DJ SN-Z: Yokohama, New York, Los Angeles and OZROSAURUS
DJ SN-Z, pronounced “Sneeze,” is a DJ and producer from Yokohama and a member of OZROSAURUS. He began DJing in 1992, spent roughly a decade in New York and returned to Japan. His work spans club selection, live support for MACCHO and recorded mixes. In his HIPHOPCs interview published in 2026, he also explained his move to Los Angeles.[1][2][3]
DJ SN-Z at a glance
| Artist | DJ SN-Z / Dragon Claw |
|---|---|
| Origin | Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Roles | Club DJ, live DJ and producer |
| Group | OZROSAURUS |
| Starting points | His New York years, HARD PACK and OZROSAURUS live performances |
Personal history and working methods come from his interview. His own biography and label catalogue supply the career and release milestones.[1][2][3][4]
From Yokohama clubs to New York
SN-Z told HIPHOPCs that seeing DJs such as Ta-Shi at Yokohama clubs made him want to DJ. After high school, he went to New York, drawn by artists he was listening to, including Nas and Wu-Tang Clan. Published accounts differ between 1994 and 1995, so this profile places the move in the mid-1990s.[1][2]
He recalled arriving with scratch technique and juggling at the centre of his idea of DJing. In New York, he encountered another standard: keeping a room dancing and singing as one record followed another. He also entered DJ battles, but his account places competition alongside the different demands of a club floor.[1]
The name Dragon Claw came from Mad Lion while SN-Z was working as his tour DJ, according to the interview. SN-Z itself derives from the English word “sneeze.”[1]
Supporting OZROSAURUS and becoming a member
His own biography dates his return to Japan to 2005. In the interview, he described meeting MACCHO through a Yokohama acquaintance he had known in New York, then taking on DJ duties for OZROSAURUS. UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN’s biography places his formal membership in 2011.[1][2][3]
Hard Pack Mixed by DJ SN-Z for OZROSAURUS was released on April 13, 2011. The official catalogue lists 40 tracks, including “Profile aka Ghetto Bird (Hard Pack Version),” exclusive dubs and freestyles. OZROSAURUS followed with OZBUM ～A:UN～ in 2012.[3][4][5]
The timing behind MACCHO’s live performances
SN-Z described anticipating MACCHO’s next words and movements, judging the gaps between songs and choosing the moment to bring sound in. Equipment preparation was part of the same responsibility. His account shows how much live support depends on attention to another performer.[1]
Discussing his work as the break DJ on Freestyle Dungeon, he stressed following the allotted bars and his cues accurately. Listening as a fan could distract him from the job. These practical details connect his club experience with the discipline required to keep a live performance running.[1]
Los Angeles and a wider range of music
In the interview published in 2026, SN-Z described Los Angeles as his new base and spoke about wanting to play a wider range of settings and genres. A Las Vegas residency was among the goals he described at the time. He also said he would return to Japan for OZROSAURUS shows.[1]
For SN-Z, knowing more music expands the options available when reading a room. He described daily practice and listening beyond hip-hop. His Mixcloud page offers a practical companion to those remarks, with hip-hop mixes alongside club and lounge-oriented sets.[1][2]
Selected timeline
| 1992 | Begins DJing, according to his own biography.[2] |
|---|---|
| Mid-1990s | Moves to New York and spends roughly a decade there; published accounts differ on the exact year.[1][2] |
| 2005 | Returns to Japan and begins the relationship that leads to DJ work with OZROSAURUS.[1][2] |
| April 13, 2011 | HARD PACK is released; the label biography places his formal membership in this year.[3][4] |
| April 4, 2012 | OZROSAURUS releases OZBUM ～A:UN～.[5] |
| August 1, 2026 | HIPHOPCs publishes its Japanese interview after his move to LA.[1] |
Where to start listening
- HARD PACK — exclusive dubs and freestyles assembled as a mix.
- DJ SN-Z on Mixcloud — follow the selection and transitions across a longer set.
- OZROSAURUS discography — explore the group catalogue, including OZBUM ～A:UN～.
HIPHOPCs interviews
Official information
Explore the regions and interviews
Sources and review date
Last checked: . Personal recollections and plans are attributed to the interview. Release dates and credits are checked against the linked catalogues.
- HIPHOPCs: DJ SN-Z interview, Japanese original published August 1, 2026 — English edition
- DJ SN-Z: artist Mixcloud biography and mixes
- UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN: OZROSAURUS biography
- UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN: Hard Pack Mixed by DJ SN-Z for OZROSAURUS
- UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN: OZROSAURUS discography
Image source: DJ SN-Z interview — HIPHOPCs (Japanese). DJ SN-Z. Photo supplied by DJ SN-Z’s team.
