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
Eclipse
Nujabes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting for the day we touch
Your lips to mine eclipse solar lunar
I'll see you soon but I'll talk to you sooner
This is for the things I don't say enough,
Waiting for the day we touch
Your lips to mine eclipse solar lunar
I'll see you soon but I'll talk to you sooner
Do you honestly believe I'd turn my back on you and leave my true love all alone in this cruel world?
When every single solitary day I do my best to secure a future for me and you girl
Cause it IS all about you, It's been all about you
Seconds feel like millenniums when I'm without you,
But my momma said there be days like this and ain't jack we can do
that's the way life is.
But it's been weeks since I felt your lips and I'm a fiend for my queen so I need a fix,
Only for now I'll settle for these talks on the phone,
But I cut my arm off for a moment alone,
With the one that I cherish whether in Rome or Paris, Amsterdam or Japan,
Please note that I am thinkin' bout my baby as much as humanly possible,
An' I know you're frustrated cause life has too many obstacles
This is for the things I don't say enough,
Waiting for the day we touch
Your lips to mine eclipse solar lunar
I'll see you soon but I'll talk to you sooner
This is for the things I don't say enough,
Waiting for the day we touch
Your lips to mine eclipse solar lunar
I'll see you soon but I'll talk to you sooner
My dear my dear my dear I know you're lonely
An' I know very well that it's hard and it hurts but there's no need to cry,
Cause I will be home soon and there ain't no limit to the things that we goin' do,
Whatever you want name it and I'll make it reality,
To see my baby's face nothin' means more then that for me.
This is far from flattery I ain't trying to impress you,
truth is I miss you and I'm hurtin' internally,
Sometimes these long trips feel like eternity,
But they say distance makes the heart grow fonder,
And in this case it's proven to be fact,
So I'll be back like a T100.
From blocks away you will see me comin',
With the biggest smile you ever seen on my face,
Cause even the toughest man on the planet needs lovin',
There's nothin' tame the wild like a woman's embrace.
This is for the things I don't say enough,
Waiting for the day we touch
Your lips to mine eclipse solar lunar
I'll see you soon but I'll talk to you sooner
This is for the things I don't say enough,
Waiting for the day we touch
Your lips to mine eclipse solar lunar
I'll see you soon but I'll talk to you sooner
Feels like it's been forever and I can't wait to see ya,
It's like wit' Bonnie and Clyde, Tony and Maria,
Romeo and Juliet, Akeem, Alicia.
Basically inseparable and it's more then sexual.
Withstand every shell Tell me don't you like the sound of that?
Got my heart racing an about to have a heart attack
Wantin' to be loved by you just you.
Theres nobody loves you like I do
And I ain't scared to show it
but these feelings are hard to put into words
and I'm a poet slash MC
So give me credit for expressing them
because writin' this was more nervous then I ever been
I had to get it out for when I'm unable to sit wit' you,
You have a little song that I wrote for you to listen to,
So you know the way that you're missin' me I'm missin you.
I wanna give you the world but for now I hope this'll do.
"Nujabes's song Eclipse" is a heart-warming track that is filled with a sense of longing for a lover someone that is dearly missed. The lyrics are full of emotion and touch upon themes that are close to the heart. The song is a tribute to the relationships that people have with their loved ones, and the sense of longing that is felt when the person is not around.
The opening of the song begins with the artist expressing that he doesn't say things aloud as much as he should, and he is waiting for the day when he will be able to touch the lips of his loved one. He calls it an eclipse of solar lunar, where two celestial objects connect and have a rare moment that is cherished. He talks about how he misses his partner's embrace and how he wishes to be with them at the moment.
The second verse shows the artist's commitment and faithfulness to his partner, and how she is the reason for all his hard work and efforts since he strives to secure their future together. He is thoughtful and empathetic to his partner's frustration and shows his consciousness towards her feelings. The artist ends the song with a message to his lover, saying that he will come back to her, and there is no one who loves her more than he does.
Line by Line Meaning
This is for the things I don't say enough,
I am sharing my innermost feelings and expressing how much I care about you, something that I do not do often enough.
Waiting for the day we touch
I am eagerly anticipating the moment when we can be reunited and touch each other again.
Your lips to mine eclipse solar lunar
When we kiss, it's like the sun and the moon aligning, creating a rare and special moment that takes my breath away.
I'll see you soon but I'll talk to you sooner
Even though physically we may not be able to be together right now, I will still communicate with you often and let you know how much I miss you.
Do you honestly believe I'd turn my back on you and leave my true love all alone in this cruel world?
I want to reassure you that no matter what happens, I will always be there for you and never abandon you.
When every single solitary day I do my best to secure a future for me and you girl
I work hard every day to make sure that we have a bright and happy future together, and that you will always be taken care of.
Cause it IS all about you, It's been all about you
My love for you is all-consuming and all-encompassing, and everything I do revolves around making you happy and keeping you safe.
Seconds feel like millenniums when I'm without you,
Being away from you for even a short amount of time feels like an eternity, because I miss you so much.
But my momma said there be days like this and ain't jack we can do that's the way life is.
My mother told me that there will be tough times and challenges in life that we cannot avoid, but we must keep going and keep our love strong.
But it's been weeks since I felt your lips and I'm a fiend for my queen so I need a fix,
It's been too long since we have kissed and been physically close, and I am craving that intimacy with the person I love most in the world.
Only for now I'll settle for these talks on the phone,
While we cannot be together in person, I will settle for the conversations we have on the phone to stay connected to you and hear your voice.
But I cut my arm off for a moment alone,
I would give up anything, even a part of myself, just to be able to spend a moment alone with you and show you how much I love you.
With the one that I cherish whether in Rome or Paris, Amsterdam or Japan,
No matter where we are in the world, I will always cherish and love you deeply.
Please note that I am thinkin' bout my baby as much as humanly possible,
I am constantly thinking of you and missing you, and you are always on my mind no matter where I am or what I am doing.
An' I know you're frustrated cause life has too many obstacles
I understand that life can be difficult and challenging, and I know that you are frustrated with the obstacles that we must face. But I am here for you and we will get through it together.
My dear my dear my dear I know you're lonely
I understand that being apart from each other can be lonely and difficult, and I want you to know that I feel the same way and miss you deeply.
An' I know very well that it's hard and it hurts but there's no need to cry,
I know that being apart from each other can be painful and emotional, but please do not cry because we will be together soon and our love will be stronger than ever.
Cause I will be home soon and there ain't no limit to the things that we goin' do,
I will be home soon and we will be able to do all the things that we have been missing and dreaming of together. There are no limits to our love and our experiences.
Whatever you want name it and I'll make it reality,
I am here to fulfill your every wish and desire, and I will do whatever it takes to make you happy and show you how much I love you.
To see my baby's face nothin' means more then that for me.
The most important thing in the world to me is being able to see your face and be with you again, because that is what makes me the happiest.
This is far from flattery I ain't trying to impress you, truth is I miss you and I'm hurtin' internally,
I am not trying to flatter or impress you, I am simply being honest that I miss you deeply and am hurting inside because of our time apart.
Sometimes these long trips feel like eternity,
Being away from you for long periods of time can feel like an endless and unbearable eternity, because I miss you so much and you are the most important part of my life.
But they say distance makes the heart grow fonder,
Even though we are apart, our love continues to grow stronger and deeper because of the distance between us.
And in this case it's proven to be fact,
Our love has proven that the saying 'distance makes the heart grow fonder' is true, because we have only grown closer and more in love the longer we are apart.
So I'll be back like a T100.
I will come back to you as soon as I can, and nothing can stop me from being with the person I love most in the world.
From blocks away you will see me comin',
When I am finally able to come back to you, you will be able to see me coming from far away because of my joy and excitement to be reunited with you.
With the biggest smile you ever seen on my face,
I will be wearing the biggest and happiest smile on my face when I am finally able to see you again, because being with you is what makes me happiest.
Cause even the toughest man on the planet needs lovin',
Even someone as tough and strong as me needs the love and affection of the person they care about most in the world, which is you.
There's nothin' tame the wild like a woman's embrace.
No matter how wild or tough someone might seem, a woman's embrace and love has the power to calm and soothe them, and that is what your embrace does for me.
Feels like it's been forever and I can't wait to see ya,
It feels like an eternity since we have been together, and I am eagerly anticipating the moment when we can finally be reunited again.
It's like wit' Bonnie and Clyde, Tony and Maria, Romeo and Juliet, Akeem, Alicia.
Our love story is just as epic and romantic as the famous love stories of Bonnie and Clyde, Tony and Maria, Romeo and Juliet, and Akeem and Alicia.
Basically inseparable and it's more then sexual.
Our love is more than just physical or sexual attraction, because we are inseparable and our connection goes deep into our hearts and souls.
Withstand every shell Tell me don't you like the sound of that?
Our love is strong enough to withstand any challenge or obstacle that comes our way, and that is something to be proud of and happy about.
Got my heart racing an about to have a heart attack
My love for you is so strong and intense that it makes my heart race with excitement and anticipation, to the point where I feel like I might have a heart attack!
Wantin' to be loved by you just you.
All I want in the world is to be loved by you, and no one else can compare to the love and connection we share.
Theres nobody loves you like I do
No one in the world loves you as deeply and completely as I do, and I will always cherish and adore you with my whole heart.
And I ain't scared to show it
I am not afraid or ashamed to express my love for you, because it is the most important thing in the world to me.
but these feelings are hard to put into words
Even though my love for you is strong and true, it can be difficult to find the right words to express it fully.
and I'm a poet slash MC
As a poet and MC, I have a unique talent for expressing my emotions and love for you through my music and art.
So give me credit for expressing them
I hope you appreciate and understand the effort I put into expressing my love for you, because it comes straight from my heart.
because writin' this was more nervous then I ever been
Expressing my love for you through this song was nerve-wracking and difficult, but I did it because I truly care about you and want you to know how much you mean to me.
I had to get it out for when I'm unable to sit wit' you,
I wrote this song to express my love for you when we are unable to be together in person, so that you will always know how much I care about you and miss you.
You have a little song that I wrote for you to listen to,
I wrote this song for you to listen to whenever you miss me or need a reminder of how much I love you.
So you know the way that you're missin' me I'm missin you.
I want you to know that I miss you just as much as you miss me, and my love for you is just as strong and true.
I wanna give you the world but for now I hope this'll do.
I want to give you everything in the world that you deserve, but for now I hope this song will suffice as a reminder of my love for you until we are reunited in person.
Contributed by Eva C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@17-.
I always love when this song turns up in my playlist. Such a pure expression of love. Substantial really captured the hardships of a long-distance relationship in this track. It's the kind of thing to inspire you to keep going even when it's hard and life has too many obstacles. Reminds me to always think about my baby as much as humanly possible 💙
@gsk1977
❤
@Drowning97
I agree with you. Btw, you know another song of Substantial? I'm trying to search but I can't find.
@17-.
@@Drowning97 I've got plenty I can think of. Nujabes did a whole album with Substantial called "To this union a sun was born"
Best track on there in my opinion is "If I was your MIC"
Enjoy!
@unlovedbug
A man sent me this song two years ago and I never appreciated it until a year ago.. now this song hurts to listen to. Hope you’re doing well Leon 🐰💕
@Dbales34
I play my 4 year old a little nujabes every day in the hope he grows up to have good taste in music
@pxzzvc6357
bro got that brainwashing parenting method
@athehybrid
@@pxzzvc6357nothing wrong with showing your child music? maybe they'll have very fond memories of it as an adult.
@pxzzvc6357
no hate, js joking.
this is actually wholesome ngl@@athehybrid
@80mbeats
i love introspective music like this that isn't corny