DJ MOTORA: Nagasaki, TEAM KEN RECORDS and Working with ELIAS
DJ MOTORA is a DJ and producer active mainly in Nagasaki who runs TEAM KEN RECORDS. His 2026 collaboration with ELIAS, “CRAZY BABY feat. KAYO,” offers a close view of his process: study a voice, listen to its flow and choose a beat from a body of existing work. He discussed that approach in a HIPHOPCs interview published in Japanese.
At a glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | DJ MOTORA |
| Main area of activity | Nagasaki |
| Work | DJ and producer |
| Label | Runs TEAM KEN RECORDS |
| Start as a DJ | 1997, according to the supplied artist biography |
| Listening entry points | THE LOST TAPE; CRAZY BABY feat. KAYO |
The career information comes from the artist biography supplied for the interview. Being active in Nagasaki is not treated as proof of a birthplace or a legal name.
Knowing the voice before choosing the beat
DJ MOTORA says he studied ELIAS’s recordings, vocal tone and flow before they worked together. He heard the broad idea of the song and selected a beat from his stock. ELIAS, in turn, recalls the beat coming first and the theme following it. Their accounts differ on whether the theme or the beat came first. The interview records both accounts. Read the Japanese interview.
Asked about working outside Tokyo, DJ MOTORA says he has not particularly framed his activity that way: Nagasaki is where he happens to live. His answer keeps the local setting grounded in everyday life and relationships rather than a single slogan about regional identity.
A 1990s reference point, with room for new sounds
In the interview, DJ MOTORA describes seeking sounds that could fit within 1990s hip-hop but were not actually there. His account of selecting and reshaping samples is part of that musical approach. Read alongside his preparation for ELIAS’s voice, it makes production a matter of listening to another artist as well as choosing sounds. His explanation of the process
From THE LOST TAPE to CRAZY BABY
Apple Music lists THE LOST TAPE as a twelve-track release dated June 20, 2023. “CRAZY BABY feat. KAYO”, credited jointly to ELIAS and DJ MOTORA, is dated August 15, 2026. Both releases link to the same DJ MOTORA artist catalogue.
KAYO performs the hook on “CRAZY BABY.” ELIAS recalls hearing it in her voice while listening to the beat and describes her singing as the song’s central axis. The interview follows that movement from a producer’s preparation to a rapper’s response and a singer’s contribution. Original interview in Japanese
Selected timeline
| Date | Record |
|---|---|
| 1997 | DJ career begins, according to the supplied biography |
| June 20, 2023 | THE LOST TAPE is released |
| August 15, 2026 | CRAZY BABY feat. KAYO is released with ELIAS |
| September 26, 2026 | HIPHOPCs publishes the interview; KAYO also answers the question about place and making music |
The interview describes a limited edition of 66 seven-inch records. That number is not a claim about present stock or sales. The joint album for 2027 is likewise a plan described by ELIAS at the time, not a confirmed released work.
Listen and follow the people involved
- Listen to THE LOST TAPE
- CRAZY BABY official listening links
- CRAZY BABY official music video
- ELIAS artist profile in English
- Full original interview in Japanese
Sources and official links
Checked October 2, 2026. The supplied biography supports the career information; first-person interview answers support the creative process; official catalogue listings support release dates and track counts.
- HIPHOPCs: ELIAS × DJ MOTORA interview — Japanese
- Apple Music: THE LOST TAPE
- Apple Music: CRAZY BABY feat. KAYO
- DJ MOTORA on Instagram · Official X account
- Artist profiles in English
Photograph supplied by the artists’ side in the press materials for the original CRAZY BABY interview.
