Key of Life : A Hip-Hop creator from the near future

Key of Life suddenly appeared in the mid-90s when Japanese hip-hop was still in its infancy. As a pioneering unit, they felt like creators arriving from a slightly more advanced future. Their major label debut single, “Asayake no Naka de” was the first hip-hop song I heard that sampled J-Pop.
This song evoked a fresher, more intimate feeling than previous songs that sampled Western hits.

Asayake No Naka De : Key of Life sampled Casiopea’s iconic song

Key of Life was led by music producer and arranger Yusuke Sakamoto, who collaborated with various artists in a style to match their songs. “Asayake No Naka De” released in April 1995.

Asayake means sunrise glow. The song features Yuki Mori on vocals and Gaku of EAST END on rap, and is sung with nostalgia for an ex-lover.

Sampled in this song is the hit song “Asayake” by the jazz (fusion) group Casiopea. Casiopea’s original song evokes a scene where the morning sun begins to reflect off the glass of a New York city skyscraper and another exciting day begins.

By contrast, “Asayake,” which was sampled by Key of Life, has a slower tempo. It brings to mind lovers starting to notice it getting light outside the window after spending the night together.
This contrast with the original music is another element that delights us as listeners.

“Love Story – Toki Wo Koete Imamo” : A poignant question for everybody from Key of Life

Their second single was “Love Story – Toki Wo Koete Imamo” released in April 1996. A literal translation of “Toki Wo Koete Imamo” would be “Even now, beyond time,” it can be interpreted more expressively as “I still think of you.” This song samples Kazumasa Oda’s “Love Story Wa Totsuzen Ni.”

Like “Asayake No Naka De,” this song features a female vocalist paired with a male rapper, conveying the emotions of a couple in love. If you understand the meaning of the lyrics, a poignant question emerges: “How could two people who shared the same feelings still drift apart?”

“Motion & Emotion” was released in September 1996 as the third single. This track samples Char’s classic “Smoky,” and added to this, with the vocals by Juri, you can feel the same thrilling tension as the original.

Key of Life, Afterward and Now

Key of Life went on to release two singles (pain / May 1997, But My Love / October 1997) and two albums.

Details of Yusuke Sakamoto’s subsequent activities can be found on the official website of his own music label, U-prime Music (Japanese only). I found on this web site that his name is still listed as “Yusuke Sakamoto (Key of Life)”. As a fan, I’m very happy that he’s still active as Key of Life.

Now that hip-hop is firmly rooted in Japan, it’s rare to find artists who have truly inherited the rich musicality and distinctive style of Key of Life. That speaks volumes about their originality. I believe this is why Key of Life remains unforgettable—a one-of-a-kind group that continues to resonate in people’s memories.

Nearly 30 years later, Key of Life is still, to me, a music creator of hip-hop who came from just a little bit ahead in the future.