Politic 26

A little over five years ago, a relative unknown hip hop producer was killed in a car crash in Tokyo. But by this point, Seba Jun - also known by the backwards pseudonym Nujabes - was creating a cult status for himself among nerds throughout the West. As previously identified (here), built from his 'Samurai Champloo' soundtrack, anime fans in North America and Europe, as well as Japan, were posting his music on YouTube over their own photos and 'Samurai Champloo' stolen images.

Throughout the Naughties (teehee), he created his own brand of distinct, soulful, piano-laden hip hop of instrumental tracks and beats for underground US rappers, Japanese bilingual wordman Shing02 and Hackney's own Funky DL. But he chose to keep himself to himself. Little to no promotion existed and minimal photos are available of the man; 'Samurai Champloo' perhaps his delve into getting his name out there.

But beyond people who had seen and liked 'Samurai Champloo', Nujabes' influence can now be seen throughout Japanese hip hop. His releases between 2003-2008 can be, for me, seen as a turning point in Japanese hip hop, moving away from the trip hop stylings of the likes of DJ Krush and Tha Blue Herb and the American-influenced Zeebra and ilk of the 1990s.

Over the last few years, a new wave of Japanese hip hop artists have emerged, mixing soulful, keyboard-heavy beats with a more fun outlook, with comedy and imagery that feels distinctly Japanese, avoiding the temptation to too easily slip into an American style.

This post-Nujabes wave seems to be led by producer and rapper Evisbeats, collaborating with most, earning himself 1990s DJ Premier-esque production announcements from the rappers he works with, continuing this lighter side of hip hop. With the likes of BASI, 環ROY, Meiso, Haiiro de Rossi, Itto and the ever charismatic 鎮座DOPENESS on the microphones and Michita, Nomak and Eccy on beats, among others...Or, have I just made this all up?!

What follows is some beats and them words of this post-Nujabes generation for listening pleasure. Ya here...

Kemuri (Untouchable Mix) - DJ Krush

The Way That Hope Goes - THA BLUE HERB

mystline - Nujabes
八百万 - Evisbeats featuring 908
Do The Hip Hop - Evisbeats
あなたには - BASI
さみーね - Kakato
いい時間 - Evisbeats
Mentor - Michita
MOGU MOGU - 鎮座DOPENESS
Break Boy in the Dream - 環ROY featuring 七尾旅人
ゆれる - Evisbeats featuring 田我流
Allegro Pt 2 - Michita and Haiiro de Rossi
あの場所 - Itto
Nakanaka - Meiso
Dandelion - Michita featuring Meiso and Hisomi-TNP
散歩と太陽と音楽 (Instrumental) - Eccy and 環ROY
Velodrome (Nomak Remix) - Nomak 

蛍 - Evisbeats featuring Itto
果てない - BASI
チンコ - Crazy-T and Spence featuring 鎮座DOPENESS