Sick and in Love: Presenting Shing02

Recently I noticed that I was listening to the same things over and over again on my smartphone. That's usually a sign that life is getting dull. So I'm getting back on this blog. Put some new music up, and you know, actually search for tracks I haven't heard.

Now, Nujabes is someone I've heard of, not very new for me. He passed away in 2010 by a tragic car accident, but he was one of the biggest Japanese DJ/Producers, and get this, he pioneered the genre of nu-jazz in Japan.

Shing02, a Berkley graduate, is a Japanese rapper and producer and one of those few rappers who rap in two languages: English, Japanese. He was also a close friend of the late Nujabes, and this is a music series they collaborated on, called Luv(Sic). Here's pt. 1.

Got the nu-jazz feel in there? According to Shing02: '(sic)= The Latin adverb sic - meaning "intentionally so written" is used for misspelled words. In this case, Love = Luv, thus Lovesick = Luv(sic)''

You got that? Ring me when you do.  

Moving to Part 2: 

If you think this is a 2-part thing, you're mistaken as we move on to-

Pt 3:

How far will this go? Well, unfortunately this was the last part of this project that Nujabes worked on. Afterwards, Shing02, affected deeply by his friend's death, felt the need to continue this journey, which culminated in this next part that is particularly beautiful in lyrics.

Pt.4

Try to pay attention to the lyrics here:

Snow flakes in January
Heart warm like February,
I wouldn't ordinarily
March to the drum, play a fool like April
May the best dance in a Juno bridal
Power of the will, Julius and Augustus
Aw you know, it's just us
In a new semester, back in September
boy, I wonder if you still remember

Meet me half way from mars to venus
beep beep, the chase is on between us
Retweet the sweetest piece of confection
hand made device for remote connection
ask a question,
wait for an answer and make a suggestion
a time and a place for a first impression
second and third to a fourth dimension

All of mainstream hip hop on the radio can't come up with this.

Now we're almost there, just think of this as a 5 act operetta.

Pt. 4 (I like this remix better so I put it up instead of the original)

Did I say it was a 5 act opera? I'm sorry, it's actually 6. But ladies and gentlemen, I give you Shing02 in video, in real time, rapping his heart out with Uyama Hiroto, Nujabes' protege.

Pt. 6

There you have it. From part 1 to 6. I don't usually listen to rap, but when I do, I make sure it's a chill Asian dude with sick rhymes.

Kidding, I do listen to rap and hip hop from time to time, but only when I like it. This is one of those cases. Henceforth why I'm turning the jukebox back on with Shing02. By the way if you're wondering about the title, yes I am sick. Of course I am also in love. Love you too Sarah. Peace.