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
Yes
Nujabes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the beat goes
(x2)
[Verse 1: Pase Rock]
Make noise for the loved ones
Bang on the drums
Celebrate where you come from
Every day is a prayer
And you feel it right there, right here
But you want a little somethin' somethin'
Carry on til the evenin' is teethin'
Reach another day another search for the reason
And then the night bites in what it is
Learn how to dream enough to learn to live
Positive, affirmative, gotta make it happen like
There's an alternative now whose turn it is
Mine and I earn and give to stay permanent
Shock shock waves didn't hold your weight
Now you wanna change the clock but then it all stops
And we forget that, we wanna get back
To where we left off, a few steps off
You wanna get on, you gotta get right
Hold on sit tight, look at the dim light
Take a breath, ask yes with some insight
Say yes from your belly through your wind pipe
And now it feels like you probably should've been right
And it feels good, feels like you never left
Lil' young cat got that shit togetherness
Feel high like mount Everest, forever fresh
So good, I think we want another yes
But know the facism and classism
Up to being passed like they never had rhythm
In the first place, worst case scenario
We'll be seein and hearin and now we're stereo
Same shit, different assholes flash the full
Capture cowboy, take away his lasso
We're going forth to a new day our own way
This is high time, not what they say
They're playin' foul play, I'm playin' James Brown
We're gonna find us the truth every day now
They only weigh out, lookin' for a way out
I just got here, and i'm stayin'… I'm just sayin'
And the beat goes
Life, love, dance, sing, no, war, stay, free, we, can, live, yes
And the beat goes
(x2)
[Verse 2: Pase Rock]
Yen, Euro, Dollar sign, wipe my soul
Try to keep the money all mine
All the numbers keepin' your health
I give some thought but my feelin' is felt
I can find out when this feelin' is felt
It's like that we don't gotta deal with needle in this feelin' itself
Inside when we're screamin' for help on the outside
Shinin' for the public, the DJ's love it
We're movin' with the cruise control, groove with the soul
It's new or it's old, if it's true then it's told
The negro spiritual ah-code sexual ode
204-9 area code, if it's good then it must be sold
That's what they say, but i'm still not sold
Still loyal to the rhythm and the melody
The beat and it's tellin' me, words that weigh heavily
Open my heart readily, good days they better be soon
Because i'm almost changin' my mind
(yes)
And i'm almost changin' my blinds
Spent a lot of time seekin' to find
It's more about the truth and the treat
Not about the lyric or the beat
It's more about the lines fillin' the seats
People jump in band wagons and end up on cruises
Different ideas still might fall to confusion
I spent a lot of time losin', still in the game
Enough practice, still sharp with the aim
Teeter-totter never came to my side, still enjoyin' the ride
I put my weight down just the same
Fuck pride foes died so I can tell you my name
Just leave from my life, lil' yes not a baby in sight
Except maybe that I may be right (yes)
But the world shakes staying up in dangerous heights
It had to come down twenty-nine flights
And when he wasn't dead, tell me what you think he said
Life, love, dance, sing, no, war, stay, free, we, can, live, yes
And the beat goes (x2)
The song "Yes" by Nujabes feat. Pase Rock is a celebration of life, love, and the freedom to live it to the fullest. The lyrics encourage listeners to make noise for loved ones, celebrate where they come from, and wake up every day with gratitude for the blessings that surround them. The song reminds listeners that every day is a prayer and that positivity and affirmation can go a long way in making one's dreams a reality.
The song also touches upon the struggles of life, including the search for meaning and the need to overcome obstacles to achieve one's goals. It encourages listeners to stay strong in the face of adversity, to hold on tight through tough times, and to never give up on their dreams. Ultimately, the song is a call to action that encourages listeners to say "yes" to life, love, and all the opportunities that come their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Make noise for the loved ones
Celebrate and make some noise for the people you love
Bang on the drums
Play the drums with enthusiasm and energy
Celebrate where you come from
Be happy and proud of your roots and heritage
Wake up in the morning its a blessing
Waking up every day is a gift and a blessing
Every day is a prayer
Every day is an opportunity to give thanks and be grateful
And you feel it right there, right here
The feeling of gratitude is present and felt inside and outside
But you want a little somethin' somethin'
You desire more from life
Carry on til the evenin' is teethin'
Keep going until the night falls
Reach another day another search for the reason
Every day is a new opportunity to seek purpose and meaning
And then the night bites in what it is
The night reveals whatever it is hiding
Learn how to dream enough to learn to live
One must learn to dream big enough to truly live life
Positive, affirmative, gotta make it happen like
Stay positive and focus on making things happen
There's an alternative now whose turn it is
There's always another option, it's just whose turn it is to take it
Mine and I earn and give to stay permanent
I work hard to earn and give to stay permanent
Shock shock waves didn't hold your weight
Challenges and obstacles did not defeat you
Now you wanna change the clock but then it all stops
You may want to turn back time but the reality is time keeps moving forward
And we forget that, we wanna get back
Sometimes we forget what is truly important and desire to go back in time
To where we left off, a few steps off
We want to pick up where we left off but things are not the same as before
You wanna get on, you gotta get right
To succeed, you need to do things the right way
Hold on sit tight, look at the dim light
Stay patient and look at the faint light in the distance
Take a breath, ask yes with some insight
Pause, take a deep breath, and make informed decisions
Say yes from your belly through your windpipe
Wholeheartedly say yes with conviction
And now it feels like you probably should've been right
Now you feel like you were right all along
And it feels good, feels like you never left
It feels great to be back and it feels like nothing has changed
Lil' young cat got that shit togetherness
A young person with everything in order
Feel high like mount Everest, forever fresh
Feeling on top of the world and always fresh
So good, I think we want another yes
Things are so great, we want to say yes again
But know the facism and classism
Be aware of fascism and classism
Up to being passed like they never had rhythm
People being ignored or dismissed because they don't fit a certain norm
In the first place, worst-case scenario
In the beginning, the worst-case scenario could happen
We'll be seein' and hearin' and now we're stereo
We will be both seen and heard, now in stereo
Same shit, different assholes flash the full
Same situation, different people showing off
Capture cowboy, take away his lasso
Stop someone from showing off and bringing them back down to earth
We're going forth to a new day our own way
Moving forward into the future, doing things our own way
This is high time, not what they say
Now is the time to make real progress, despite what they say
They're playin' foul play, I'm playin' James Brown
They play dirty, but I will stay upbeat and positive like James Brown
We're gonna find us the truth every day now
We will discover the truth every day from now on
They only weigh out, lookin' for a way out
They only think about themselves, trying to find a way out of situations
I just got here, and I'm stayin'... I'm just sayin'
I just arrived, and I plan on staying. That's all I'm saying
Yen, Euro, Dollar sign, wipe my soul
Money is on my mind and affects my soul
Try to keep the money all mine
Wanting to keep as much money as possible for oneself
All the numbers keepin' your health
Your health can be influenced by the numbers in your life, such as finances or stress levels
I give some thought but my feelin' is felt
I think about things, but ultimately my feelings guide me
It's like that we don't gotta deal with needle in this feelin' itself
We don't have to focus on the negative feelings and instead embrace the positive ones
Inside when we're screamin' for help on the outside
While we may scream for help internally, we often present ourselves as strong externally
Shinin' for the public, the DJ's love it
We may shine and appear confident in public, and the DJs enjoy our music
We're movin' with the cruise control, groove with the soul
We are moving along smoothly, enjoying the music and feeling it in our souls
It's new or it's old, if it's true then it's told
Something can be new or old, but if it is true it will be shared
The negro spiritual ah-code sexual ode
A reference to the history of black music, blending spirituals with sexual themes
204-9 area code, if it's good then it must be sold
A reference to the artist's home area code and the idea that if something is good, it will sell
That's what they say, but I'm still not sold
While some may believe that success is tied to being sold, the artist does not necessarily agree
Still loyal to the rhythm and the melody
The artist is committed to the music and its essence
The beat and it's tellin' me, words that weigh heavily
The music has a message and it speaks to the artist, with words that carry great significance
Open my heart readily, good days they better be soon
The artist is open and ready for better days to come
Because I'm almost changin' my mind (yes)
Despite prior convictions, the artist is willing to consider other options
And I'm almost changin' my blinds
The artist is considering new perspectives and viewpoints
Spent a lot of time seekin' to find
The artist has put in a considerable amount of time searching for answers
It's more about the truth and the treat
It's not just about the words, but also the actions and intentions behind them
Not about the lyric or the beat
Music is not just about the words or the rhythm, it is also about the feelings and emotions
It's more about the lines fillin' the seats
The focus is on creating a memorable and powerful experience for listeners
People jump in band wagons and end up on cruises
People follow trends and end up going in a completely different direction than intended
Different ideas still might fall to confusion
Even with different perspectives or ideas, there can still be confusion or misunderstandings
I spent a lot of time losin', still in the game
Despite setbacks, the artist is still in the music industry and vying for success
Enough practice, still sharp with the aim
The artist has put in enough effort and practice to remain successful
Teeter-totter never came to my side, still enjoyin' the ride
Life has had its ups and downs, but the artist is still enjoying the journey
I put my weight down just the same
The artist remains steadfast and committed to their goals
Fuck pride foes died so I can tell you my name
The artist has let go of their pride and can now share their name and music with others
Just leave from my life, lil' yes not a baby in sight
The artist wants negativity out of their life, and wants to focus on positive affirmations
Except maybe that I may be right (yes)
The artist is confident in their beliefs and convictions
But the world shakes stayin' up in dangerous heights
The world is unpredictable and uncertain, and it can be dangerous to stay in one place
It had to come down twenty-nine flights
At some point, things had to come crashing down
And when he wasn't dead, tell me what you think he said
When he should have been dead, what do you think he said?
Life, love, dance, sing, no, war, stay, free, we, can, live, yes
A list of positive affirmations and ideas that promote living life to the fullest
Contributed by Leah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.