How Underrated Are The Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff in music?
Now this is a story…
We’ve all heard of The Fresh Prince and his DJ accomplice Jazzy Jeff. I bet that right now, you’re envisioning a young WIll Smith rapping from his rotating throne, reciting the opening rap from the TV show ‘The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air’. “Now this is a story all about how my life got switched turned upside-down…” Let’s face it, its unforgettable and irresistible to sing along to.
But over time, Will Smith has catapulted way beyond the realms of his Fresh Prince days and Jazzy Jeff, well, he keeps a much lower profile. Although he did perform a solo Boiler Room Session on YouTube in 2017 and performed with Will Smith in 2019.
In the three decades that have passed since hip hop’s emergence, the scene has transformed from the colourful baggy outfits, graffiti and breakdancing, to gangster rap, and now into … well, mumble rap, trap, much darker subject matters and sadly a lot of accidental drug deaths.
Read about it in the Guardian here: ‘It’s a War Zone’
But that’s another story. Right now I want to enlighten you, on The Prince and Jazzy… They were more than a gimmick with a couple of hits. They were more than a launch pad for Will’s acting career. They were no manufactured concept from a board room, they were the real deal.
Many remember the duo for their hits ‘Summertime’ and ‘Boom! Shake The Room’ injecting party energy and colour into the charts from the late ‘80s to early ‘90s. Their first album ‘Rock The House’ sold around 500,000 making the US top 200, their second album sold 3,000,000 copies cementing them beautifully in the top ten but their third album flopped after the duo wasted $100,000 studio time in the Bahamas by partying through the sessions and not getting a single track recorded. (Then they did the whole album with no budget in Jeffs mum’s basement.) Listen to ‘The Girlie Had A Mustache' for a good laugh.
Although not their biggest hit record, their debut LP ‘Rock The House‘ still stands as an iconic album that encapsulates the most exciting time for hip hop, the late ‘80s. But why does it matter? Well because they have since become so overshadowed and cast aside in the hip hop world, but I’m saying lets give credit where it’s due!
Achievements
The duo are the third rap group in recorded history to receive platinum certification, after Run-DMC and the Beastie Boys. They received the first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1989 for "Parents Just Don't Understand" (1988), though their most successful single was "Summertime" (1991), which earned the group their second Grammy and peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Will Smith and Jeff have always remained close friends and claim they never officially split up. DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince have sold over 5.5 million albums in the US!
Rewind… drums pleasE.
Jazzy was a pioneer of turntablism, credited as one of the first to make the transformer scratch famous whilst Will was rapping across the beat in triplets, enveloping entire stories across verses and riding the wave as rap went from a subculture to mainstream.
rock the house
While Will's widely recognized for his magnetic presence on the silver screen, this blog reflects on a journey through his lesser-known but still remarkable trajectory as a musician. From his groundbreaking achievement as the first rapper to win a Grammy to his electrifying tours and associations with iconic musicians, Smith's musical odyssey is a captivating tale of perseverance and innovation.
In the late 1980s, Will Smith catapulted into the music scene as one half of the dynamic duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, alongside his partner DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jeff Townes). Their debut album, "Rock the House," marked the beginning of an era that would redefine hip-hop. Smith's infectious charisma and clever lyricism drew audiences in, breathing fresh air into a genre that was still establishing its mainstream presence.
Smith reached a groundbreaking moment in 1989 when he became the first rapper to win a Grammy Award. This pivotal accomplishment not only solidified his status as a trailblazer but also emphasized his ability to transcend boundaries and connect with diverse audiences. The memoir sheds light on the significance of this achievement, highlighting the cultural impact it had and the doors it opened for future artists.
If you delve into Smith's memoir ‘WILL’ he offers a backstage pass to his exhilarating tours, where he brought his music to life on stages around the world. The energy and excitement of his live performances leapt off the pages, vividly capturing the essence of those unforgettable moments. The synergy between Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff was palpable, and their chemistry onstage contributed to the electric atmosphere that audiences cherished.
An integral part of Smith's musical journey was his association with legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy. They toured together across the UK and the cross-pollination of styles and ideas demonstrated their unique commitment to pushing creative boundaries.
'WILL' also pays homage to the indelible impact of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's music on popular culture. Their hit singles, including "Parents Just Don't Understand" and "Summertime," are celebrated for their timeless appeal, seamlessly blending catchy melodies with relatable storytelling.
This has been just a brief overview of a five year stint of success that defines DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince. So go back and dig out their early albums with fresh ears, giving them the chance of a newfound appreciation for their musical legacy, forever etched in the annals of both hip-hop and popular music.
dj jazzy jeff and the fresh prince: BEST alternative TRACKS
Brand New Funk
Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble
Charlie Mack (The First Out The Limo)
Here We Go Again
Don’t Even Try It
BONUS
A Touch Of Jazz - Triumphant early hip hop scratching and sampling instrumental, live!
