, better known by his stage name , was a Japanese record producer, audio engineer, DJ, composer and arranger best known for his atmospheric instrumental mixes sampling from hip hop, soul, and jazz, as well as incorporating elements of trip hop,

breakbeat Breakbeat is a broad type of electronic music that tends to use drum breaks sampled from early recordings of funk, jazz, and R&B. Breakbeats have been used in styles such as hip hop, jungle, drum and bass, big beat, breakbeat hardcore, and UK ...

, downtempo, and

ambient music Ambient music is a genre of music that emphasizes tone and atmosphere over traditional musical structure or rhythm. It may lack net composition, beat, or structured melody.The Ambient Century by Mark Prendergast, Bloomsbury, London, 2003. It u ...

. Seba released two studio albums during his lifetime: ''

Metaphorical Music ''Metaphorical Music'' is Nujabes' first solo album released in 2003. It offers a combination of hip hop and instrumental jazz, and features artists like Shing02, Substantial, Five Deez and Cise Starr (of CYNE). Despite the fact that the album ...

'' (2003) and ''

Modal Soul ''Modal Soul'' is the second full-length album by Japanese hip-hop artist Nujabes, released on November 11, 2005, on Nujabes' own record label Hydeout Productions. Like its predecessor, ''Metaphorical Music'', ''Modal Soul'' fuses jazzy, smooth rh ...

'' (2005), while the album ''

Spiritual State ''Spiritual State'' is the third and final studio album by Nujabes, released posthumously as a follow-up to ''Modal Soul ''Modal Soul'' is the second full-length album by Japanese hip-hop artist Nujabes, released on November 11, 2005, on Nuja ...

'' was released posthumously in 2011. He was the founder of the independent label

Hydeout Productions , better known by his stage name , was a Japanese record producer, audio engineer, DJ, composer and arranger best known for his atmospheric instrumental mixes sampling from hip hop, soul, and jazz, as well as incorporating elements of trip hop, ...

and released two collection compilations: ''

Hydeout Productions 1st Collection ''Hydeout Productions 1st Collection'' is a compilation album, the first of two released by Nujabes' Hydeout Productions label. It showcases Nujabes' style of combining the music genres of hip hop and jazz, and features artists Funky DL, Apan ...

'' (2003) and '' 2nd Collection'' (2007). Additionally, Seba collaborated on the soundtrack for Shinichirō Watanabe's anime series '' Samurai Champloo'' ('' Music Record: Departure'' and '' Impression'') in 2004. In 2010, Seba died in a traffic collision at the age of 36. Although relatively niche during his lifetime, Seba has since achieved posthumous acclaim and been referred as the "godfather" of

lo-fi hip hop Lofi hip hop (also known as 'chillhop'' and lofi beats to study to) is a form of downtempo music that combines elements of hip hop and chill-out music. It was popularized in the 2010s on YouTube and has been referred to as an Internet meme. Ori ...

. Seba's production techniques and career have also been compared favorably with J Dilla.

Biography

Seba was born on February 7, 1974, in the

Nishi-Azabu is a district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan, which was a part of the former Azabu Ward. Nishiazabu is bordered by Minami-Aoyama on the north and west, Hiroo (Shibuya) on the south, Moto-Azabu on the southeast, and Roppongi on the northeast. The Fuj ...

district of

Minato Minato (港 or 湊) is Japanese for 'harbor', and may refer to: Places * Minato, Tokyo or Minato City, a special ward in Tokyo, Japan * Minato-ku, Nagoya, a ward of Nagoya, Japan * Minato-ku, Osaka, a ward of Osaka, Japan * Minato (湊), a neig ...

in central Tokyo,

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. Seba was the owner of two Shibuya record stores, T Records and Guinness Records, and in 1998 founded the independent record label

Career

Seba adopted the

stage name A stage name is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. Such professional aliases are adopted for a wide variety of reasons and they may be similar, or nearly identical, to an individu ...

Nujabes (his name spelled backwards) and became notable for his approach to producing hip hop beats, often blending jazz influences into his songs creating a mellow, nostalgic and atmospheric sound. He is considered a pioneer of

, or "chillhop". Seba collaborated with Japanese artists like

Uyama Hiroto Uyama Hiroto is a Japanese record producer, DJ, composer, arranger and close collaborator of the late Japanese DJ, record producer, composer and arranger Nujabes. His style of music is a blend of heavy downtempo and ambient-jazz influenced hip- ...

Shing02 , better known by his stage name Shing02, is a Japanese hip hop recording artist, record producer, activist and investor who was described by Patrick Neate as one of the Japanese emcees who "has addressed important issues from Japanese ethnicity ...

, L-Universe, and

Minmi Michiko Evwana (born December 8, 1974), better known by her stage name , is a Japanese hip-hop and reggae musician,, United Daily News (in Chinese), August 22, 2008 as well as a singer-songwriter and record producer. She is the first soca ar ...

, and with various underground

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

hip hop acts such as

CYNE Cyne, often stylized as CYNE ("Cultivating Your New Experience"; pronounced "sign"), is an American alternative hip hop group originating from Gainesville, Florida. The group consists of MCs Akin Yai and Clyde "Cise Starr" Graham, and produce ...

, Cise Starr (as a solo apart from the hip-hop collective CYNE), Apani B, Five Deez, Substantial, CL Smooth, Fat Jon, Terry Callier as well as British rapper Funky DL. Seba was also a member of the production duo Urbanforest, an experimental collaboration with Nao T. Seba collaborated with Shing02 on the critically acclaimed ''Luv(sic)'' hexalogy, making the parts 1-3 together, but after Seba died unexpectedly many doubted that the series could ever be completed. However, parts 4 and 5 had already been completed, which were released shortly after Seba's death. Part 6 was not among the previously completed tracks, but it was released on February 26, 2013, on the third anniversary of Seba's death. According to Shing02's official Facebook page, the instrumental to what would eventually be part 6 was discovered on Seba's

cell phone A mobile phone, cellular phone, cell phone, cellphone, handphone, hand phone or pocket phone, sometimes shortened to simply mobile, cell, or just phone, is a portable telephone that can make and receive calls over a radio frequency link whil ...

a few weeks after his death. Seba was one of the most prolific contributors to the soundtrack of the critically acclaimed anime series '' Samurai Champloo'', which blends a feudal Japanese setting with modern anachronisms, especially in regard to hip hop culture such as graffiti and rapping.

Death

On February 26, 2010, Seba was in a traffic collision upon exiting the Shuto Expressway at 22:14. He was pronounced dead at a hospital in Shibuya Ward after efforts to revive him failed. His grave is located within the Japanese section of Tama Cemetery.

Legacy

Seba's death elicited many tributes from other artists around the world. On Bandcamp, the New York-based Digi Crates records released a series of tribute albums performed by various artists in a style reminiscent of Seba's. Seba's label Hydeout Productions released a tribute album titled ''

Modal Soul Classics II ''Modal Soul Classics II'' is a tribute compilation album dedicated to the Japanese music producer Nujabes. It is produced by various artists including Uyama Hiroto, Five Deez, Pase Rock, Calm, Zack Austin, Specifics, and clammbon. It's the fir ...

'' featuring a number of former collaborators and with lyrics and song titles that reference Seba's work. Frequent collaborator

remarked, "Through his soulful music, Nujabes has touched so many people around the world, even beyond his dreams", and " deeply regret the loss of a unique talent and a close friend." Shing02 has performed at tribute concerts for Seba. Daniel Hodgman, founder of hip hop culture website BonusCut, in a 2014 highlight of ''Modal Soul'' said that, "Nujabes may not be physically with us anymore, but through his music, his legacy and lust for life lives on." Co-founder Gus Navarro remarked that, "The music of the late producer Nujabes is something to hold onto and never let go." In 2013, Australian producer Ta-ku released the tribute album ''25 Nights for Nujabes''. In 2018, Polish rapper Zeus released the tribute song "Kwiaty dla J." In 2018, American rapper

SahBabii Saaheem Malik Valdery (born February 24, 1997), better known as SahBabii, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from Atlanta, Georgia. His song, "Pull Up Wit Ah Stick" featuring Loso Loaded, gained widespread popularity after its releas ...

mentioned Nujabes in his song “Anime World”. He said “RIP Nujabes, nine tails a Jinchuriki”. In an interview with '' XXL'', SahBabii said Nujabes was an influence for him to make music. In 2018, American rapper Logic mentioned Nujabes in the track "Thank You" off of his album ''YSIV'', saying "I had to write this over a Nujabes vibe", referencing the production style of the track, which is reminiscent of Nujabes' music. In 2020, Logic cited Nujabes as a key inspiration behind his production style alongside MF Doom,

RZA Robert Fitzgerald Diggs (born July 5, 1969), better known by his stage name the RZA ( ), is an American rapper, actor, filmmaker, and record producer. He is the ''de facto'' leader of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, having produced most albums ...

and Kanye West in the track "Perfect" off of his album ''No Pressure''. On 26 July 2019,

Otakon Otakon ( ) is an annual three-day anime convention held during July/August. It stands for Otaku Convention. From 1999 to 2016, it took place at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland's Inner Harbor district; in 2017, it moved to ...

held a tribute concert in Washington, D.C., featuring

MINMI Michiko Evwana (born December 8, 1974), better known by her stage name , is a Japanese hip-hop and reggae musician,, United Daily News (in Chinese), August 22, 2008 as well as a singer-songwriter and record producer. She is the first soca ar ...

, Substantial, Marcus D and EyeQ. On October 21, 2020 Chester Watson released the album ''A Japanese Horror Film'' featuring a track titled “Nujabes”. In 2022, videogame '' Stray'' featured track ''Counting Stars'' as a part of collectible sheet music pages.

Hydeout Productions

Hydeout Productions is an

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

formerly run by Nujabes.

Artists

* Nujabes (deceased) *

Emancipator Emancipation generally means to free a person from a previous restraint or legal disability. More broadly, it is also used for efforts to procure economic and social rights, political rights or equality, often for a specifically disenfranchise ...

* Kenmochi Hidefumi * Ficus (Cloud Ni9e, Kic. & HISANOVA) * Nitsua (Zack Austin) * Feng (FK) * Funky DL * L-Universe * Marcus D * Pase Rock * haruka nakamura * Shing02 * Jemapur * Substantial * Cise Starr * Monorisick (DJ Deckstream) (deceased)

Discography

Studio albums

*2003: ''

'' *2005: ''

'' *2011: ''

Compilation albums

*2003: ''

'' *2007: ''

Hydeout Productions 2nd Collection Hydeout Productions 2nd Collection is a compilation album published by Japanese label Hydeout Productions in 2007. Mainly a Nujabes album, it features numerous other hip hop and downtempo artists including Pase Rock, Uyama Hiroto, and Shing02 , b ...

'' *2008: ''

Modal Soul Classics ''Modal Soul Classics'' is a compilation album from Japanese hip hop producer Nujabes. Though the music on this album is commonly attributed to Nujabes, none of it is composed by him; the songs on this album were only compiled and mastered by hi ...

'' *2009: ''

Mellow Beats, Friends & Lovers ''Mellow Beats, Friends & Lovers'' is a compilation album of various artists including Nujabes, Uyama Hiroto, Naoki Maeda, Dwele, Golden Boy, Sora, Takagi Masakatsu, Kuniyuki Takahashi, and Rei Harakami. Track listing # Nujabes featuring Gi ...

'' *2010: ''

'' *2014: '' Free Soul Nujabes First Collection'' *2014: '' Free Soul Nujabes Second Collection'' *2015: ''

Luv(Sic) Hexalogy Luv(Sic) Hexalogy is an album collaboration created and finalized posthumously by the Japanese producer Nujabes (Seba Jun), who died before the completion of the album, and Japanese American hip hop artist Shing02 (Shingo Annen). It is a jazz hip ...

'' *2016: ''

Kei Nishikori meets Nujabes Kei may refer to: People * Kei (given name) * Kei, Cantonese for Ji(姫) * Kei, Cantonese for Qi(奇, 祁, 亓) * Shō Kei (1700–1752), king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom * Kei (singer) (born 1995), stage name of South Korean singer Kim Ji-yeon * P ...

Soundtrack albums

*2004: '' Samurai Champloo Music Record: Departure'' *2004: '' Samurai Champloo Music Record: Impression''

EPs and singles

*1999: ''Ain't No Mystery'' *2001: "Dimension Ball Tracks Volume 1" *2002–2013: ''Luv(sic) Part 1 - Part 6'' *2002: "Blessing It/The Final View" *2003: "Flower/After Hanabi (Listen To My Beat") *2003: "Next View" *2003: "Lady Brown" *2003: "F.I.L.O" *2003: "Still Talking To You/Steadfast" *2015: ''Perfect Circle'' (with

)

Collaborative albums

*2001: ''To This Union a Sun Was Born'' (with Substantial) *2003: ''Bullshit as Usual'' (with Pase Rock)

Official mixtapes

*1998: ''Sweet Sticky Thing'' *2002: ''Good Music Cuisine - Ristorante Nujabes'' *2003: ''Tribe Sampler Vol. 1''

Hydeout Productions discography

* 2001: Monorisick (DJ Deckstream) - Hydrothermal Formation * 2002: Nujabes - Good Music Cuisine Ristorante Nujabes * 2003: Nujabes -

* 2003: Nujabes -

* 2005: Nujabes -

* 2006: Jemapur - Dok Springs * 2005: Nujabes & DJ Ryow A.K.A Smooth Current - Hydeout Sound Lab * 2006:

- Soon It Will Be Cold Enough (Japanese release only) * 2007: Nujabes -

* 2008: Nujabes -

* 2008:

- A Son of The Sun * 2008: Kenmochi Hidefumi - Falliccia * 2010: Various Artists -

* 2011: Nujabes -

* 2013: Haruka Nakamura - Melodica * 2013: Ficus - Black Foliage * 2014: Various Artists - Free Soul Nujabes First Collection * 2014: Various Artists - Free Soul Nujabes Second Collection * 2015: Nujabes feat.

- Luv(sic) Hexalogy

References

External links

Hydeout Productions
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nujabes 1974 births 2010 deaths 20th-century Japanese musicians 21st-century Japanese musicians Chill-out musicians Hexalogies Hip hop record producers Japanese DJs Japanese hip hop musicians Japanese record producers Musicians from Tokyo Nu jazz musicians Road incident deaths in Japan Trip hop musicians Lo-fi musicians