I started to post this in the  "Dope Japanese Hip-Hop" thread, but thought it was a bit too much of a hijack. Since we have an international community here, I figure this is a good place to throw out this question(s), and many here have good taste.... anyhow...

For years I was a scratch DJ and played a lot of underground/old school hip hop, and a little bit of mainstream/party rock'in stuff too. On the radio I played straight underground/experimental shit, but in the club I had to mix in things that were good for a dancing, and appealed to a wider range of people (but stuff I still liked - there's a fine balance). The toughest part was that I was limited to vinyl.... until now!

I just got Serato (for those who don't know it- digital vinyl that plays anything on your computer via your turntables) and I'm excited about the possibilities. I really want to spin Japanese stuff (I haven't been actively playing since before I started learning Japanese), but I also think it would be really fun to throw down the Illist Hip Hop from all over the world. Chinese, Korean, Brazillian, Russian.... Swahilli....anything goes. Good flow is good flow, and hearing it in a foreign language is super fun, even if you understand not a word....

What I need to find is high quality MP3's. I haven't played Serato on a club system yet, but I'm sure 128's wouldn't cut it. So any suggestions for-good music, where to get quality files and international hip hop (any language is fine, dope flow and beats is a must-music with a good message is also preferred to "bling-bling" stuff) would be appreciated. I'm not a total underground snob...I love that the most, but occasionally enjoy crunk, gangsta rap etc....in the right doses that stuff can be really fun, but too much of it for me is awful (really most of it just sucks). In my experience as a DJ it is a huge benefit to have a variety of stuff available to your audience, but it's just as important that you like what you're playing too...

Oh - also acapella tracks! Does anyone know how to get these for Japanese stuff (or anything else)? I really want to do a Japanese mix tape with mash ups and scratches...

Now that I can run the tables off my laptop, I also want to branch into some electro and Dub-step (vinyl was too expensive for me to start a new genre). Anyone out there into Dub-step? I only got into it about a year ago, but one of my friends is doing well as an international DJ, and produces D&B/Dub-step (and it's dope as hell!). Both of us are curious about the scene in Asia/Japan....

And if anyone in Japan has any good information about the DJ/music scene in Japan (in general), feel free to share as well. I definitely want to get involved with it when I go in the future....

皆さんありがとう