DJ Jazzy Jeff
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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DJ Jazzy Jeff (born Jeffrey A. Townes on January 22, 1965 in Philadelphia) is an American hip hop and R&B record producer and turntablist. He is best known for his early career with Will Smith as half of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.
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History
As a duo, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince 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's other trademark was getting 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'.
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.
He appeared with Peedi Crakk in the song "Brand New Funk 2K7".
Partial discography
Solo work as DJ Jazzy Jeff
- Unreleased Album Sony Records (1998)
-Featured Eminem, Masta Ace and De La Soul
- 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
- He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper (1988) #4 US
- And in this Corner... (1989) #39 US
- Homebase (1991) #12 US
- Code Red (1993) #64 US
- Greatest Hits (1998) (including material from Will Smith's solo career) #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
- 1998 - "When To Stand Up" featuring Eminem
- 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 Mintrel 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.
See also
