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.
The Magnificent
DJ Jazzy Jeff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
(good) some deejays are (fresh)
Some deejays are even (def)
But here's a little somethin 'bout my deejay
(The magnificient) Jazzy Jeff
So bust this beat
(Disc, jock)
Yo Jazzy
Well, it's true that I'm the
Reigning king of the throne
But with all my strength
I couldn't do it alone
I need a deejay like (Jazzy) to back me up
So when I'm rockin on the mic
He's on the crossfade cut
Scratchin and mixin, mixin and scratchin
Second after second it's the record
He's catchin his hands are so fast that
It's a medical riddle
With the turntable split and the
Mixer in the middle
Back and forth his hands fly
With the speed of a
Cheetah that'll puzzle your eye
Record after record, he has no mercy
Cuts left, cuts right
Then he cuts vice versa
I'm not exaggerating
I said it and I meant it
I resent it if you say
That his cuts are precedented
He's a lean, mean wreckin machine
He gets respected like a king
When he's on the scene
So bust a move, cause you know he's def
He's my deejay (the magnificient) Jazzy Jeff
People often ask me everytime I emcee
Why do I brag so much about my disc jockey?
Well, the reason that I brag
And I boast the most
Is cause my deejay is the
Most from coast to coast
(The magnificient) Jazzy Jeff, wack destroyer
Cuttin up records like a samurai warrior
If you deejays don't know who I'm talkin to
(I'm talkin to you) so (come on)
Cause in a battle you cannot win
Cause my deejay will
(tear yo butt limb from limb)
He's like a runaway tank, a hip-hop rebel
And if you wanna battle
You best bring a shovel
My man, so you can dig your grave
Cause there's no way that you
Could ever be saved
Because (the deejay cuts the record) to create the sound
(The deejay cuts the record)
He's the best around
(The deejay cuts the record)
You know he's down his name is Jazzy Jeff a
K a Jeff Townes
Commandin the cut he's always on track
He's DJ Jazzy Jeff and he's a cut maniac
So for your personal safety
You should be told
That my DJ Jazzy Jeff is (out of control)
(Oh my God, Out of control)
(My goodness)
Alright Jazzy we gon' do somethin a
Little different right now
This is what I want you to do for me
I want you to tell all these people your name
Jazzy, tell em your name
(He's Jazzy, His name is Jeff)
Yo Jazzy, I want you to tell all these people
How many of those deejays out
There can get with you
(None, None of them)
How many?
(None of them)
Tell the truth
(None, None of them)
(None of them)
Now make the record burp
(Jazzy Jeff produces burping sounds
With the record)
Say excuse me
(Jazzy Jeff makes the scratch sound
Like an 'excuse me')
Now make it sound like a bird
(Jazzy Jeff makes the record sound
Like a bird singing)
Now make it chirp
(the sound changes from singing to chirping)
Now here's a story that should not be forgot
About the day my deejay
Turned into an autobot
He got struck by lightning
In an electrical storm
He got on the wheels of
Steel and began to transform
(Jazzy Jeff transforms)
His name is Jeff
And he's as swift as a swiff
The type of guy that other deejays don't
Want to have to reckon with
He's by my side as I rock the mic
All of his vigorous cuts are
Sure to excite you
They'll delight you, you know
That that's right, if you
Were a stick of dynamite
His cuts would ignite you
The deejay on the weels can't be matched
So (check out Jazzy Jeff with a cold cut scratch)
(Good, Jazzy)
(The magnificient, Jazzy Jeff)
(JJ brings James Brown's 'Funky
Drummer' into the mix)
(Ain't it funky)
The lyrics to DJ Jazzy Jeff's song "The Magnificent" highlight the incredible talent and skill of Jazzy Jeff as a DJ. The song starts by acknowledging that there are many good and fresh DJs out there, but then it focuses on Jazzy Jeff and his exceptional abilities. The lyrics describe how Jazzy Jeff backs up the MC (presumably Will Smith) by scratching and mixing records flawlessly. His hands move so fast that it's almost mesmerizing, and he's able to create incredible sounds with the turntables and mixer. The song emphasizes that Jazzy Jeff is not to be underestimated, he's a wrecking machine who commands the cut and is respected like a king. The lyrics also mention that Jazzy Jeff is known coast to coast as the most talented DJ, capable of cutting up records like a samurai warrior. The song also adds a playful element with Jazzy Jeff showcasing his skills by making the record "burp", "excuse me", and even imitating the sounds of a bird. The final verse introduces a story, where Jazzy Jeff turns into an "autobot" after being struck by lightning, showcasing his transformation and agility as a DJ. The overall message of the song is to highlight Jazzy Jeff's exceptional talent and to establish him as one of the best DJs in the game.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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