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
Perfect Circle
Nujabes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Spent up in a screen of purple haziness
My affair with this lady named laziness
Laissez-faire mon frère, au revoir les enfants
On and on, it goes like a marathon
On and on it goes ′til the break of dawn of a new era
Who better to usher in the age of extras, et cetera, et cetera?
Omnipresent and potent to show thee
The jubilee of free will at work for food for thought
Who would've, could′ve, should've said and done this and that
After the fact and fiction blended like a broken dictionary
Are we supposed to carry on all alone
By any means necessary, act tough when it's scary?
Fair enough, the moon has a dark side
The sun shines like there′s not another day to waste in haste
A hot sec since the last time it got kinda cold to the bone
O Mi Deo Gloria, when the mind expands the body finds a temple
Inner area in which to flip the scripture
Dip the pen and picture in my heart, a scene apart
It′s a perfect circle
It's a perfect circle
You say a circle perfect is a circle with a flawless shape (yeah)
Three-hundred-and-sixty degrees in a breeze
Sitting on top of the world, it sure feels
Like a million souls are trying to eat
Off a plate worth a buck and nobody gives a nut, yeah
Round and round it goes like a Merry-go, and
Round and round it goes like a Ferris wheel, and
Everybody knows that this earth is round
But most of us still live like the world is flat
Clap, clap your hands to this beat
Celebrate word, life, and friends soon to be
All city, all state, then come across home plate
Talk about life mission on the journey to make
Hate and love, shove and hug, mate and fun, fate and luck
Break and bake the bread and cheese and let the day pass by
Fade into the past like an old calendar page
Chilling like barrels, taste finer with age
All the blessings on this planet disappear when taken for granted
You see the writing on the granite, understand it?
Follow though the steps ′til we meet before we're obsolete
Even it-it′s oblique to me, it's a perfect circle
It′s a perfect circle
It's a perfect circle
You say a circle perfect is a circle with a flawless shape
You say a circle is a flawless shape, shape
Shape, shape
It's time for you to play along with-
It′s time, it-it-it′s time
It-it-it's time for you to play along with-
First called, first called on the other side
In the lyrics of Nujabes's song "Perfect Circle," the artist delves into themes of introspection, self-discovery, and the cyclical nature of life. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, painting a picture of a year spent in a daze, lost in a haze of laziness and lack of motivation. The reference to "purple haziness" suggests a dreamlike state, possibly alluding to a sense of detachment or disconnection from reality. The mention of laziness as a prominent figure further reinforces the idea of mental inertia and a reluctance to engage with the world.
As the lyrics progress, Nujabes delves into deeper philosophical questions about free will, destiny, and the human experience. The juxtaposition of the mundane ("food for thought") with the profound ("jubilee of free will") highlights the internal struggles we face as we navigate life's complexities. The blending of fact and fiction, coupled with the imagery of a broken dictionary, suggests a blurred line between reality and perception, challenging the listener to consider the nature of truth and interpretation.
The references to celestial bodies such as the sun and moon serve as symbolic markers of time and spiritual growth. The idea of the mind expanding and the body finding a temple within suggests a journey of self-discovery and inner transformation. Nujabes muses on the impermanence of life and the passage of time, urging listeners to cherish the present moment and find meaning in the transient nature of existence.
The repetition of "It's a perfect circle" throughout the song underscores the cyclical nature of life, emphasizing the interconnectedness of past, present, and future. The lyrics weave a narrative that encourages introspection, gratitude, and a deeper appreciation for the fleeting beauty of life's journey. Ultimately, Nujabes invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences and embrace the imperfect perfection of the human experience.
Contributed by Aria I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@JohnnyDee4
[Hook 1]
Three hundred and sixty five days in a daze
Spent up in a screen of purple haziness
My affair with this lady named laziness
Laissez-faire mon frère, au revoir les enfants
And... on and on it goes like a marathon
On and on it goes till the break of dawn of a new era
Who better to usher in the age of extras, et cetera, et cetera?
[Verse 1]
The one and only almighty and holy
Omnipresent and potent to show thee
The jubilee of free will at work for food for thought
Who would have could have should have said and done this and that
After the fact and fiction blended like a broken dictionary
Are we supposed to carry on all alone
By any means necessary, act tough when it's scary?
Fair enough, the moon has a dark side
The sun shines like there's not another day to waste in haste
A hot sec since the last time it got kinda cold to the bone
O Mi Deo Gloria, when the mind expands the body finds a temple
Inner area in which to flip the scripture
Dip the pen and picture in my heart, a scene apart
It's a perfect circle
It's a perfect circle
Hook 2]
Three hundred and sixty degrees in a breeze
Sitting on top of the world it sure feels
Like a million souls are trying to eat
Off a plate worth a buck and nobody gives a nut yeah
Round and round it goes like a Merry-go and
Round and round it goes like a Ferris wheel and
Everybody knows that this earth is round but
Most of us still live like the world is flat
[Verse 2]
Clap, clap your hands to this beat
Celebrate word, life, and friends soon to be
All city, all state, then come across home plate
Talk about life mission on the journey to make
Hate and love, shove and hug, mate and fun, fate and luck
Break and bake the bread and cheese and let the day pass by
Fade into the past like an old calendar page
Chilling like barrels, taste finer with age
All the blessings on this planet disappear when taken for granted
You see the writing on the granite, understand it?
Follow though the steps till we meet before we're obsolete
Even it it's oblique to me, it's a perfect circle
It's a perfect circle
It's a perfect circle
@elleshacole4156
Even though he’s gone his music still lives on in our hearts ♥️
@ailil1466
yes i feel the same nothing special
@chronomally8683
yes i agree
@_Sushi6569
what happened?
@booske8248
@@_Sushi6569 he died in 2010
@_Sushi6569
That’s sad…
@cyurle3940
By far my favorite Nujabes Song. Although it's sad the album itself is released posthumously, Luv(Sic)Hexalogy is by far my favorite. Just some clean beats with Shing02 reflecting on life, love, and music. And it's capped off with perfect circle, a song about just vibing, letting life be life because at the end of the day, it's a perfect circle.
Happy belated birthday King, the beats live on in our ears and hearts.
@hgsgidshihogs
well spoken
@tronoankirayoshikage7331
God bless!
@surrender000
Every song with Shing02 is just legendary.