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.
My Peoples feat. Raheem
DJ Jazzy Jeff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've seen streets we're youth are forced to take the long way home
And I've seen mothers mourn the loss of there only born
Still I believe we are given nothin more than we can beg
A vision is only blurred when life seems unfair
Who am I to judge the man with the needle in his veins
When he's just chasing freedom to escape the pain
He's just trying to make do and find a way out of nothing
Its like we damned if we do and damned if we don't
And it's a very thin line between respect and being broke
[Chorus]
And being one red button away from world war three
Always called the minority
And always always pulled over
Facing police brutality
Why is every street a living hell
Probably cause they want us to fail
Yeah three strikes and surely back to jail
Like the slave ships when they sail
[Verse 2]
Years and years of civil rights chasing to pass that bill
But ask yourself people have we changed or are we standing still
Down and out struggling
In this concrete jungle
One check away from starvation, poverty
But they say being free is about speaking your mind
Prophesise too much and that's where they draw the line
A line as thin as the line between war and peace
A line as thin as the line between west and east
[Chorus]
One button away from world war III
Being called a minority
And being pulled always being pulled over and subject to brutality
Why is every street like a living hell
Probably cause they all just want us to fail
And three strikes and surely back to jail
Like the slaves ship when they sail but they don't know that
My people whose pains are cornered
My peoples all shapes and colours
My peoples got more peoples with ills
That's more peoples more sistas and brothas
My people stay strong as an ox
My peoples will never fail
My peoples will always remain
Remain with a story to tell
My peoples was paints on the door
My peoples all shapes and colours
My peoples got more peoples with ills
That's more people more sistaz and brothaz
My people stay strong as an ox
My peoples will never fail
My peoples will always remain
Remain with a story to tell
My peoples was paints on the door
My peoples all shapes and colours
My peoples got more peoples in jail
That's more people than sistaz and brothaz
My people stay strong as an ox
My peoples will never fail
My peoples will always remain
Remain with a story to tell
My peoples was paints on the door
My peoples all shapes and colours
My peoples got more peoples with ills
More people more sistaz and brothers
My people stay strong as an ox
My peoples will never fail
My peoples will always remain
Remain with a story to tell
The song "My Peoples" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince speaks about the struggles and challenges faced by marginalized communities. The lyrics of the song start by describing how youth is forced to take the long way home on unsafe streets, and how mothers mourn the loss of their only child. The song then goes on to explore themes of drug addiction, poverty, police brutality and the constant struggle for freedom.
The chorus of the song revolves around the idea that the world is a ticking time bomb, with the fear of World War III just a button away. The minorities are facing trouble on every street and having to deal with police brutality. There seems to be a deliberate effort to make their lives hellish and push them towards failure. The artist expresses how it feels like being damned if one does and also damned if one doesn't.
The second verse of the song touches on the issue of poverty, civil rights, and the fragile line between war and peace. Despite the progress made in terms of civil rights, marginalized communities still face poverty and oppression. The artist questions if the progress made is just about passing laws or whether the world has truly changed for them.
Line by Line Meaning
I've seen streets we're youth are forced to take the long way home
I have witnessed conditions where young individuals are compelled to take a longer route while a more easy route is available due to safety hazards.
And I've seen mothers mourn the loss of there only born
I have witnessed situations where mothers lament about the death of their sole offspring.
Still I believe we are given nothin more than we can beg
I still uphold my belief that everything we receive in life is what we ask for.
A vision is only blurred when life seems unfair
When life appears to be unjust, even a clear and definite plan can become blurred.
Who am I to judge the man with the needle in his veins
I am not entitled to judge an individual who has an addiction to drugs.
When he's just chasing freedom to escape the pain
Addicts are pursuing drugs to break free from their suffering.
Of the worlds fast paced pipe dreams and shortcomings
People are attempting to fulfill hasty ambitions and address their inadequacies through illicit drugs.
He's just trying to make do and find a way out of nothing
An addict is endeavoring to survive and make a significant transformation despite feeling hopeless.
Its like we damned if we do and damned if we don't
Regardless of whatever action we take, we are trapped in an inevitable pitfall.
And it's a very thin line between respect and being broke
The boundary between having dignity and being impoverished is quite slender.
And being one red button away from world war three
We are perilously close to starting the third world war even with one push of a button.
Always called the minority
Minorities are always labeled as such.
And always always pulled over
Minorities are frequently stopped by the police.
Facing police brutality
Minorities are subjected to acts of violence carried out by police officers.
Why is every street a living hell
Why do we have to live in dire living conditions?
Probably cause they want us to fail
This situation is likely the result of some individuals conspiring deliberately to make us lose hope in ourselves.
Yeah three strikes and surely back to jail
With every third offense, an individual is destined to return to prison.
Like the slave ships when they sail
Living with such continuous discrimination and hostility is almost reminiscent of the conditions that people had to endure during the slave trading era.
Years and years of civil rights chasing to pass that bill
We spent years pursuing our civil rights and making laws to get them approved.
But ask yourself people have we changed or are we standing still
Have we truly transformed, or are we still stuck in the same place?
Down and out struggling
We are desperate and in a state of extreme poverty.
In this concrete jungle
We are oppressed in this place where there is no way to escape.
But they say being free is about speaking your mind
On the contrary, some of us are told that exercising our right to freedom of speech is what will make us free.
Prophesise too much and that's where they draw the line
It's okay to be vocal to some extent, but if we overdo it, we run the risk of hurting ourselves.
A line as thin as the line between war and peace
The distinction between war and peace is very slim and difficult to draw.
A line as thin as the line between west and east
Similarly, there is no clear distinction between the west and the east.
My people whose pains are cornered
My community is facing lots of challenges.
My peoples all shapes and colours
The people in my community are of different races, sizes, and colors.
My peoples got more peoples with ills
In my community, there are many people faced with issues and illnesses.
That's more peoples more sistas and brothas
This is particularly true for women and men in my community.
My people stay strong as an ox
My community remains resilient despite the hardships they face.
My peoples will never fail
People in my community will never give up.
Remain with a story to tell
Yet, in the end, we will have a story to tell about how we triumphed.
My peoples was paints on the door
My people have a rich history and heritage behind them.
My peoples all shapes and colours
The people in my community hail from various racial and ethnic backgrounds.
My peoples got more peoples with ills
My community is home to many individuals with impairments.
More people more sistaz and brothers
Women and men in my community are particularly at risk.
My peoples will never fail
People in my community will not give up.
Remain with a story to tell
Nevertheless, we will have a story to share at the end of it all.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LUIS BONFA, RAHEEM DEVAUGHN, VALVIN ROANE, MARIA TOLEDO, JEFFREY TOWNES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dre L
Still listening. Still underrated. Still Jeff putting Jazz in DJs
Mellow- D
I don't know how many others feel the way I do about this song, in that I feel as a Nubian this guy is talking to me directly, and the production is just great in every respect. I love 'Woman' and many others of Raheem's tracks, and comparisons to Marvin Gaye are very credible ones for me. 1 love still.
Adrianne Hoffer Carter
👏👏👏
E. Grif
This song is a prophecy song. He is singing( foretelling what's going on right now.almost 18 years ago.) I love this song.
cytrax
The current state is so sad. Your message is already two months old yet with the latest incident, it feels like you wrote it yesterday.
Sagay56
This was the first time I heard Raheem Devaughn. I knew this dude would blow up!
Von Black
LOVE IT... "peoples" is sleeping on em
Jackie Irby
Awesome Singer and DJ collaboration with a song to sing.
504_WOADY🥶
#amen
happy mbele
Rise up ppl
Rise up Africa
Rise up South Africa