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
Latitude
Nujabes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't look any further while your vision is clear
A lotta fog in the mist tryin to throw you a curve
All these rappin thugs gettin on my last damn nerve
You eat the same piece of cake day in and day out
That tired ass flavor gets played out (no doubt)
You say that tag along warning to a rhyme for the rest
When we rock all the people say "yessuh"
The scratch, you know the wickywicky words to match
You still playing catch-up, fall far behind the line
Trying to cut, but you wasting your time please, come on dude
We the Five Deez, superior rhyme steez, don't have our own style
We got styles plural, you still caught up in yesterday
Steppin and fetchin, gettin swept away
Futuristic black holdin mics like soldiers hold weapons
On the attack im reppin, cincinatti's finest no question (give me five)
Now you say Queens City
Throw your hands up in the sky
Wave around from side to side
We about to get fly
Roll my glock over on a sucker who's locomotive
I'm moving in like the ocean, devotion within my rhymes
Same year, last time committed crimes like a felon
Three fifty seven lyrics can bust you up like melons
They ending when I'm dealin at five hundred decibles
I'm yellin "Five Deez" tellin cities and countries before me (say what?)
I'm lucky, these other cats bore me, cold and plastic
I turn the crowd into elastic, I'm stretchin them to the left
And get pulled to the right
Like a periscope, seeing over normal eyesight
I rock all night, so you can roll through the day
Feelin the rhythm to hear my rhymes in delay
I give em what is needed while you just form what they want
Who gonna get jumped, chump? Crunk brothas
Bounce to my jams like blubba, we doin it for lovas
While you suckled with the hatas, on the crossfada
And you say Queens city
Hey, you can call me on your mobile phone
Or grab a pen and a sheet of paper and write a letter at your home
You can download my music off an internet site,
Or you could be mixtapin it, we'll still be creatin it
You could have a compact disc, with vinyl gratin' it
Vibrations, be still, and keep the vibe waitin
A watcher or a reader, a loner or a leader
You could be the one that make the party cold or make it heat up
(make the beats heat up)
Bust slow to my motion, from the highest mountain to the bottom of the ocean
You want it? Final attack, get attacked on DAT
Cause and effect, it's because we wreck
There's no flaws to detect
So don't pause the deck
Local or international, took galactic respect
You could fall from the pressure
Or could you take the weight
(and rhythmic break)
And you say Queens city
The first verse of "Latitude" challenges the listener to choose a side, asking if they want to be alive and aware in the present moment. The lyrics criticize the monotony of mainstream rap and the artists who perpetuate it. The Five Deez declare themselves to be the freshest in the game, with multiple styles to their credit. They encourage the listener to move beyond the trends of the past and to embrace something new and futuristic. The chorus invites everyone to get involved and have fun, to throw their hands up and wave around to the music.
The second verse of the song asserts the Five Deez's superiority in the rap world, boasting of their ability to move crowds with their energy and skill. The lyrics mention the potency of their rhymes and the power they have to captivate an audience. The Five Deez reject the notion of being confined to any one medium or platform, insisting that their music will thrive no matter how it's consumed. The verse concludes with a call to action, asking the listener to be bold and take risks instead of getting caught up in their fears.
Line by Line Meaning
What side you on, you want alive? It's right here
Don't look any further, the right side is here where you can stay alive and safe.
A lotta fog in the mist tryin to throw you a curve
Life can be confusing and tricky, but don't let it throw you off guard.
All these rappin thugs gettin on my last damn nerve
I'm getting tired of hearing all these rappers who talk about violence in their music.
You eat the same piece of cake day in and day out, That tired ass flavor gets played out (no doubt)
Doing the same thing, over and over again, can become boring and uninteresting.
We fresher than alla these miggy-figgy-niggies on the mic, The scratch, you know the wickywicky words to match
Our style is better than all those wannabe rappers on the microphone, and we can effortlessly match the beats.
You still caught up in yesterday, Steppin and fetchin, gettin swept away
You're still stuck in the past and unable to move on to something new.
On the attack im reppin, cincinatti's finest no question (give me five), Now you say Queens City
I'm representing Cincinnati's best rappers with pride - give me a high five! And now, say Queens City.
Roll my glock over on a sucker who's locomotive
I'll take down any competitor who thinks they're the top of the chain.
Who gonna get jumped, chump? Crunk brothas
Who wants to fight me? I'm ready for anyone who tries to confront me.
You can download my music off an internet site, Or you could be mixtapin it, we'll still be creatin it
You can get my music from anywhere, but I'll still continue to create new tracks.
You could have a compact disc, with vinyl gratin' it, Vibrations, be still, and keep the vibe waitin
You could have my music on CD or vinyl, and the beat and rhythm will stay with you for a while.
Local or international, took galactic respect
My music has gained respect and recognition both locally and internationally, even beyond our galaxy.
There's no flaws to detect, So don't pause the deck
My music is flawless, so don't stop the tracks.
You could fall from the pressure, Or could you take the weight
You might crumble under the pressure, but are you strong enough to bear it?
Contributed by Julian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@etriantrujek286
What side you on?
You want alive? it's right here
Don't Look any further
While ya vision is clear
A lotta fog in the mist
Tryin to throw you a curve
All these rappin' thugs
Gettin' on my last damn nerve
You need to say "a piece a' cake"
Day in and day out
That tired-ass flavor gets played out (no doubt)
You say that tag-along warning
To a rhyme for the rest
When we rock all the people
Say "YES SIR"
We fresher than all of these
Miggy figgy niggys on the mike
And scratch, you know
The [scratch] words to match
You still playin' catch up
Fall far behind the line
Try to cut but you wastin' ya time
Please come on, dude
We the Five Deez
Superior rhyme steez
Don't have our own style
We got styles plural
You still caught up in yesterday
Steppin' infection
Gettin' swept away
Futuristic black holdin' mics
Like soldiers hold weapons
On the attack and reppin'
Cincinnati's finest, no question (five)
And you say queen city
(Side to side)
Throw ya hands up in the sky
Wave 'em round from side to side
We about to get fly (whoa)
of a sucka who's locomotive
I'm movin' it like the ocean
Devotion within my rhyme
Sayin' gift that's time
Committin' crimes like a felon
.357 lyrics to bust you up like melons
They ending when I'm dealin'
At five hundred decibels
I'm hailin' Five Deez
Tellin' cities and countries before me
(Say what?) I'm above these
These other cats bore me
Cold and plastic
I turn the crowd into elastic
Stretchin' 'em to the left
Then get pulled to the right
(Like a periscope)
Seein' 'em with normal eye sight
I rock all night
So you can roll through the day (come on)
Feelin' the rhythm
To hear my rhymes in delay
I give 'em what is needed
While you just flaunt what they want
Who gonna get junk, chum? (Who?)
Crunk clubbers
Bounce to my jam like rubber (yeah)
We doin' it for lovers
While you second with the haters
On the cross fader
(Side to Side)
And you say Queen City (city, city, city)
Hey
You can call me on ya mobile phone
Or grab a pen, a sheet of paper
Write a letter at ya home
You can download my music
Off a internet site
Or you can be mix tapin' it
We'll still be creatin' it
You can have a compact disc
Or vinyl gratin' it
(Vibration) but we still
Won't keep the fire waitin'
A watcher or a reader
A loner or a leader
You could be the one
To make the party cold
Or make it heat up
(Make the beat speed up)
(Press slow to know motion)
From the highest mountain
To the bottom of the ocean
(You want it?) Final attack
yeah, attack or adapt
Cause and effect
It's because we wreck
There's no flaws to detect
So don't pause the deck
Local or international
To galactic respect
You could fold from the pressure
But could you take the weight?
(And a rhythmic break)
And you say Queen City (city, city, city)
@lumin6108
I haven't heard the song for so long
@aeonezalpha3655
Do you want me to diiieeee???
@Dbales34
Me neither. I forgot it existed Tbh. It was a nostalgia I didn't even know I had
@terrasloush6617
I liked your comment so you can come back once again :)
@lumin6108
i get in such a good mood when i hear this song.
I love this song
@aeonezalpha3655
Diiieeeee!!¡!!
@AnimalsMix
Me too bro. Too nostalgic :)
@shutupack5389
popped in my head today, it's been years. feels like my life started here
@johnnymorgan5907
Nujabes was such a gem. Just incredible beats and music. RIP Nujabes.
@Red_Keeper
The instrumental is fabulous