Cuban 45 Boxset by DJ Koco aka Shimokita

Following a meteoric rise to the top, the Japanese DJ / turntablist extraordinaire has won the world over with his unquestionable humility, refreshing positivity, and flawless skills. The DJ's DJ, it's as much about taste as it is technicality for one of the world's best showmen.

When the idea arose for a Cuban Classics 45 Boxset to mark RSD 2026, DJ Koco was top of the list. With a deep-seated passion for Cuban music, its melting pot of cultures, its focus on rhythm, and its undeniable groove, DJ Koco presents a selection of his favorite Cuban cuts, as well as two exclusive edits for the box set.

It kicks off with the Latin funk sounds of Ricardo Eddy Martínez y Expreso Rítmico's "La 132" from 1978, before rolling into one of two spellbinding Juan Pablo Torres y Algo Nuevo cuts found on the boxset. Elsewhere, you'll hear Farah María's slow disco "Ámame Y No pienses Mas," an unusual American-leaning production for Cuba at the time, given the state of US-Cuban political relations in that period. Other highlights include Orquesta Riverside's "En Casa Del Trompo No Bailes," taken from a rare collectible 7”, channeling a low-slung Latin bounce which explodes into an Afro-Cuban dancer as the track progresses.

In signature style, DJ Koco has also served up two exclusive edits for the box set. These include a reworking of the Cuban children's band Grupo Ismaelillo's quirky "Amanecer," giving it a more DJ-friendly structure. You'll also find DJ Koco's take on FA-5's much-loved funky dancer "Muévete Con Las Fuerzas Del Corazón" with its heavy b-boy/girl break from 1976.

Testament to Cuba's vast and vibrant musical landscape, DJ Koco has cherry-picked some of the finest recordings to emanate from the country, spanning a wide range of styles and rhythms. Yet what ties all the tracks on this box set together is a hip-hop sensibility and a thirst for a breaks-heavy, danceable energy that radiates through DJ Koco's masterful DJ sets.

DJ Koco aka Shimokita - Cuban 45 Boxset
Release Date 18th April 2026
Label Mr Bongo

Tracklist
1. Ricardo Eddy Martínez y Expreso Rítmico - La 132
2. Juan Pablo Torres y Algo Nuevo - Rompe Cocorioco
3. Farah María - Ámame Y No pienses Mas
4. Grupo Ismaelillo - Amanecer (DJ Koco EDIT)
5. FA-5 - Muévete Con Las Fuerzas Del Corazón (DJ Koco EDIT)
6. Grupo Los Yoyi - Paco La Calle
7. Juan Pablo Torres y Algo Nuevo - Y Viva la Felicidad
8. Orquesta Riverside - En Casa Del Trompo No Bailes
9. Ya Tengo Un Amor Verdadero - Ya Tengo Un Amor Verdadero
10. Rembert Egües - Tema Para Un Amanecer