He was also an owner of "tribe", a record store in Shibuya, Tokyo, and led indie record label Hyde-Out Productions. He released two albums in Japan, Metaphorical Music in 2003 and Modal Soul in 2005. He was also a member of the production duo Urbanforest, an experimental collaboration with Nao Tokui (appearing on the Lady Brown 12").
In addition to Japanese artists like Shing02 and Minmi, he has collaborated with underground American hip-hop acts Cyne, Apani B-Fly, Five Deez, Substantial, Fat Jon and British rapper Funky DL.
He has also contributed music to the soundtrack of Samurai Champloo, an anime which blends a setting in feudal Japan with modern anachronisms, especially hip-hop music.
On March 17, 2010, it was announced on the Hyde-Out Productions website that Jun passed away on February 26, 2010 at the age of 36 after being involved in a serious car accident on the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway. He was promptly transported to the hospital, where attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. An English announcement was made on March 18 by friend and collaborator Shing02 on the Empire22 website:
Today, I have very somber news for the international hip hop community, especially fans of the independent hip hop scene, and those who have followed my career.
It has been announced that Jun Seba, aka Nujabes, Japanese hip hop producer extraordinaire, passed away late February. Official statement from the label (in Japanese) here:
http://hydeout.net/hydeout/2010/03/_hydeoutproductions.html
We deeply regret the loss of a unique talent and a close friend. Through his soulful music, Nujabes has touched so many people around the world, even beyond his dreams. He was a mysterious character to most as he avoided the public limelight, rarely conducted interviews, so only a few got to know the man behind the signature production. Yet it continued to amaze me how young listeners of all backgrounds learned of his enigmatic name, and expressed support for his music.
As I write now from Japan, I had been leaving him messages the past couple of weeks, trying to get in the studio together, so the news could not have come any more unexpected. Even last week, I passed by his house and called him thinking he was still home.
I met Nujabes around 2000 and as an upcoming MC, I was fortunate to work on tracks such as Battlecry, F.I.L.O, Luv(sic) parts 1, 2 and 3. We had been working on the next trilogy of Luv(sic) over the past year (which we're determined to see through). The last time we talked in January, Nujabes emailed me to wish Jeff Resurreccion, a 19-year old beatboxer who had just passed way from cancer, his heartfelt condolences.
While we continue to respect the privacy of his family, we will work to preserve his legacy, and pay tribute to the body of work, some unreleased, that he has left for us to enjoy. Jun Seba will be dearly missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and fans worldwide.
in peace,
Shing02
Battlecry feat.Shing02
Nujabes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The mental blade cut through flesh and bone
Though my mind's at peace, the world out of order
Missing the inner heat, life gets colder
Oh yes, I have to find my path
No less, walk on earth, water, and fire
The elements compose a magnum opus
My modus operandi is amalgam
On my armor a sign of all-pro
The ultimate reward is honor, not awards
At odds with the times in wards with no lords
A freelancer
A battlecry of a hawk make a dove fly and a tear dry
Wonder why a lone wolf don't run with a clan
Only trust your instincts and be one with the plan
Some days, some nights
Some live, some die
In the way of the samurai
Some fight, some bleed
Sun up to sun down
The sons of a battlecry
Some days, some nights
Some live, some die
In the name of the samurai
Some fight, some bleed
Sun up to sun down
The sons of a battlecry, battlecry
Look, just the air around him
An aura surrounding the heir apparent
He might be a peasant but shine like grand royalty
He to the people and land, loyalty
We witness above all to hear this
Sea sickness in the ocean of wickedness
Set sail to the sunset no second guessing
Far east style with the spirit of wild west
The "quote-unquote" code stands the test of
Time for the chosen ones to find the best of
Noble minds that ever graced the face of
A hemisphere with no fear, fly over
The blue yonder where
The sky meets the sea
And eye meets no eye
And boy meets world
And became a man to serve the world
To save the day, the night, and the girl too
Some days, some nights
Some live, some die
In the way of the samurai
Some fight, some bleed
Sun up to sun down
The sons of a battlecry
Some days, some nights
Some live, some die
In the name of the samurai
Some fight, some bleed
Sun up to sun down
The sons of a battlecry, battlecry
The lyrics to Nujabes and Shing02's "Battlecry" are a reflection of the samurai way of life, with references to mental and physical strength, honor, and loyalty. The first verse starts with a simile that compares the sharpness of a samurai sword to the mental sharpness required to navigate through a chaotic world. The singer talks about the importance of finding their own path and staying true to their own values, even when they are not in alignment with society's expectations.
The chorus expresses the idea that some will fight and some will die in the way of the samurai, but those who are true to the code of honor will always be remembered as the "sons of a battlecry." The second verse talks about the importance of loyalty to the people and the land, using the metaphor of a peasant shining like grand royalty to illustrate how a person's status doesn't matter as much as their character.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, sharp like an edge of a samurai sword
I am so sharp in my thoughts and actions that it resembles the sharpness of a samurai's sword
The mental blade cut through flesh and bone
My thoughts are so strong and precise that they can cut through anything, including people's emotions and even their physical bodies
Though my mind's at peace, the world out of order
Even though I have inner peace, the world around me is chaotic and unbalanced
Missing the inner heat, life gets colder
Without my inner passion and motivation, life becomes dull and cold
Oh yes, I have to find my path
I have a strong sense of purpose and I must find my path in life
No less, walk on earth, water, and fire
I will not settle for anything less than experiencing all aspects of life, including the difficult and challenging ones
The elements compose a magnum opus
All aspects of life are interconnected and come together to create something beautiful and meaningful
My modus operandi is amalgam
My way of doing things is a combination of various methods and ideas that work best for me
Steel packed tight in microchip
My strength is not physical but rather in the form of knowledge and intelligence
On my armor a sign of all-pro
I have achieved excellence in all areas of my life, which is reflected in the symbol on my armor
The ultimate reward is honor, not awards
I value integrity, respect, and honor over material possessions or recognition
At odds with the times in wards with no lords
I do not conform to societal norms and will stand up for what I believe in, even if it means going against those in power
A freelancer
I work independently and do not conform to a traditional career path or structure
A battlecry of a hawk make a dove fly and a tear dry
My words and actions can have a powerful impact on others, even those who are typically perceived as vulnerable or emotional
Wonder why a lone wolf don't run with a clan
I prefer to work independently and make my own decisions, rather than conforming to a group mindset
Only trust your instincts and be one with the plan
I believe in following my intuition and being aligned with my purpose in life
Some days, some nights
Life can be unpredictable and full of highs and lows
Some live, some die
Life is not fair and can be cut short at any moment
In the way of the samurai
This is a metaphor for living with honor and dignity, even in the face of adversity
Some fight, some bleed
People will face battles in life and may get hurt in the process
Sun up to sun down
This is a metaphor for enduring challenges all day, every day
The sons of a battlecry
Those who persevere and fight for what they believe in are the true warriors
Look, just the air around him
There is something special and powerful about this person, even before they take action
An aura surrounding the heir apparent
This person exudes confidence and natural leadership abilities
He might be a peasant but shine like grand royalty
Despite their humble beginnings, this person possesses regal qualities and has the potential for greatness
He to the people and land, loyalty
This person is dedicated to serving their community and the environment around them, and values loyalty above all else
We witness above all to hear this
The most important thing we can do is listen to the words and wisdom of this person
Sea sickness in the ocean of wickedness
There is evil and corruption in the world that can make people feel lost and hopeless
Set sail to the sunset no second guessing
We must be confident and determined in our journey, even when we do not know the outcome
Far east style with the spirit of wild west
This person has combined elements from different cultures to create their own unique style and perspective
The "quote-unquote" code stands the test of
Even though some may question their methods, this person's ideology is proven and effective
Time for the chosen ones to find the best of
It is now the time for those who have been selected to find the best path for themselves
Noble minds that ever graced the face of
There have been many great thinkers and leaders throughout history, and this person is among them
A hemisphere with no fear, fly over
This person has overcome their fears and obstacles, and now has the ability to soar above them
The blue yonder where
This is a metaphor for the vast unknown and limitless possibilities in life
The sky meets the sea
This is a metaphor for the meeting of opposing forces, like heaven and earth
And eye meets no eye
This is a metaphor for the lack of human interaction or connection in society
And boy meets world
This is a coming of age moment, where a young person discovers their place in the world
And became a man to serve the world
This person has matured and developed the skills and knowledge needed to make a positive impact on the world
To save the day, the night, and the girl too
This person is a hero, who is willing to fight for justice and help those in need
Lyrics © Sentric Music
Written by: Jun Seba, Shing02
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@commissarf1196
Lyrics:
Yeah, sharp like an edge of a samurai sword
The mental blade cut through flesh and bone
Though my mind's at peace, the world out of order
Missing the inner heat, life gets colder
Oh yes, I have to find my path
No less, walk on earth, water, and fire
The elements compose a magnum opus
My modus operandi is amalgam
Steel packed tight in microchip
On my armor a sign of all-pro
The ultimate reward is honor, not awards
At odds with the times in wards with no lords
A freelancer
A battlecry of a hawk make a dove fly and a tear dry
Wonder why a lone wolf don't run with a clan
Only trust your instincts and be one with the plan
Some days, some nights
Some live, some die
In the way of the samurai
Some fight, some bleed
Sun up to sun down
The sons of a battlecry
Some days, some nights
Some live, some die
In the name of the samurai
Some fight, some bleed
Sun up to sun down
The sons of a battlecry, battlecry
Look, just the air around him
An aura surrounding the heir apparent
He might be a peasant but shine like grand royalty
He to the people and land, loyalty
We witness above all to hear this
Sea sickness in the ocean of wickedness
Set sail to the sunset no second guessing
Far east style with the spirit of wild west
The "quote-unquote" code stands the test of
Time for the chosen ones to find the best of
Noble minds that ever graced the face of
A hemisphere with no fear, fly over
The blue yonder where
The sky meets the sea
And eye meets no eye
And boy meets world
And became a man to serve the world
To save the day, the night, and the girl too
Some days, some nights
Some live, some die
In the way of the samurai
Some fight, some bleed
Sun up to sun down
The sons of a battlecry
Some days, some nights
Some live, some die
In the name of the samurai
Some fight, some bleed
Sun up to sun down
The sons of a battlecry, battlecry
@_xxxxxx5401
Battle Cry(Japanese Lyric)
侍の刀のように鋭い
精神の刃が肉と骨を断つ
和は心にあり、世は乱の道を辿る
内にある熱が消えれば、人生も冷めよう
そう、己の道を探している 土と水と火の上を歩む
大自然の傑作に描く
私の筆は幾重に鍛えられた合金
肩の傷は過去の勲章
誇りが唯一の褒美
主なき時代に戦を求める浪人
鷹の鳴き声に鳩が飛び、涙も乾く
一匹狼が群れを嫌うように
己の直感のみを信じ、運命に身を委ねよう
ある日に、あるいは夜に
ある者は生き、ある者は逝く
侍の名において
ある者は立ち上がり、ある者は倒れる
日が昇り、沈むまで
戦を詠う息子達よ
ある日に、あるいは夜に
ある者は生き、ある者は逝く
侍の名において
ある者は戦い、ある者は血を流す
日が昇り、沈むまで
戦を詠う息子達よ
あの者の醸す空気を見よ
まるで御世継ぎのような雰囲気
農民の出でも将軍のように光る
彼は土地と民に忠誠を誓う
我々はその証人になる
悪の大海で酔ってしまった時代に
迷わず夕陽に向って船を出す
極東の精神が西部劇を繰り広げる
時の試練を生き抜いた「掟」
選ばれし者たちが見つけるのは
この地上に現れた最も高貴な精神
恐れを知らず、飛んで行く
碧い水平線の向こう
空が海と混ざり
仇を忘れる場所で
少年が世界と出会い
道に身を捧げる男に成長した
大切なものと、人を守るために
ある日に、あるいは夜に
ある者は生き、ある者は逝く
侍の名において
ある者は立ち上がり、ある者は倒れる
日が昇り、沈むまで
戦を詠う息子達よ
ある日に、あるいは夜に
ある者は生き、ある者は逝く
侍の名において
ある者は戦い、ある者は血を流す
日が昇り、沈むまで
戦を詠う息子達よ
@1999_reborn
Put Shing02’s name on this. He’s the one rapping. Nujabes is a legend but Shing deserves love too.
@Rabbit_Hill
I second this. Shing’s still out here working hard and he makes good shit. He deserves the recognition
@waltmanwrld1189
I meen nujubes did make this butiful music, right,shing is cool to,but nujubes made the lirics.
@markmontano2097
R.I.P. Nujabes
@TheEncouragementKid
"the elements compose a magnum opus
my modus is operandi is amalgam "
i had to google so many words - what a wordsmith
@yato809
@@waltmanwrld1189 lyrics and vocals are by shing02. There's a reason why no one listens to the instrumental version of this because the rapping over it gives more meaning to the beat.
@benhines4
Nujabes aint dead. All you gotta do is hit play.
@PotionsMaster666
Wow....I feel you man.
@SalFettucini
This guy gets it
@AwashimaSeriLieutenant
seen this comment in a couple places