The fact that Nujabes is yet to make massive waves in the music world has everything to do with the fact that his unfortunate position - that of being a Japanese hip-hop artist that isn't called DJ Krush - and nothing to do with the music. Were this record (or its predecessor) heard by more, it'd likely be hailed as the arrival to a major new talent. Smooth jazz, breezy pop melodies, effortless rapping, and subtle touches of atmospherics combine to make this a record that brings hip-hop full-circle; that is, the technological and musical innovation of the 00s welded to the party vibes and good times of the 80s (well, the mainstream end of the 80s, anyway), with thr worldview and aesthetic of Native Tongues thrown in for good measure. Nujabes may well be a star in waiting - for now, though, he's just the most undervalued, creative, enjoyable figure in leftfield hip-hop.
