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From the Vault...
07/01/2018
#1627 |
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info
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
"He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper"
© Jive/RCA Records
Year of Release: 1988
Rating:
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track listing
Nightmare On My Street
Here We Go Again
Brand New Funk
Time To Chill
Charlie Mack
(1st Out
Of The Limo)
As We Go
Parents Just Don't
Understand
Pump Up The Bass
Let's Get Busy Baby
Live At Union Square
(November 1986)
D.J. On The Wheels
My Buddy
Rhythm Trax -
House Party Style
He's The D.J.
I'm The Rapper
Hip Hop Dancer's Theme
Jazzy's In The House
Human Video Game
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DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince related sites:
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DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
"He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper"
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (Will Smith) represents "old school Rap." Rap today is no way compared to how Rap (and now called Hip Hop) started
out decades ago. It was different, it contained humble and not vulgar lyrics. Also to mention the beats of the music was easy to listen to. DJJJ and FP's
He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper states that DJ Jazz Jeff is the DJ, and the Fresh Prince is the Rapper.
"Nightmare On My Street" relates to the Freddy Kruger movie Nightmare On Elm Street. This song is definitely cool. On the next track,
"Here We Go Again," not only are the rap lyrics good, so is the funky beat. "Brand New Funk" is funky, and you can even hear the samplings
of another funkster, James Brown. "Time To Chill" keeps the funky beats going, and the rappin lyrics keep the flow. The song sampled on this track
was George Benson's "Breezin'"
"Charlie Mack (1st Out Of The Limo)" is another "common" rappin lyrics and funky beat, yet it just may not be as enticing as the previous tracks.
(It seems the same rappin/funky is the same formula.) However, one "sound effect" is frequently heard, is the "scratching" of the turntables. This was
common on the early years of rap/hip-hop, indicating the true greatness of a club scratch DJ. And quite frankly, it makes this old school rap tracks work.
"As We Go" continues on with rappin' funk. "Parents Just Don't Understand" is the "hit track" I remember when it was first released.
And for the young kids (back then and even today), they (and me included, when I was young), all had that thought, that what us kids were doing (or not
doing), "Parents Just Didn't Understand..." The storyline of this track is just classic.
"Pump Up The Bass" is another on the "common" rappin, scratchin, funky tracks. "Let's Get Busy Baby" keeps it funky, and another great
storyline. "Live At Union Square (November 19860" is from concert in Brooklyn, and it samples another great song, the disco classic, "Got TO Be
Real" by Cheryl Lynn. "D.J. On The Wheels" is more like today's rap, except there are no vulgar lyrics. "My Buddy" -- cup your hands
against your lips, and beatbox till you drop. Beatboxing was another sound effect on early rap records. (Just try not to make a mess when you beatbox.)
"Rhythm Trax - House Party Style' is quite impreesive; good sampling, and was that Vincent Price's laughter from Michael Jackson's "Thriller"
at the end there? The title track is even more impressive! "Hip Hop Dancer's Theme" is antother (yes) "common rap," and is that James Brown being
sampled again there? "Jazzy's In The House" (like many tracks here) just wants to make you throw your arms up in the air, jive dance, and rap
along with it. "Yo! Yo! Yo!" Ending the album is "Human Video Game," a track that just may not be as impressive as others, yet it fits with the
other tracks on this album.
So, what became of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince? Obviously, Will Smith ("the artist formerly known as the Fresh Prince) would record
on his own, and his biggest hit was "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" (1998), and most importantly, a well-known actor, in movies such as Men In Black
and Independence Day. DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jeff Townes) would become a music producer, working with such artists as Eminem, Jewel, Darius Rucker. The
duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince recorded as many as 10 albums together, including Greatest Hits/Best Of compilations. Although they separated,
they are still friends. Jeff would appear in Smith's solo videos. They reunited for the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia, in 2005. As of 2007,
Jeff has recorded on his own, and with others.
He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper is classic old school rap/hip-hop. The storylines also makes the songs, and the funky beats. Most importantly,
the lyrics and simple, clean, and for some, corny. This is the rap/hip-hop anyone can enjoy, as compared to today's rap of distinctive and blunt lyrics.
Not to say today's rap is all bad, there are some rappers that could get their music played on radio, rather than the harsh rappers of vulgarity-related
lyrics. Some rappers to mention in the good sense, are Chance the Rapper, and Christian Rap artist Lecrae.
But as I listen to DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper, I can't help but to hear in my head "Rico Suave"
by Gerado. Like DJJJ&TFP, that song is indeed funny and corny. Gerado's album with that track will be reviewed at a later date.
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Jive/RCA Records
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