip-hop points!

During the upcoming years, DJ Shadow has released a few albums especially the highly acclaimed “Endtroducing” album, which was created using only the AKAI MPC60 12-bit sampling drum machine, a pair of turntables and a Pro Tools setup from someone else. November 2006 Time magazine named it one of its “All-TIME” 100 best albums (I agree!).

DJ Shadow’s home studio which is named Reconstruction. He only keeps only a handful of records with him, but keeps the rest in occupying storage units around town. Since 2005 according to the book Behind The Beat, consists of two AKAI MPC 3000s and a Korg Triton. Currently DJ Shadow has three main solo albums and currently working on his next album, 2 live albums, featured in 3 compilation albums, and collaborations with UNKLE, DJ Qbert, UNKLE, Cut Chemist, and more. He also involved with the video game DJ Hero.