Perfect for work BGM too! Recommended Lo-Fi Hip Hop classics
Lo-fi hip hop—now firmly established as an internet-born genre—has been heavily influenced by legendary track makers like J Dilla and Nujabes.
On our site, we’ve already introduced plenty of must-hear tracks in the article “Perfect for remote work and staying in! Recommended Lo-Fi Hip Hop Hits,” but this time we’re focusing on albums.
Even if you enjoy songs through compilation albums or streaming services, many of you might not have ventured into full albums yet.
From timeless staples to hidden masterpieces, take this opportunity to check them out.
Perfect as background music for work! Recommended Lo-Fi Hip Hop classics (1–10)
Falling Down (ft. shiloh)nohidea
Based in Los Angeles, No Idea has made their presence known worldwide through online streaming.
The opening track of their 2017 album Esuna, “falling down,” has been streamed over 71.5 million times on Spotify! Throughout the album, gentle beats with soft tones resonate, carrying a touch of melancholy.
It’s the kind of work you’ll want to sink into on a down day.
Definitely an artist to watch going forward.
SoulfulL’indecis
In the genre known as lo-fi hip-hop, one of the figures often credited with sparking the boom is the French producer L’indécis, who is signed to the Netherlands-based label Chillhop Records.
Some people may have discovered him through the news that Will Smith used L’indécis’s signature track “Soulful” as background music on his own Instagram.
For those who are about to dive into L’indécis’s music, a highly recommended entry point is the compilation Playtime & Plethoria, which couples works released in 2018 and 2017.
In March 2019, it received its first-ever CD release here in Japan, making it an ideal introductory album.
The gently melancholic guitar arpeggios and comfortable beats create a nostalgia-tinged mellowness that particularly appeals to Japanese listeners, and it’s perfect for café time or as background music for work, offering an exceptional listening experience.
Pelican PartyIan Ewing
Promising newcomer Ian Ewing views his own music less as lo-fi hip-hop and more as ambient and electronic music.
On his 2019 release Lakehouse, the vocals and the tones of his own electric piano playing shine, setting it apart from classic hip-hop.
He even turns everyday sounds into music, such as adding accompaniment to celebrities speaking in radio interviews to create finished pieces.
An artist with a distinctly creative bent, Ian casually refers to his work as “music you can find anywhere.”
GenesisJinsang
This is a masterpiece album by jinsang, an artist based in the U.S.
whose main stage is online platforms like SoundCloud.
When the album “life.” was released in 2016, jinsang said composing was just a hobby, yet he continues to put out wonderful works.
As he openly states, he’s influenced more by anime than hip-hop, so it’s music you’d listen to in your room rather than a “street” style.
Sampling from film soundtracks and old jazz, jinsang creates a unique, relaxing atmosphere.
On this album, he incorporates not only past musical works but also people’s voices and everyday ambient sounds.
He also processes each sound so the reverberation seems to echo from afar—less like a karaoke box and more like an outdoor setting.
It makes you feel as if you’re taking a walk in a neighborhood park, and the record crackle even sounds like rain or wind.
Monday LoopTomppabeats
Tonpa Beats, known for tracks like “Monday Loop,” which samples the popular song “Again” sung by the renowned American singer and actress Doris Day, is a producer from Helsinki, Finland.
Since “Monday Loop” was released in 2015, he started his activities quite early among artists considered lo-fi hip-hop.
His tracks are usually included in lo-fi hip-hop compilation releases in Japan, and he can be called one of the essential, representative artists when discussing lo-fi hip-hop.
Tonpa Beats’s memorable debut album is Harbor LP, released in 2016.
Comprising 38 tracks, most around one minute in length, it samples not only old jazz but also sounds from Japanese anime and classic films, making it a perfect work to play casually as everyday background music.
Unfortunately, the physical release is limited to extremely rare vinyl and cassette; those who want an easy listen should check out the digital version.