History
When he was growing up, he found that listening to his parents was unbearable. He got a job as a newspaper boy at age 7 to support his family. Once he grew up, he developed a reputation and following as a school and block party DJ extraordinaire, Jazzy Jeff was the feature of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. As a duo, they had several gold and platinum-selling albums and singles in the late 1980s and early 1990s, earning them the first rap Grammy ever presented in 1989 for Parents Just Don't Understand. When Smith branched out into television with the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Jazzy Jeff played a recurring character named "Jazz", Smith's best friend on the show. The two characters always greeted each other with their signature handshake (swinging mid-five, point-back/snap with both characters saying "Pssh!").
Jazz' trademarks include being physically ejected from the house by Uncle Phil (James Avery), screaming as he went flying out the front door. This was referenced in the song "N.Y, N.Y." by Lloyd Banks from his second album Rotten Apple, with the lyric "I throw a bitch out the crib like Jazzy Jeff". [1]
DJ Jazzy Jeff is not to be confused with Jeffrey Myree from the earlier hip hop group Funky Four Plus One, which in fact filed and won a lawsuit over the name Jazzy Jeff against Jeff Townes and Jive records when they signed DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. After DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince broke up, Townes went on to become a prominent R&B, soul, and neo soul record producer, establishing the A Touch of Jazz production company in his native Philadelphia. Among the artists that Jazzy Jeff has helped develop are Jill Scott and Musiq. Even though he separated from Will Smith as music partners, they are still best friends and still occasionally work together. Some songs by Will Smith were produced by Jeff Townes (Ex. Here He Comes), and he has performed on some songs by Will Smith such as "So Fresh" and "Potnas". In addition, he appears in several of Smith's music videos such as "Will2K", "Freakin' It", and "Party Starter". On some occasions, he makes appearances with Smith on live concerts, producing DJ scratches.
He, along with DJ Cash Money, is credited with making the transform scratch famous.
On July 2, 2005, DJ Jazzy Jeff performed with Will Smith at the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia. In the past, Will has performed on concerts with DJ Jazzy Jeff for the scratches. Moreover, Will acknowledges him in his music like "Comin' To The Stage" from the album Lost & Found or "Potnas" in his album Willennium.
His 2007 release TROTM (The Return of the Magnificent) is a classic work which returns to the roots of hip-hop with a neo-soul mixture included. This album featured numerous collaborations with old school and new school artists including CL Smooth, Big Daddy Kane, Pos from De La Soul, Method Man, Peedi Crakk (a remake of Brand New Funk), Rhymefest, and Raheem DeVaughn.
In 2007, he appeared with Rhymefest in the video DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Fest directed by Konee Rok, in which he makes music in his home recording studio with Rhymefest and they reveal that they are working on an album together called "I'm the DJ, I'm the Rapper".
Discography
Solo work as DJ Jazzy Jeff
* Unreleased album from Sony Records (1998)
* One cut in Battle of DJs
* The Magnificent (2002)
* Soulheaven Presents Jazzy Jeff in the House (2004)
* The Soul Mixtape Groovin' Records USA (2005)
* Hip-Hop Forever II Rapster Records (2004)
* Hip-Hop Forever III BBE Records (2006)
* The Return of The Magnificent EP (2007)
* The Return of the Magnificent (2007)
* The Return of Hip Hop EP (2007)
As DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
* Rock the House (1987) #83 US (Gold)
* He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper (1988) #4 US (3x Platinum)
* And in This Corner… (1989) #39 US (Gold)
* Homebase (1991) #12 US (Platinum)
* Code Red (1993) #64 US (Gold)
* Greatest Hits (1998) #144 US, #20 UK
* Before The Willennium (1999)
* The Very Best of D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (2006)
Miscellaneous
* 1991 - Deep, Deep, Trouble with Bart Simpson and the remixes; from The Simpsons Sing the Blues
* 1997 - Jazzy Jeff's Theme; from the album Nuyorican Soul
* 1998 - "When To Stand Up" featuring Eminem
* 1998 - I Don't Know by Slum Village (scratches); from the album Fantastic, Vol. 2
* 1999 - The Next Movement by The Roots (scratches); from the album Things Fall Apart
* 2004 - Mirrorball (DJ Jazzy Jeff Full Sole Remix) by Everything But The Girl; from Adapt or Die: 10 Years of Remixes
* 2005 - Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (DJ Jazzy Jeff & Pete Kuzma Solefull Mix) by the Temptations; from Motown Remixed.
* 2005 - Lost & Found by Will Smith; produced intro song Here He Comes and several DJ scratches on several tracks
* 2005 - The Minstrel Show by Little Brother; Scratches on the song Watch Me.
* 2006 - Feel It (Jazzy Jeff Soulful Remix) by the Black Eyed Peas; from Renegotiations: The Remixes
* 2006 - Night in Tunisia (DJ Jazzy Jeff Remix) by Duke Jordan
* 2007 - Ear Drum by Talib Kweli; Scratches on song NY Weather Report.
* 2008 - Get Busy by The Roots (scratches); from the album Rising Down.
Know Ur Hood
DJ Jazzy Jeff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bounce wit em y'all
Now check it
Who get it live when the party dies down
Mysterious man showing up in your town
Lyrics like lightning, vocals like thunder
Neighborhood success or the overnight wonder
A roll big flow, shows out in Kosovo
Between flows and chasing them hoes
I make the crowd get down like its supposed to go
Get down year round glad to see y'all came
In the summertime banging at the b-ball came
In the wintertime kickin rhymes up at my block
With an L in one hand and a cup of hot chocolate
A man for all seasons damn I'm raw even
We set the bar high everybody start reaching, cause….
(chorus)
Who said I couldn't get it down like this
Some tried to get it but they got it like this
Put you in a mix, get your body the twist
Its the mystery man, that the fans cant resist
Six sold M-K-T playin the corner
Ice cold Colt 45, not Corona
Get down see me on the prowl now I'm gonna
Holla at this fine young girl named Sherona
See, morons stalk, I walk right up on her
And make her heart race like the Dodge Daytona
Tired of the neighborhood guys “hey hold up”
How's she get that good lovin feeling when I show up
Down and ride wit me, don't forget me when you blow up
How you gonna walk away from this, sis slow up
The head games is over ma I'm for real
Your ain't Oprah and I'm not Dr.Phil
Despite your size and them serious thighs
The long eyelashes and mysterious eyes
It don't pay to stay away from mysterious guys
That get the girls on the floor and keep the party alive, cause yo…..
Chorus (x2)
Now if I wanted I could pump it in every club this week
But I pass cause it only adds to my mystique
If ya think that I'm weak then catch me out in the street
It aint nothing to show me homie man we got this heat
That nigga that got all y'all waitin
To get off the wall and get the bar room shakin
I came to but the party under a rest
And if they like it in the hood, let it pump in the jets
Mystery man, never take my mask off
But when it comes to the raps I can act y'all
Non-stop flow that might flood the dance hall
Peace I'm out, be easy I get at y'all
(DJ Jazzy Jeff scratchin)
The lyrics of DJ Jazzy Jeff's song "Know Ur Hood" describe a mysterious man who arrives in a town and immediately becomes the life of the party. This man is described as having lyrics that are like lightning and vocals like thunder, and he has the ability to make the crowd get down and dance. He is also depicted as being able to win over any girl he desires.
The song describes the man as a neighborhood success or an overnight wonder, who is able to set the bar high and get everyone reaching for it. He is also portrayed as a man for all seasons, who is able to kick rhymes at his block in the wintertime and bang at the b-ball game in the summertime. He is shown as being able to keep the party alive, even when it seems to be dying down.
Overall, the song portrays the mysterious man as someone who is capable of working the crowd and getting them to have fun. His ability to do this is seen as something almost mystical, and his presence is felt heavily whenever he arrives in town.
Line by Line Meaning
Bounce wit me y'all (LE)
Come with me everybody and let's bounce together.
Bounce wit em y'all
Come with them everybody and let's bounce together.
Now check it
Listen up and pay attention.
Who get it live when the party dies down
Who keeps the party alive when it's about to end.
Mysterious man showing up in your town
An unknown man appearing in your neighborhood.
Lyrics like lightning, vocals like thunder
Words that strike fast like lightning and sound that rumbles like thunder.
Neighborhood success or the overnight wonder
Becoming successful in your community or becoming a sudden success overnight.
Uh, precise on mics but nice with the toe-to-toe
Being accurate on the microphone and skilled in physical combat.
A roll big flow, shows out in Kosovo
Performing with a large group and putting on shows in Kosovo.
Between flows and chasing them hoes
Balancing between making music and pursuing romantic interests.
I make the crowd get down like its supposed to go
Making the audience dance the way they're supposed to.
Get down year round glad to see y'all came
Having fun year-round and being happy that everyone came.
In the summertime banging at the b-ball came
Playing basketball during the summer.
In the wintertime kickin rhymes up at my block
Rapping during the winter in my neighborhood.
With an L in one hand and a cup of hot chocolate
Smoking a cigarette in one hand and holding a cup of hot chocolate in the other.
A man for all seasons damn I'm raw even
Being great in all situations.
We set the bar high everybody start reaching, cause….
We set high standards for ourselves and others should too.
Who said I couldn't get it down like this
Who said I couldn't perform like this.
Some tried to get it but they got it like this
Others tried to perform like this but couldn't match the same level.
Put you in a mix, get your body to twist
Putting you in the music mix and making you dance.
Its the mystery man, that the fans cant resist
Being the mysterious man that fans can't resist.
Six sold M-K-T playin the corner
Selling 'MKT' at the corner.
Ice cold Colt 45, not Corona
Drinking an 'Ice Cold Colt 45' instead of a 'Corona'.
Get down see me on the prowl now I'm gonna
Seeing me on the move and I'm going to do something.
Holla at this fine young girl named Sherona
Approaching a beautiful girl named Sherona.
See, morons stalk, I walk right up on her
Other men watching from afar, while I approach her directly.
And make her heart race like the Dodge Daytona
Making her heart race like a sports car.
Tired of the neighborhood guys “hey hold up”
Being tired of the guys in the neighborhood trying to stop me.
How's she get that good lovin feeling when I show up
Wondering why Sherona feels good when I'm around.
Down and ride wit me, don't forget me when you blow up
Join me and don't forget me when you become successful.
How you gonna walk away from this, sis slow up
Asking how Sherona is going to leave when we're having a good time.
The head games is over ma I'm for real
I'm not playing games and I'm being honest.
Your ain't Oprah and I'm not Dr.Phil
You're not Oprah and I'm not Dr. Phil, so let's not have a serious discussion.
Despite your size and them serious thighs
Not caring about Sherona's body type, only interested in her as a person.
The long eyelashes and mysterious eyes
Being attracted to Sherona's physical features.
It don't pay to stay away from mysterious guys
It's not worth avoiding mysterious guys like me.
That get the girls on the floor and keep the party alive, cause yo…..
Guys like me make the girls dance and keep the party going.
Now if I wanted I could pump it in every club this week
If I wanted to, I could perform in every club this week.
But I pass cause it only adds to my mystique
I decline because it only makes me more mysterious.
If ya think that I'm weak then catch me out in the street
If you think I'm weak, come find me in the street.
It aint nothing to show me homie man we got this heat
I'm not afraid to fight, we got this covered.
That nigga that got all y'all waitin
The man that everyone is waiting for.
To get off the wall and get the bar room shakin
To dance and shake the room up.
I came to but the party under a rest
I came to put the party under control.
And if they like it in the hood, let it pump in the jets
If they like the music in the neighborhood, let it play on the jets.
Mystery man, never take my mask off
The mysterious man never takes off his mask.
But when it comes to the raps I can act y'all
But when it comes to rapping, I'm the real deal.
Non-stop flow that might flood the dance hall
Rapping with a continuous flow that might make the dance hall flood.
Peace I'm out, be easy I get at y'all
I'm leaving now, take care and I'll see you all later.
(DJ Jazzy Jeff scratchin)
Scratching sounds made by the DJ Jazzy Jeff.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DEREK WASHINGTON, KEVIN BROWN, PAUL PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind