{"id":1535,"date":"2024-11-18T10:38:47","date_gmt":"2024-11-18T01:38:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/comic-addict.com\/editorial\/en\/?p=1535"},"modified":"2024-11-18T10:38:47","modified_gmt":"2024-11-18T01:38:47","slug":"music-nujabes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/comic-addict.com\/editorial\/en\/music-nujabes\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is Nujabes? A Legend of Lo-fi HipHop: His Iconic Tracks, Career, and Samurai Champloo"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Nujabes (also known as \u702c\u5834 \u6df3, real name: Yamada Jun) was a trailblazing trackmaker, artist, and music producer often called &#8220;The Godfather of Lo-fi HipHop&#8221; or &#8220;The Pioneer of Jazzy HipHop in Japan.<br \/>\nHe is also described as &#8220;the most famous Japanese trackmaker in the world.<br \/>\nTragically, he passed away in February 2010 at the young age of 36 due to a traffic accident, yet his music continues to be cherished worldwide to this day.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nInterestingly, the name &#8220;Nujabes&#8221; is a reversal of his given name, Jun Seba.<\/p>\n<h2>Characteristics of Nujabes&#8217; Music<\/h2>\n<p>The warmth and emotional depth of his music are what make Nujabes&#8217; work so distinctive.<br \/>\nIn the world of HipHop, where digital programming and sampling are widely used, creating &#8220;warm music&#8221; is considered a challenge.<br \/>\nHowever, Nujabes achieved this with his rare talent, crafting music that feels both soothing and nostalgic.<br \/>\n<br \/> While Nujabes operated within the HipHop genre, his focus on warm, quiet, and impactful melodies often drew connections to healing and New Age music.<br \/>\n<br \/> At the time, HipHop producers primarily chopped up samples into minute pieces to create new melodies.<br \/>\nNujabes, however, boldly utilized larger melodic segments.<br \/>\nFor instance, his iconic track *Reflection Eternal* samples Noriko Kose\u2019s *I Miss You* in a way where the source melody remains clearly recognizable.<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.\nyoutube.\ncom\/embed\/2wK27xW4OFI?si=fPzxnB4CO1qLK9Nf\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.\nyoutube.\ncom\/embed\/bkr_EG7X_sA?si=tQJSf-AoUgdnGnIn\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe> <br \/> Nujabes reportedly often said, &#8220;I just want to find the best two bars,&#8221; showcasing his meticulous approach to beats, particularly focusing on loop structures.<br \/>\n<br \/> \u203b As someone with limited musical knowledge, I\u2019ve consolidated this section from multiple articles and interviews.<br \/>\n\u203b I have used or omitted honorifics for names depending on what felt natural in context.<br \/>\nApologies to anyone who may find this inconsistency unsettling.<\/p>\n<h2>Nujabes&#8217; Career<\/h2>\n<p>Born on February 7, 1974, in Tokyo.<br \/>\n<br \/> In 1995, at the age of 21, he opened the record store &#8220;Guinness Records&#8221; (originally &#8220;Bongo Fury Records&#8221;) on the 4th floor of Takano Building in Shibuya\u2019s Udagawacho district.<br \/>\nThe store was said to provide a welcoming space for enjoying music without the intimidating atmosphere typical of record shops in Shibuya at the time.<br \/>\nChairs were placed in front of the listening stations, creating a relaxed environment.<br \/>\n<br \/> Nujabes reportedly treated the record store as an &#8220;information center&#8221; for creating his own tracks, according to an interview with m-flo, who had connections with him at the time.<br \/>\n\u203b1 <br \/> In 1998, Nujabes began producing tracks in earnest as a music producer.<br \/>\n<br \/> In 1999, he released a 12-inch single record under his own label, &#8220;Hyde Out Productions&#8221; (later stylized as &#8220;Hydeout Productions&#8221;).<br \/>\nTo avoid emphasizing that it was a Japanese label, some mistakenly believed Nujabes was an overseas producer.<br \/>\nHis early works, released exclusively on 12-inch vinyl, were also less accessible to the general public.<br \/>\n<br \/> In 2001, he released *Luv(sic)*, a collaboration with Shing02, whom he contacted via email while Shing02 was residing in Berkeley.<br \/>\nShing02 described his first impression of Nujabes as &#8220;a slightly laid-back person.<br \/>\n&#8221; \u203b3 <br \/> In 2002, *Luv(sic) Part 2* was released.<br \/>\n<br \/> In August 2003, Nujabes released his first album, *Metaphorical Music*.<br \/>\nThe response exceeded expectations, and record stores found it challenging to keep up with additional orders.<br \/>\nThe album also garnered significant attention from female listeners, which was rare for HipHop at the time.<br \/>\n<br \/> In 2004, the TV anime *Samurai Champloo* aired.<br \/>\nNujabes was among the music production team and was responsible for tracks like the opening song and the ending theme.<br \/>\n*Samurai Champloo* was not initially well-received in Japan.<br \/>\nThe director, Shinichiro Watanabe, speculated that the innovative combination of anime and HipHop might not have resonated with the otaku community at the time.<br \/>\n\u203b3 <br \/> That same year, Nujabes also produced music for a Comme des Gar\u00e7ons fashion show.<br \/>\nWhile public recognition was low, his reputation among music enthusiasts and the culturally attuned community was exceptionally high.<br \/>\n<br \/> In 2005, *Samurai Champloo* aired on Cartoon Network in the United States, where it received high acclaim, leading to multiple reruns.<br \/>\nThe show gained popularity in other regions as well.<br \/>\nIn November, Nujabes released his second album, *Modal Soul*.<br \/>\nThis album showcased new elements like live instrumentation and house music influences.<br \/>\n*Luv(sic) Part 3* was included in this album and became particularly popular in the U.<br \/>\nS.<br \/>\n<br \/> By this time, Nujabes had established himself as one of Japan\u2019s premier trackmakers and producers, with his record store expanding to multiple locations.<br \/>\n<br \/> In February 2010, Nujabes tragically passed away at the age of 36 due to a traffic accident.<br \/>\nIn late June, his record store, Guinness Records, also closed, leaving a legacy cherished by many.<br \/>\n<br \/> In 2011, *Luv(sic) Part 4*, which Nujabes had started producing before his passing, was released, followed by his third album, *Spiritual State*.<br \/>\n<br \/> In 2012, *Luv(sic) Part 5* was released, and in 2013, *Luv(sic) Grand Finale\/Part 6* was completed based on a beat titled &#8220;Grand Finale&#8221; found on Nujabes&#8217; mobile phone.<br \/>\n<br \/> From the late 2010s, the *Lo-fi Hip Hop* genre gained popularity on platforms like YouTube, further expanding awareness of Nujabes.<br \/>\n<br \/> In 2018, Spotify ranked Nujabes as the third most-streamed Japanese artist globally.<br \/>\n<br \/> Nujabes&#8217; dream of elevating HipHop to the level of other music genres has arguably become a reality.<br \/>\nHis achievements and the influence of his music have led to new developments in HipHop, making it more accessible and beloved by a broader audience.<\/p>\n<h2>Iconic Tracks &#038; Recommended Songs<\/h2>\n<h5>Luv(sic) Series<\/h5>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Y4HWvsGs0rY?si=fBVXyofG2ZyksuyK\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe> \u203bThe video features Part 1 of the series. <br \/> If you\u2019re new to Nujabes, this is where most people recommend starting. It\u2019s worth noting that Parts 1\u20133 and Parts 4\u20136 are somewhat distinct, akin to how the *Star Wars* trilogies differ. Originally, the series was meant to conclude with Part 3. Parts 4\u20136 were completed posthumously, based on Nujabes&#8217; unfinished work. <br \/> That said, there\u2019s no strict need to listen in order. You can start with whichever part resonates with you. Personally, I particularly enjoy Parts 2 and 3. <\/p>\n<h5>Reflection Eternal<\/h5>\n<p> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2wK27xW4OFI?si=fPzxnB4CO1qLK9Nf\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nThis is one of Nujabes\u2019 most beloved tracks.<br \/>\nAs mentioned earlier, the song samples Noriko Kose\u2019s I Miss You.<br \/>\nThe track\u2019s popularity brought renewed attention to Kose&#8217;s work, highlighting the brilliance of the original as well.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bkr_EG7X_sA?si=tQJSf-AoUgdnGnIn\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe> <\/p>\n<h5>Lady Brown<\/h5>\n<p> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R5dphZnPb9A?si=ZXB3TVsbXHuxQTOa\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nIncluded in the first album Metaphorical Music, this track features a harmonious blend of rap and melody.<br \/>\nIt samples Luiz Bonf\u00e1\u2019s The Shade of the Mango Tree, creating a beautifully seamless listening experience.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PJ4XqEqMM1A?si=lQEpNKBUMtQvsIej\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe> <\/p>\n<h5>Feather<\/h5>\n<p> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hQ5x8pHoIPA?si=dkNaapkzgTZNtKDM\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nThis is one of the most frequently listened-to tracks outside of the Luv(sic) series.<\/p>\n<h5>Perfect Circle<\/h5>\n<p> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Uot4Ul5-p-g?si=pDqjwQY8vLCTSpBQ\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nA track with a laid-back beat, it\u2019s featured in the album Luv(Sic) Hexalogy.<\/p>\n<h5>World\u2019s End Rhapsody<\/h5>\n<p> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0XJFSTYryv4?si=qsS5_GMsce500XE7\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nThis track blends beats, vocals, and piano harmoniously.<br \/>\nAmong Nujabes&#8217; works, it has a relatively pop-like feel.<\/p>\n<h5>Kumomi<\/h5>\n<p> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QTwgW7rKE4I?si=fLQ8Latf7CLFQHdg\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nA track inspired by Nujabes&#8217; childhood memories of Kumomi in Nishiizu.<br \/>\nKnown for its nostalgic and warm tones, the song captures a sense of bittersweet emotion, reflecting the artist&#8217;s fond memories of visiting Kumomi with his family.<\/p>\n<h2>Samurai Champloo and Nujabes<\/h2>\n<p> <figure id=\"attachment_4642\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4642\" style=\"width: 960px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/comic-addict.com\/editorial\/jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/samrai_champloo.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4642\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4642\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Produced by Fuji TV, Manglobe, Shimoigusa Champloo&#8217;s<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\nSamurai Champloo is an anime series that aired from May to September 2004.<br \/>\nIt also had a manga adaptation that presented different episodes from the anime.<br \/>\nHere, we focus on the anime.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nOriginal Work: Manglobe<br \/>\nDirector: Shinichiro Watanabe<br \/>\nMusic: Tsutchie, fat jon, Nujabes, FORCE OF NATURE<br \/>\nEpisodes: 26<br \/>\n<br \/>\nThe anime is set in a world where samurai carry swords, yet the characters use modern Japanese slang, and elements like blond hair, piercings, and beatboxing appear, creating a deliberately anachronistic atmosphere.<br \/>\nThe HipHop elements scattered throughout contribute to its unique charm, captivating many fans despite its unconventional style.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nNujabes contributed to the soundtrack by composing the opening theme &#8220;Battlecry&#8221; and producing the ending track &#8220;Shiki no Uta.<\/p>\n<h4>Renowned Anime Director Shinichiro Watanabe&#8217;s Deep Connection to Music<\/h4>\n<p>Shinichiro Watanabe is a celebrated anime director known for works like Cowboy Bebop (1998) and Kids on the Slope (2012).<br \/>\nAs a music enthusiast, Watanabe integrated various genres\u2014jazz, blues, rock, techno\u2014into Cowboy Bebop, showcasing his musical sensibilities.<br \/>\nThe success of Cowboy Bebop allowed him to delve deeper into music for his subsequent projects, culminating in the collaboration with Nujabes for Samurai Champloo.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nIn an interview, Watanabe revealed that during the production of Samurai Champloo, he would spend weekends exploring record shops in Shibuya for new releases.<br \/>\n\u203b1<br \/>\nIt was during one of these music hunts that he encountered Nujabes.<br \/>\nInterestingly, since Nujabes rarely gave interviews, Watanabe initially didn\u2019t even realize Nujabes was Japanese.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nWhen Watanabe approached Nujabes with the offer to work on the anime, Nujabes was hesitant.<br \/>\nTo make his decision, he consulted with his friend \u2606Taku Takahashi from m-flo, who strongly encouraged him, saying, &#8220;It\u2019s Nabe-shin (Watanabe\u2019s nickname)! You should definitely do it.<br \/>\n&#8221; \u203b1<\/p>\n<h4>The Downfall of Manglobe, the Studio Behind Samurai Champloo<\/h4>\n<p> <figure id=\"attachment_4643\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4643\" style=\"width: 660px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/comic-addict.com\/editorial\/jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/manglobe-660x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"1024\" class=\"size-large wp-image-4643\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4643\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Archived on September 5, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure><br \/>\nManglobe, the animation studio behind Samurai Champloo, produced the series with impressive quality despite it being their debut project.<br \/>\nUnfortunately, the studio declared bankruptcy in 2015.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nApart from Samurai Champloo, Manglobe also worked on adaptations of popular manga such as The World God Only Knows and Hayate no Gotoku! (Season 3 and a theatrical movie).<\/p>\n<h4>Recommended Nujabes Tracks from Samurai Champloo<\/h4>\n<h5>Battlecry<\/h5>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fE3tc9-OWA0?si=1EZwaQMYehRjHhYh\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nThis track features Shing02, also known for his work on the Luv(sic) series.<br \/>\nThe stylish opening movie of Samurai Champloo blends seamlessly with the song, making it an unforgettable experience.<br \/>\nAt the time, anime was often looked down upon as a niche or inferior medium, but this opening song and animation broke through those stereotypes.<\/p>\n<h5>Shiki no Uta<\/h5>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/c9O3OeA1cy4?si=JmhQWa9Yu-RNmUg4\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\nThe ending theme of Samurai Champloo, sung by MINMI, is a beautiful song with a nostalgic and slightly melancholic vibe.<br \/>\n<br \/>\nAccording to MINMI&#8217;s blog, Shiki no Uta was originally an instrumental track by Nujabes.<br \/>\nHowever, MINMI strongly requested to use it and added her vocals to complete the song.<br \/>\n\u203b5<\/p>\n<h2>References<\/h2>\n<p>\u203b1 \u300e\u661f\u91ce\u6e90\u306e\u304a\u3093\u304c\u304f\u3053\u3046\u308d\u3093 nujabes\u300f 2024\u5e7410\u670825\u65e5\u653e\u9001, NHK E\u30c6\u30ec \u203b2 <a href=\"https:\/\/ja.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nujabes\" target=\"_blank\">Wikipedia: Nujabes<\/a> \u203b3 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arban-mag.com\/article\/55056\" target=\"_blank\">\u300e90\u5e74\u4ee3\u3001\u6771\u4eac\u3002\u3042\u308b\u82e5\u8005\u304cNujabes\u3092\u540d\u4e57\u308a\u3001\u30d2\u30c3\u30c8\u30e1\u30fc\u30ab\u30fc\u306b\u306a\u308b\u307e\u3067\u300f<\/a>, 2020\u5e74, \u5927\u524d \u81f3 \u203b4 <a href=\"https:\/\/note.com\/fugakura\/n\/n1a3729ecc684\" target=\"_blank\">Nujabes\u306b\u3064\u3044\u3066\u306e\u500b\u4eba\u7684\u30e1\u30e2 Note<\/a>, 2020\u5e743\u6708, \u30d5\u30af\u30ac\u30e9 \u203b5 <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.excite.co.jp\/minmiblog\/12332574\/\" target=\"_blank\">MINMI ~\u52dd\u624b\u306b\u898b\u306a\u3044\u3067Blog~ nujabes<\/a>, 2010\u5e743\u6708, MINMI<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nujabes (also known <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1536,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[134,135],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-anime","category-anime-song"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/comic-addict.com\/editorial\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1535","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/comic-addict.com\/editorial\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/comic-addict.com\/editorial\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comic-addict.com\/editorial\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comic-addict.com\/editorial\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1535"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/comic-addict.com\/editorial\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1535\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1538,"href":"https:\/\/comic-addict.com\/editorial\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1535\/revisions\/1538"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comic-addict.com\/editorial\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/comic-addict.com\/editorial\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comic-addict.com\/editorial\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/comic-addict.com\/editorial\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}