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.
Mood Swing
DJ Jazzy Jeff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My man Talib Kweli, called Mood Swing, we gonna do it like this why'all)
You can run to every new thing under the sun
You be a jack of all trades and a master of none
Mood Swinging
La la la la la... eh oooo oo X4
Soon come you will understand
The motivation of a man getting the under hand
A local yokel on a mission to get global
Lettin' my vocals amass to some total
And keep the point focal, you hear me but you don't listen
You think its easy being put in this position
I freak speech, but still don't want to preach
This peak thought in stimulate movement at at Emcees
Grab your gat hit the streets, that the rally cry the war horn
The activist, those cats is spiritually war torn environment
So I leading a community movement
And I don't need money for me to make a community improvement
Tell me what you stand for
Would you settle for less or do you have the strength to demand more
Only time will tell, what this new world brings
Revolutions at order, check the mood swing, swing
Swing, swing, swing, swing, swing, swing, swing
Low like sweet chariot
What I say make my voice deep as berries get
Carry it like a torch
Give birth to rhymes to meet beats and then I'll marry 'em off
Have a divorce if the track is whack
(Please) My rhymes a rolling stone
Home is where the high hatters at, its on this song
(it on this song) Maybe one day it'll settle down
It ain't no good it all better now, come on let it now
[Chorus:]
Mood swing, changing the way we do things
It's a good thing, listen to the whole hood sing
As they go la, la, la, la, la...
Yeah as they go la, la, la, la, la...
No fear no doubt and no worry everything is on time there's no hurry
Mood swinging, swinging, mood swing, swinging
Mood swinging, swinging, mood swing, swinging, ooo oo
Me and baby in the rental
She talkin' gentle hit the hotel to presidential
Sweet...kisses on the temple make her feel special
Light a candle scent got us in this sentimental
Move it's right wit the light just so I could see
Begin to set the pace for what we gon' get into
My fingers is lyrics its back is the instrumental...
Ancient secrets, Indian, and Oriental
Blackin' out doin' shit that I can't rap about
Passin' out, wakin' up, not awake awake enough to take it up and not stop
Love is a friends never know if we can love again
I said we gotta leave, she asked if she can come again (come again)
I had to meet Asheru at the studio
I'm runnin' late, you know I hate to make a nigga wait
But damn baby "You look good in the summer time
Gimme some of yours, I'm a give you some of mine"
Yo Kweli I remember being in the same dilemma
Hip-hop was number one my girl was number one contender
The great pretender wit a whole different agenda
Until I make it big "Life is one long gig"
Mood swing like Ella of cold train its classic
Like Soul Train its timeless just like this rhyme is
So all of why'all that wagging they campaign
Grab a hold of that mood swing and do the damn thing
[Chorus:]
Mood swing, changing the way we do things
It's a good thing, listen to the whole hood sing
As they go la, la, la, la, la...
Yeah as they go la, la, la, la, la...
Uh you can run to every new thing under the sun
You be a jack of all trades and a master of none
Mood swinging, swinging, mood swing, swinging
Mood swinging, swinging, mood swing, swinging
I'm an outlet
A front of which which you ain't figured out yet
A resource, I pivot your efforts on the right course
It seats ya, doin' whatever it takes ta reach ya
All of its in me, no really its in me
A good brother, lovin' son, a great lover
I'm a truth seeker, on a quest not a believer
I'm an emcee for all of the world to see
Yea ya got my word on it, I'll put the Herd on it
That we rep shit, its the least to be expected
Fuck that prep shit, jump on stage like we connected
From the same minds saying the same things at the same time
Back stage rappin' like gettin' ready for game time
We a family, and ain't nothing goin' to change that
For better or worse like somebody prearrange that
The way it is the way it always will be so I can still and still be
Soon come we will witness a shift in consciousness
And black music is one of our greatest accomplishments
(one now) our names will live on this monument
So that our kids can hold up they heads with confidence
That's when our nation will rise and realize that
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
The answer to my comprehension is just too complex
One minute from the next, go from happy ta vexed
Mood swing, yea
See change is good sometimes
Mood swing, yea
It's time for the essence to rhyme
It's time to mood swing
Take it on back
Mood swing (repeat)
La, la, la, la (repeat)
In the song "Mood Swing" by DJ Jazzy Jeff, he teams up with Talib Kweli to give us some insightful lyrics. The song's primary theme is change, which is evident in most of the lyrics. The two rappers tell us how change is good, and we should embrace it. They criticize people who keep trying to switch things up, but they never master anything. They also talk about their personal life experiences, personal growth, and relationships. For instance, in the verse where Talib Kweli mentions his girlfriend, he shows how sweet and romantic he can be with her. The song ends with a call to action for a shift in consciousness, where black music should be celebrated as one of the greatest accomplishments.
Apart from the message, the song's production is exceptional, and the rappers flow compliments it. They both showcase their rapping skills, painting vivid pictures with their lyrics. The chorus, "Mood Swing," is catchy, and you will find yourself singing along. Overall, the song is a testament to how hip hop can be used to express important messages.
Line by Line Meaning
You can run to every new thing under the sun
You may try every trendy thing that comes your way
You be a jack of all trades and a master of none
You may be good at everything but not an expert in anything
Soon come you will understand
In due time, you'll comprehend
The motivation of a man getting the under hand
The drive of a man who's finally gaining control of the situation
A local yokel on a mission to get global
A man with humble roots seeking to achieve on a grander scale
Lettin' my vocals amass to some total
Allowing my singing to add up to something significant
And keep the point focal, you hear me but you don't listen
And maintaining the main theme, you hear me but don't comprehend
You think its easy being put in this position
You assume being in this position is easy
I freak speech, but still don't want to preach
I express myself uniquely but do not wish to give orders
This peak thought in stimulate movement at at Emcees
This superior idea inspires action among fellow MCs
Grab your gat hit the streets, that the rally cry the war horn
Get your gun and go to the streets, that's the call to fight the battle
The activist, those cats is spiritually war torn environment
The activist, those folks are mentally distressed by the current situation
So I leading a community movement
So I'm leading a group effort to bring change
And I don't need money for me to make a community improvement
I can make a positive impact without money
Tell me what you stand for
Inform me of your beliefs and values
Would you settle for less or do you have the strength to demand more
Are you content with mediocrity or will you assert yourself for improvement?
Only time will tell, what this new world brings
We can only wait to see what happens in this new era
Revolutions at order, check the mood swing, swing
A revolution is coming, keep an eye on the change in attitudes and behavior
Low like sweet chariot
Soft and low like the song Sweet Chariot
What I say make my voice deep as berries get
What I say makes my voice sound rich and fruity like berries
Carry it like a torch
Bear it proudly like a torchbearer
Give birth to rhymes to meet beats and then I'll marry 'em off
Create lyrics to match the beats and combine them
Have a divorce if the track is whack
Separate if the song quality is poor
(Please) My rhymes a rolling stone
My rap lyrics are ever-evolving
Home is where the high hatters at, its on this song
Home is where the drums are, and they're in this song
Maybe one day it'll settle down
Perhaps someday things will calm down
It ain't no good it all better now, come on let it now
It's not perfect, but it's better now, so accept it
Mood swing, changing the way we do things
A change in attitudes that affects behavior
It's a good thing, listen to the whole hood sing
It's a positive development, listen to the whole community rejoicing
As they go la, la, la, la, la...
As they sing along with the melody
No fear no doubt and no worry everything is on time there's no hurry
Feeling confident and relaxed knowing that time is on our side
Me and baby in the rental
Baby and I are in a rented car
She talkin' gentle hit the hotel to presidential
She speaks softly as we head to the luxurious hotel
Sweet...kisses on the temple make her feel special
Sweet kisses on her forehead make her feel valued
Light a candle scent got us in this sentimental
Lighting a scented candle set the mood for this emotional moment
Move it's right wit the light just so I could see
Move it right so I can see in the light
Begin to set the pace for what we gon' get into
Start moving towards determining what we are going to do
My fingers is lyrics its back is the instrumental...
My fingers create lyrics while the beat is playing in the background...
Ancient secrets, Indian, and Oriental
Knowledge from ancient civilizations of India and Asia
Blackin' out doin' shit that I can't rap about
Forgetting what's happening because it's too far out to put in lyrics
Passin' out, wakin' up, not awake awake enough to take it up and not stop
Fainting, waking up, not fully aware of what happened but still continuing...
Love is a friends never know if we can love again
Love is elusive, and it's unsure if the feeling can ever be replicated
I said we gotta leave, she asked if she can come again (come again)
I said it's time to go, and she asked if she can come back again...
I had to meet Asheru at the studio
I had to meet Asheru at the recording studio
I'm runnin' late, you know I hate to make a nigga wait
I'm behind schedule, and I don't like making people wait
But damn baby "You look good in the summer time
But damn baby, you look good all the time
Gimme some of yours, I'm a give you some of mine"
Share should be mutual...
Yo Kweli I remember being in the same dilemma
Hey, Kweli, I remember being in the same situation
Hip-hop was number one my girl was number one contender
Hip-hop was my priority, but my girlfriend was my biggest competitor
The great pretender wit a whole different agenda
I was pretending to be someone else with ulterior motives
Until I make it big "Life is one long gig"
Until I become successful, life is one big event...
Mood swing like Ella of cold train its classic
Emotions shifting like the music of Ella Fitzgerald and John Coltrane; timeless and classic
Like Soul Train its timeless just like this rhyme is
Like the TV show Soul Train, the music is ageless; likewise, these lyrics are ageless
So all of why'all that wagging they campaign
So all of you vigorously pushing your cause...
Grab a hold of that mood swing and do the damn thing
Take advantage of the shifting attitudes and make it work
Uhhh, you can run to every new thing under the sun
You can try every new trend that comes along...
I'm an outlet
I'm a source of something
A front of which which you ain't figured out yet
A facade that you haven't yet uncovered...
A resource, I pivot your efforts on the right course
A useful tool, I can help steer you in the right direction
It seats ya, doin' whatever it takes ta reach ya
It impacts you, doing all it can to communicate with you
All of its in me, no really its in me
All the necessary qualities are within me, no really, they are inside me
A good brother, lovin' son, a great lover
A decent sibling, a caring child, and a wonderful romantic partner...
I'm a truth seeker, on a quest not a believer
I'm searching for the truth, not blindly accepting what's presented...
I'm an emcee for all of the world to see, Yea ya got my word on it
I'm a rapper for the world to hear and see, yes, I'm very committed to this...
I'll put the Herd on it
I'll get my team on board
That we rep shit, its the least to be expected
We represent our craft or activity; this is the minimum effort expected
Fuck that prep shit, jump on stage like we connected
Forget all the preparation, just go on stage and feel a connection
From the same minds saying the same things at the same time
We're all thinking and saying the same things at the same moment
Back stage rappin' like gettin' ready for game time
Backstage, we're rehearsing for the performance like athletes preparing for a match...
We a family, and ain't nothing goin' to change that
We're like a family, and that's never going to change
For better or worse like somebody prearrange that
For better or for worse, it seems like it was decided ahead of time
The way it is the way it always will be so I can still and still be
That's how it is and how it will always be; this enables me to be still
Soon come we will witness a shift in consciousness
Soon, we will see an attitude change collectively occur
And black music is one of our greatest accomplishments
And African-American music is one of our proudest achievements
(one now) our names will live on this monument
And our names will be remembered for this contribution
So that our kids can hold up they heads with confidence
So that our children can be proud of our accomplishments
That's when our nation will rise and realize that
That's when everyone will come to understand that...
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
Life without information is essentially ignorance
The answer to my comprehension is just too complex
My understanding is too complicated to explain
One minute from the next, go from happy ta vexed
Switching between emotions just from moment to moment...
See change is good sometimes
Change can be beneficial at times
It's time for the essence to rhyme
It's time for the genuine emotions to come through in the lyrics
It's time to mood swing, Take it on back
It's time to adapt quickly to mood swings and keep going...
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JILL CUNNIFF, VIVIAN E TRIMBLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind