dj jazzy jeff and the fresh prince

Happy 59th Birthday To The Legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff!

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DjJazzyJeffCratediggers

On this date in 1965, Jeffrey Townes, better known to Hip Hop and television fans as “Jazzy Jeff” was born in the City of Brother Love and has become one of the best to ever place their hands on a pair of Technics 1200s.

Originally known as the DJ for rapper/actor The Fresh Prince aka Will Smith, Jeff’s claim to fame was his seemingly innate ability to play the wheels of steel like instruments, popularizing the “transformer” style scratching sound which was mimicked by many DJs who succeeded and preceded him. The two-time Grammy Award winner later became an established producer, sitting behind the boards for artists like Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, The Roots, Floetry, and many more. Just last year, Jazz worked on the Straight Outta Compton film, doing scratch overdubs for the classic flick.

Happy born day and salute to one of the pioneers of the 1s and 2s of Hip Hop culture!

The post Happy 59th Birthday To The Legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff! first appeared on The Source.

The post Happy 59th Birthday To The Legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff! appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince’s Debut Album ‘Rock The House’ Turns 35 Years Old!

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On this date in 1987, Philly’s most celebrated Hip Hop duo released their first album.

Famed rapper and actor Will Smith, also known as “The Fresh Prince” and his hilarious on-and-off-screen partner Jeff Townes aka DJ Jazzy Jeff, dropped their first project on the Jive/RCA imprint.

As two of the pioneers of Philly Hip Hop, Dj Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince were the first artists from the “City of Brotherly Love” to perform at the coveted Union Square, which prompted the live title track. They were there during a time when if you were wack, not only did you get booed, but the Brooklyn kids would end up leaving the Square with something you came there with. “Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble” was a storytelling anthem that was only rivaled by the likes of the great Slick Rick. This ten-track LP was just the tip of the iceberg of what this dynamic duo had in store for them in their future.

Salute to Jazzy Jeff, Will Smith and Ready Rock C for this classic piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince’s Debut Album ‘Rock The House’ Turns 35 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince Released “Parents Just Don’t Understand” 35 Years Ago

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On this date at the beginning of Hip Hop’s “Golden Era”, Philly natives DJ Jazzy Jeff and his partner The Fresh Prince Dropped their landmark single “Parents Just Don’t Understand” on Jive Records.

With the song’s signature tune from the 60s hit sitcom I Dream Of Jeannie, the Fresh Prince, who is better known today as Emmy Award winning actor Will Smith describes his very relatable, parental circumstances. From the clothes chosen by his mother for the first day of school to borrowing the family car and crashing it, the Prince humorously gets into what it’s like having to listen to your parents…and them not listen to you.

Commercially the song was a hit as well, winning a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance at the 1989 Grammy Awards, was ranked number 96 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop, and featured in movies such as The Parent Trap, Malibu’s Most Wanted and Jersey Girl. 

Salute to these two icons for making this song a piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince Released “Parents Just Don’t Understand” 35 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Happy 58th Birthday To The Legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff!

by
DjJazzyJeffCratediggers

On this date in 1965, Jeffrey Townes, better known to Hip Hop and television fans as “Jazzy Jeff” was born in the City of Brother Love and has become one of the best to ever place their hands on a pair of Technics 1200s.

Originally known as the DJ for rapper/actor The Fresh Prince aka Will Smith, Jeff’s claim to fame was his seemingly innate ability to play the wheels of steel like instruments, popularizing the “transformer” style scratching sound which was mimicked by many DJs who succeeded and preceded him. The two-time Grammy Award winner later became an established producer, sitting behind the boards for artists like Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, The Roots, Floetry, and many more. Just last year, Jazz worked on the Straight Outta Compton film, doing scratch overdubs for the classic flick.

Happy born day and salute to one of the pioneers of the 1s and 2s of Hip Hop culture!

The post Happy 58th Birthday To The Legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff! appeared first on The Source.