Above, we’ve got the Spotify link to UK producer Elijah Nang’s Gaijin Prelude 3 instrumental EP. The five songs here draw influence from artists such as the late great Nujabes and Flying Lotus to create a lo-fi sound that’s reminiscent of Japanese hip-hop circa the mid-2000s. In other words, if you grew up with Nujabes, this is a perfect homage to that sound. It does so in a way that pays homage without “creating” a “new” sound and appropriating things.

Nang realizes that he is a foreign artist dabbling in Japanese-esque hip-hop, hence the title. My favorite track from the project is “Gomenasai VIII,” named after the Japanese phrase for “I’m very sorry.” It’s a reflective beat, one that pays homage without saying that he created something entirely new and slapping his name on it without proper tributes. Check out the project above and support dope music in all its forms.