Nujabes

Nujabes is a great hip hop producer. His beats are refreshing and inspirational at the very least. When I listen to his music, I feel like I'm going on a journey that sparks my own creativity. Its a shame that more people don't know about his music for they are missing out on something very special and a great asset to the hip hop community. The problem with most hip hop producers now a days are that they stick too much to the same formula. Everyone's music sounds the same or sticks to a similar genre. Nujabes use of instruments such as the flute, guitar and piano really give his type of music, smooth jazz, a special & distinct flavor. His music is a must have and listen in anyones collection.

Nujabes is probably the best producer at the moment and I presume he'll remain the best if he continues like that. I really advise you to listen to his music even if you are not really into the hip hop stuff.The perfect music to chill out with some jazzy ambiances and a different conception of hip-hop/trip-hop than other producers that are far more famous than he is and probably not as good as him. Songs like Kumomi or Reflection Eternal will probably interest you if you don't like hearing MCs rapping on his groovy and warm instrumentals. He also collaborates with Nao Tokui (the inventor of project phonetica) in a project called Urbanforest but their collaborations seems to be quite rare right now. Anyway, please go and listen to him!!

Jun Seba, better known as Nujabes, is one of the most refreshing hip-hop producers I've ever heard. His extensive use of various instruments such as the piano, flute, acoustic guitar, and saxophone over relatively light hip-hop beats provides for some of the most relaxing, smooth and enjoyable sounds you'll ever hear from this genre. Jun's collaborations with various underground hip-hop acts such as Five Deez, Cyne, Substantial, and Funky DL, as well as fellow Japanese artists Shing02 and Uyama Hiroto, are no exception. But it's worth noting that Nujabes is one of those rare producers whose music can still function on its own, without the presence of MCs. His music takes hip-hop production to a higher level than just looped beats, and is simply some of the best. It's a shame that Nujabes is, for the most part, unknown outside of Japan, and that his music is only released there... artists like this are a welcome change from what popular rap music has become recently, and are exactly what the global hip-hop community needs.