# data[].attributes.body
808 state are a electronic music band responsible for being “pioneers of the U.K. acid house” (808 State Biography, Songs & Albums / Allmusic, 2019). This band inspired a lot of Aphex Twin’s more techno oriented songs that feature heavy rhythmic bass accompanied by repeating melodies which were harmonically cohesive together. This style of techno being seen in Aphex Twin’s song 180db_ which has been one of his most popular songs due to its heavy bass and very catchy rhythm and melody that I can say is very easy to dance to. Aphex Twin himself has stated how 808 state’s album Newstate is one of his “Fave ever records” (Warwick, 2019) even remixing their song Flow coma further proving the love and inspiration that 808 State had on Aphex Twin’s personal taste in music as well as his own musical and artistic expression.

# data[].attributes.body
Aphex twin's most known for his production of ambient music as well as exploring the boundaries of his art form, these are qualities that he shares with fellow ambient music artist Brian Eno. Eno has been known to have coined the term ambient music (Frere-Jones, 2014) To me this shows as well the impact that Eno has shown to be a significant influence upon Aphex Twin’s work but many, many other artists as well, I would be confident in saying he can be the “Godfather” of ambient music.

# data[].attributes.body
"Without Kraftwerk’s commitment to progression and the overarching concept of modernity, artists such as Aphex Twin would not have had the platform from which to arise" (Starkey, 2021), Kraftwerk were pioneers and innovators of early electronic dance music and are often regarded as "one of the most influential bands of all time" the same could be said for Aphex twin however without Kraftwerk's innovations in music Aphex Twin most likely would not have found his equal standing point as an innovator as he himself revealed the influence that Kraftwerk had on his work and on himself sharing that "he ranks 1981’s Computer World, among his favourite albums of all time" (Starkey, 2021). Within my own personal opinion Kraftwerk's art inspired another one of our current modern electronic musicians to push the boundaries of music and experimentation showing that art is not limited to what the past has shown us.

# data[].attributes.body
Al green was an R&B singer/songwriter well known for his lyrics on the topics of love and heartbreak, as well as having an incredible as well as iconic voice. This shared mixture of emotional lyrcism as well as impressive powerful vocals is a shared quality between Lauryn Hill and Al green. They both show that not only is the writing of in depth, meaningful and passionate lyrics important to their music but as well as the voice expressing these emotions through the lyrics as well. "Tired of Being Alone" is a song of Al's that reflects this idea (in my opinion), sharing the feelings of heartbreak and loneliness of losing a romantic relationship and grieving the loss of this relationship. These powerful lyrics as well as impressive vocals are shared within Lauryn's enormous hit "Ex-factor" detailing her own heartbreak with a relationship that she herself has found struggles with letting go of similar to Al Green.

# data[].attributes.body
Aretha Franklin was a well known and a large influence on not only within the music industry but also on Lauryn Hill's music. Looking at the Histories of both Lauryn and Aretha one can see many parallels between the two, their share of once in a blue moon talent, struggles with raising a family as well as balancing their musical career and finally using their music as an outlet to express their own experiences of heartbreak, love and life. These similarities eventually culminating in the two working on a song which had helped Aretha be put back on the billboards and still show younger singers of the era how talented she still is 'which was thanks to a song with a sound that no one had heard from her before; “A Rose Is Still a Rose.” (Allen, 2023). Lauryn had both written and produced the song for Aretha which detailed themes of hope in the face of adversity as well as innocence lost, which in my opinion were lyrics of which Lauryn and Aretha had found similarities in.

# data[].attributes.body
Bob Marley's impact on Lauryn Hill was prevalent in more ways than one, first beginning with music. Bob was and always will be known as a very spiritual man being apart of a religious movement known as "Rastafarianism". This spirituality became a common theme within his songs including "Rastaman Chant" and "Give Thanks and Praises". This spirituality and connection to religion was also present in Lauryn Hill's music especially her song "To Zion" detailing the social and career struggles with being pregnant to her son Zion who is the grandson of Bob Marley due to Lauryn being married to Bob's son Rohan. Within "To Zion" Lauryn depicts an "angel" coming to her to and telling her to "kneel down and pray", I believe that as Bob expressed his spirituality through peace and love, Lauryn had found her own spirituality through her own love of her child that she praises throughout the song.

# data[].attributes.body
Jazz had influenced Nujabes in many aspects of his music, his songs would frequently feature samples from many Jazz musicians and their own songs. An example of this being Nujabes' song The Final View found in his album Metaphorical Music which contained a sample from Yussef Lateef's Love Theme from Spartacus. I believe Jazz was and always will be one of the largest influences on Nujabes, it's piano riffs and many brass pieces appear in almost all of Nujabes' music showing the foundation of his personal tastes and influence of style which has given us some of the most beautifully cohesive and wonderfully soulful music that has helped him receive a cult like following within western audiences as well as the underground hip hop scene in Japan (A Fresh Look at Groundbreaking Producer Nujabes’ Soundtrack for Anime “Samurai Champloo,” 2018).

# data[].attributes.body
Nas was a prominent east-coast rapper who's lyricism described the difficulties of the challenges of "the inner-city street life" (“Nas | Biography, Albums, Movies, Feud, & Facts | Britannica,” 2023). Before Nujabes became a prominent producer, he was primarily the owner of a record store called Hydeout, within his store he had a collection of Nas' records in a section of the store, to start to get his own name out there Nujabes would remix Nas' songs and press these remixes onto vinyl and hiding them within the Nas section so people would listen to his tracks and then start to build up his name (Kim, 2019). Through listening to many of Nujabes' songs and learning about Nas I believe that the social impact Nas had shown through speaking out on the struggles of living within inner city New York had an influence on Nujabes and the artists he would collaborate with, wanting to give artists who had something important to say the chance to amplify their voice and share their thoughts and struggles with the world.

# data[].attributes.body
Substantial and Nujabes became aware of each other through a mutual friend that Substantial had met in college that performed in Nujabes' record store. Substantial had featured on a CD that these two artists mutual friend gave to Nujabes (Kim, 2019) the style of Substantials lyrics being a "soulful, introspective brand of Hip Hop music" (I am Substantial Bio, 2013). I believe that because this became a regularly occurring motif present within a significant amount of Nujabes' tracks, substantial's lyrics had inspired him to truely innovate a new style of hip hop to match the poetic, emotional lyrics that are prevalent many of Nujabes' songs including the song of which him and Substantial had collaborated on named "Eclipse" which is featured on Nujabes' album "Modal Soul".

# data[].attributes.body
Kim, J. (2019, May 27). The Immortal Legacy of Seba “Nujabes” Jun. Jeff Kim; Jeff Kim. https://jeff.kim/seba-jun/

Giorgis, H. (2018, August 27). The Atlantic. The Atlantic; theatlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/08/the-complicated-female-genius-of-lauryn-hill/568612/

Cover story: Aphex Twin’s mask collapses. (2014). Crack Magazine. https://crackmagazine.net/article/long-reads/aphex-twins-mask-collapses/

Discover who influenced Aphex Twin. (2017). Inflooenz.com. https://inflooenz.com/?artist=Aphex+Twin

‌
Lauryn Hill Influences. (2023). Shmoop.com. https://www.shmoop.com/lauryn-hill-doo-wop/influences.html

‌
Bio. (2013). I Am Substantial. I Am Substantial. https://www.iamsubstantial.com/bio

‌Kim, J. (2019, May 25). Recounting Memories and Moments with Substantial. Jeff Kim; Jeff Kim. https://jeff.kim/substantial/

‌A Fresh Look at Groundbreaking Producer Nujabes’ Soundtrack for Anime “Samurai Champloo.” (2018). 34st.com. https://www.34st.com/article/2018/03/samurai-champloo-nujabes-anime-chill-hip-hop-jazz-samples-music-album-review

‌
Haner, M., & Rector, J. (2007). Bob Marley’s Spiritual Rhetoric, the Spread of Jamaican Culture and Rastafarianism. https://wou.edu/history/files/2015/08/Mark-Haner.pdf

‌
Hsu, H. (2017, July 17). Manufacturing Bob Marley. The New Yorker; The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/07/24/manufacturing-bob-marley

‌
Gillmer, S., & Gillmer, S. (2018, November 24). Al Green (1948- ) •. Blackpast.org. https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/green-al-1948/

‌
Frere-Jones, S (2014, June 30). Ambient Genius. The New Yorker; The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20/14/07/07/ambient-genius

‌
Warwick, O. (2019, August 20). Aphex Twin on the Rephlex years. Resident Advisor; Resident Advisor. https://ra.co/features/3509

‌

‌

# data[].attributes.body
Aphex twin strikes a part of my personality that has influenced my sense of whimsical wonder and tom foolery when it comes to working and expressing oneself. Never has Aphex twin stuck with one distinct sound which I wish to also have identifiable in my music, not letting myself be shackled to a distinct sound and experimenting with new one's to find unique ways to create music and crazy samples. His laid back and "cheeky" rebellious attitude towards the media inspired me to also not take myself to seriously when it comes to the social aspects of being an artist, expressing myself how I want to no matter who may be listening (being at least polite though)

# data[].attributes.body
Lauryn Hill has distinct, powerful and emotional lyrics within all of her music, a trait I greatly admire and wish to be able to achieve within my own music and other art I also plan to create within the future. A big influence Lauryn has had on me is her determination and iron will to persevere with creating her art and rebelling against the people in her life who had tried to hold her back from finding her own happiness within herself personally and musically, that is one of the biggest reasons I have come in to study music and music production from being in a completely different industry for a few too many years believing it was "safe" but like Lauryn I dropped what was holding me back from this creative outlet and industry that I had always dreamed of being apart of to be happy and fulfilled.

# data[].attributes.body
Nujabes was a Japanese Hip-hop/Jazz producer who often is believed to be the main influence behind the creation of Lo-fi beats and Hip-hop. My love for the art he has produced and the main influence that resonates within me is how his songs were an extension of himself, releasing an album named "makin' good beats like cookin' good food" being a prime example as he was a big foodie (same as me). His tenacity of finding unknown or unknown/emerging artists to collaborate with and develop deep bonds with has inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and invest time into discovering new sounds and approaching artists and other producers to make new exciting projects and friends. A main instrumental motif within Nujabes' music are his beats and his piano melodies, a mix of classical and modern music that also has stuck with me and my tastes from childhood to me now.
https://jeff.kim/seba-jun/