Perfect for telework and staying at home! Recommended popular Lo-Fi hip hop tracks

De JaneiroBodikhuu

Bodikhuu – De Janeiro

Borders between countries mean very little to the spread of lo-fi hip-hop online, but this track, “De Janeiro,” was created by Bodikhuu from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

On first listen, many might find it a bit different from typical lo-fi hip-hop.

The punchy drum beats are decidedly hip-hop, yet the tropical soundscape—imbued with a longing for bossa nova, Latin music, and Brazilian sounds—evokes images of a distant southern paradise rather than a late-night bedroom.

It’s quite fitting that the Japanese title of his album released in 2019 was “Bodia Nova: Longing for Rio.” While it’s true that lo-fi hip-hop can often settle into a monotonous groove, a track like this reveals just how many possibilities the genre holds.

Your Favorite PlaceJoey Pecoraro

Joey Pecoraro – Your Favorite Place (Official Music Video)

Joey Pecoraro, a rising beatmaker from Detroit, USA, boasts exceptional recognition and popularity in the lo-fi hip-hop scene.

Though he originally played guitar in a metal band—an unusual background for this genre—he later discovered J Dilla and Nujabes, which led him to start making beats.

In 2021, he released his long-awaited second album, “Old Time Radio,” showcasing various musical experiments.

Among Joey’s tracks, this time I’d like to introduce the classic “Old Time Radio,” released in 2018.

It was also included on the Japan-exclusive lo-fi hip-hop compilation “Chillhop Radio: Beats to Relax to,” released in 2019—a beautifully nostalgic piece that truly embodies the core of the genre.

Incidentally, the footage used in the featured video is from the film “The Premature Burial,” directed by the one and only Roger Corman.

RainNINJOI.

ninjoi. – Rain

If the artist name Ninjoi gives you a vaguely Japanese vibe, you’re right—it’s a coined word that combines the Japanese “ninja” with the English “enjoy.” Ninjoi, a beatmaker from Queens, New York, creates with heavy inspiration from Japanese culture as mentioned above, and of course draws from a wide range of influences—from foundational figures like J Dilla and Nujabes to everything from vintage jazz to contemporary beat music—making him a highly promising young artist.

This track, titled “Rain,” already evokes the quintessential lo-fi hip-hop aesthetic; its flowing piano and nostalgic beat result in an elegant, beautiful piece reminiscent of classic jazzy instrumental hip-hop.

Although it’s a song included on the 2019 album MASAYUME, the cover artwork is said to be done by the artist himself.

The illustration is lovely, so I hope you’ll not only enjoy it on streaming but also pick up the CD!

motionsfujitsu

fujitsu – motions [Chillhop Release]

If you’re Japanese, just seeing the artist’s name will make you grin, won’t it? This is a classic track featured on Chillhop Music—the most important label in the lo-fi hip-hop scene—in their Japan-exclusive 2019 compilation “Chillhop Radio: Beats to Relax to”! The birdsong, ocean waves, weathered noise, and wistful guitar tones evoke a summer sunset, and the endlessly expanding, lo-fi-hip-hop-style nostalgic scenery feels wonderfully soothing.

It’s included on the 2017 EP “Corals,” and if you enjoy lo-fi hip-hop infused with environmental sounds, this is a style you’re sure to love.

On the artist’s SoundCloud page, you can also find tracks with a completely different flavor, leaning toward techno and house, so if you’re interested, be sure to check it out!

sunrisemt. fujitive

mt. fujitive – sunrise

What’s interesting is that the video published on YouTube has a Japanese title.

The track was released in 2017 by Mount Fujitive, an Icelandic beatmaker with a distinctly Japanese-sounding artist name, and it’s one of the earlier works in his discography.

The album it appears on is even titled “honshu island,” which really conveys Fujitive’s unwavering aesthetic.

While the track itself has the feel of classic lo-fi hip-hop, the gentle warmth born from the guitar’s tone carries a faint bossa nova scent that is truly pleasant.

It makes you want to live more mindfully—waking up at dawn to light spilling in through the window, with this BGM playing in the background.

lilyeevee

eevee – lily

Founded in 2012 and based in Calgary, Canada, the label INNER OCEAN RECORDS is known for its meticulous artwork and cassette releases, and is one of the most important labels in the lo-fi hip-hop to chillhop scene.

From the early days of the label, the Dutch female beatmaker eevee has been one of its flagship artists, and her aesthetic and worldview—shaped by Japanese animation and subculture—stand out as particularly distinctive within the roster.

The track featured here, “lily,” samples pieces such as “Dawn in the Forest” and “Along the Stream,” released in 1984 by Hiroshi Yoshimura, a master of Japanese ambient music.

Compared to others, its so-called lo-fi hip-hop nostalgia carries a certain loneliness and a slightly introspective mood that conveys a unique beauty.

As an aside, the video for “lily” uses footage from the cult anime Angel’s Egg, which all but compels one to feel it reflects the world eevee’s music inhabits.