Nujabes' bio

Jun Seba (せば　じゅん, Seba Jun) is a Japanese hip-hop music producer and DJ, as well as a composer and arranger who records under the name Nujabes. Nujabes is an anagram of his first name (Jun) and last name (Seba) spelled backwards and combined. He is a member of the production duo "Urbanforest", an experimental collaboration with Nao Tokui (appearing on the Lady Brown 12"). He has released two CD albums in Japan, Metaphorical Music in 2003 and Modal Soul in 2005. Specifically, Metaphorical Music sold over 20,000 copies by 2004, an unheard of amount for an independent release. After Tsutchie, Nujabes was the second artist Shinichirō Watanabe chose to contribute to music to the background music and soundtrack of Samurai Champloo, an anime which blends a feudal Japan setting with modern anachronisms, especially hip-hop music. In addition to Japanese artists like Uyama Hiroto, Shing02 and Minmi, he has collaborated with underground American hip-hop acts CYNE, Apani B, Five Deez, Substantial, CL Smooth, and with British rapper Funky DL.

Besides making music, he is also an owner of "T Records" and "Guinness Records" (both record stores in Shibuya, Tokyo), and runs Hydeout Productions.

His music is known for a strong cool jazz and soul music influence, (jazz x hip hop) frequently using samples from artists like Miles Davis, Pat Metheny, and Yusef Lateef to create warm, mellow tracks. Nujabes rarely plays live and does not make many media appearances, which adds to his enigmatic charisma. His album covers are also very distinct, in particular abstract imagery.

On February 26, 2010, Jun Seba was involved in a traffic accident upon exiting the Shuto Expressway late at night. He died at a hospital in Shibuya Ward after failed efforts to revive him. He was 36 years old. There was a private burial with only family in attendance. Hydeout Productions has stated that Nujabes has left behind tracks, which they plan to release in the near future. close