This track is a dedication to the late Nujabes, a hugely talented Japanese producer, DJ and businessman. Nujabes was initially responsible for my visits to Japan in the late 90's and we worked together in the studio on a series of tracks that would later be released and become classics within the Japanese hip-hop scene. On this track I’m just telling the story of how we both came to know and work with each other and the experiences we shared together. The story leads right up until the tribute show in Tokyo in August 2010 where I performed to a sold out venue some of the many tracks that Nujabes and I recorded together. I chose the samples for this tribute very carefully so to be as fitting to the mood of bringing the appropriate feelings out in this song.
Scratch Intro
Big up my man Nujabes [x4]
Verse One
Chilling in my bedroom it’s morning, I’ve not long woke up
heard a ring, ring so I picked my telephone up
Who’s this? “Sebajun”, who? “Call me Nujabes”
“Looking for a rapper for my beats”
“thinking you the best choice from the UK”
“do you have an email?”
“I’mma send a couple of my beats and some details”
“Want you here in Tokyo”
“get you in the studio”
“Got you on the airfare”, bank wire sent the doe
June 10th, 1999 at the airport
first time to Japan so I had to clear my thoughts
ready for the lyrical assault
that’s when I get the beat from Nujabes for “Don’t Even Try It”
plus four more, we record three in a day
“Unstoppable”, plus the track “People Don’t stray”
me and L Universe spitting on an unreleased
part one done, Nujabes San, rest in peace
Scratch Chorus
big up my man Nujabes
big up my man Nujabes [he make the beat knock]
big up my man Nujabes
big up-big up my man Nujabes
Verse Two
June 23rd, 2000 and I’m back on Japanese ground
five more tracks, “Not Yet Known”, “Slow Down”
plus a few more, now I’m at the Guinness record store
Nujabes got more breaks than I ever saw
said he ordered just a few of Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock”
but so much of mine and he so loved Starbucks
then we both went on tour, Yellow in Tokyo
Fukuoka, Wakayama and Sapporo
Club I to I in Osaka and Kyoto,
Gifu, Mito, Nagoya it was so dope
then he came to London and I showed him all my best breaks
chilling in the restaurant, eating up the best steak
then I said goodbye at the terminal at Heathrow
he was enigmatic so incognito
he was my people, chilling in the Far East
part two done, Nujabes San, rest in peace
Chorus
Verse Three
August 14th, 15th, 2010, club unit
Hydeout, Nujabes tribute we doing it
Cise Star, Fat Jon, Pace Rock, Funk D,
Emancipator, Substantial, Apani
Got to give a shout to my main man Takumi,
Seiji, Segawa, the show really moved me
moved us, Nujabes loved and respected
so many people’s lives were affected by his music
one in a million
worldwide fans, grown men, young children
spread the word let the whole movement increase
part three done, Nujabes San, rest in peace
Chorus
creditsfrom Blackcurrent Jazz 2, released 20 July 2011
Produced by Funky DL for Washington Classics 2011
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- 专辑：Blackcurrent Jazz 2
- 歌手：Funky DL
- 歌曲：Ode To Nujabes
