Jeffrey A. Townes (born January 22, 1965 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), al… Read Full Bio ↴Jeffrey A. Townes (born January 22, 1965 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), also known as DJ Jazzy Jeff, is an American hip hop and R&B record producer and turntablist. He is best known for his early career with Will Smith as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. DJ Jazzy Jeff graduated from John Bartram High School in Philadelphia where he is enshrined in the school's "Wall of Fame".
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.
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.
Tropical Soundclash
DJ Jazzy Jeff Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by DJ Jazzy Jeff:
A Charmed Life Africa Port-Au-Prince Knoxville Anvan Manhattan South Bend A…
All I Know feat. C.L. Smooth Uh uh huh Yeah I make it move like I Wanna move with…
All I Know featuring C.L. Smooth Spill the beans on the table I always say Extra, extra…
Be Thankful Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac Gangster white…
Boom! Shake The Room Yo back up now and give a brother room The fuse…
Braggin' Writes For underground metaphors You can scrape an inch below the …
Brand New Funk 2K7 And you know me, I'm outta the ordinary I'm rather extraordi…
Break It Down Is that your new recorder? Its really neat If you wanna…
Buck Em Down Buck 'em down, buck 'em down, buck 'em down, buck…
Charmed Life Africa Port-Au-Prince Knoxville Anvan Manhattan South Bend A…
Charmed Life feat. J-Live Africa Port-Au-Prince Knoxville Anvan Manhattan South Bend …
Da Ntro Some DJ's are good some DJ's are Fresh some DJ's are…
Da Rebirth (feat. Cy Young) [Cy Young] A one two, a one two A one…
Danger Put out the word Blahzay as emerged Surged most preferred…
Drop [Bootie Brown:] Let me freak the funk, Obsolete is the pun…
Electric Relaxation Relax yourself girl, please set-tle down Relax yourself gir…
For Da Love of Da Game I got love for the game that's why I'm rhyming…
Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble Listen homeboys don't mean to bust your bubble But girls of…
Go See The Doctor 2k7 feat.Twon Gabz Hello Doc? yeah, I don't mean Mei go this friendand um I'm…
Hold It Down feat. Method Man I hold it down I hold it down I hold it down I…
How I Do How I do baby This is how I do (how I…
I [Fresh Prince - talking before song begins] Alright we ready…
I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - I Think…
I'm All That Spill the beans on the table I always say Extra, extra…
I'm Looking For The One I am looking for the one to be with me…
Ice Cream Watch these rap niggas get all up in your guts French-vanill…
In Time Masters at work Touch of jazz, collabo Take time to make tim…
Just One of Those Days Have you ever in your life experienced a day Where…
Know Ur Hood Bounce wit me y'all (LE) Bounce wit em y'all Now check i…
Let's Start the Dance Come on and do it Come on and do it Come on…
Live At The Barbeque It's like that y'all (that y'all!), that y'all (that y'all!)…
M.i.a [Problemz] Shit sounds like some old wild western Shoot em u…
Made You Look Bravehearts Uh, uh, uh, now let's get it all in perspective…
Mood Swing (Ya'll don't know right here this is the next single…
Musik Lounge Uh yeah mic check 1-2 Check it Can I get a mic…
My People [Verse 1] I've seen streets we're youth are forced to take…
My Peoples I've seen streets we're youth are forced To take the long…
My Peoples feat. Raheem [Verse 1] I've seen streets we're youth are forced to take…
Mystery Man Bounce wit me why'all Bounce wit em why'all Now check it W…
Mystery Man feat. The Last Emperor Bounce wit me why'all Bounce wit em why'all Now check i…
Nightmare On My Street Now I have a story that I'd like to tell About…
Official Now I want everybody to clap your in this place Come…
Open Sesame "Open sesame" Get down with the genie. "Shazam" "Groove w…
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone It was the third of September; that day I'll always…
Practice [Allen Iverson sample] We just talkin' about practice... We …
Pump Up the Bass Fresh Prince:] In the place to be DJ Jazzy Jeff and yours…
Rebirth [Cy Young] A one two, a one two A one two, a…
Rock the House [ Fresh Prince (& Ready Rock C) ] Ladies and gentlemen Fly…
Rock Wit U After everything has settled down We can talk But for now Ro…
Rock With You After everything has settled down We can talk But for now …
Rok Wit U After everything has settled down We can talk But for now Ro…
Run That Back feat. Eshon Burgundy and Black Ice Yeah, 6 shots echo from the PJs Next month number one…
Scram [Intro] yo, now its time I want everybody to listen Come on …
Shake it Off [Chorus] I gotta shake you off 'Cause the loving ain't the…
Square One [Verse 1 - Ras G] Huh. I got some time to explain…
Strings of Life This is going out to anybody Who might be able to…
Summertime (Drums please) Summer, summer, summertime Time to sit back …
The Choice Is Yours Oh, girl, you know like I know, uh-huh What your…
The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air Now, this is a story all about how My life got…
The Garden You ain't lookin in the mouth of madness Kid your facin…
The Magnificent Some deejays are (good) some deejays are (fresh) Some deejay…
The Next Movement Yeah, you go Hey you listeners, stop what you're doin' and …
The Next Movement ) Yeah, you go Hey you listeners, stop what you're doin' and S…
The Official Now I want everybody to clap your in this place Come…
Times Up You lack the minerals and vitamins, irons and the niacin Fu…
Too Damn Hype Too Damn Hype Too Damn Hype Too Damn Hype Too Damn Hype …
Watch Out Now featuring Yellaklaw "Watch out now!" Yea, ye…
We Are Yo, just feeling the way that I do Hope lives on,…
Worldwide Umm hmm p yamz J what? This is what happens 'Sup Jeff…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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