On this very day 50 years ago, two GOATs were born on opposite sides of the world. One was from Tokyo, named Seba Jun- flip that around alongside a few samples and you have one of the greatest lofi hip hop producers of all time- Nujabes. The other was from Detroit, named James Dewitt Yancey, known better by his stage name J Dilla (or Jay Dee)- the other greatest lofi hip hop producer of all time.
The two pioneered the genre of lofi hip hop. Donuts & Luv(sic) Hexalogy are both in my personal top 5 albums of all time. The influence they’ve had on music even just beyond hip hop is undeniable- with jazz players crediting their visions of time to Dilla and composers of all genres looking back to Nujabes for guidance. Although the two passed tragically young, they live on through their own music and through the music of others.
RIP J Dilla (February 7th, 1974 – February 10th, 2006)
RIP Nujabes (February 7th, 1974 – February 26th, 2010)