FEATURE:
Vinyl Corner
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
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ONE almost has to put out a disclaimer….
when recommending an album like He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper. I really like the album, and it is one that I would urge people to get on vinyl. It was the second release from Will Smith and Jeffrey Townes (DJ Jazzy Jeff). I think the partnership between the two is excellent but, in a time when there was so much great Hip-Hop and Rap, one could not find the cutting edge, wit and intrigue on He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper as there was on many albums from that period. It is the humour, goofiness and fun of the album that resonates; fast forward to 1989, and De La Soul were criticised by many for their Daisy Age debut, 3 Feet High and Rising – now considered to be one of the finest and most influential Hip Hop albums ever. In its original vinyl incarnation, it was a double album; the first double album in Hip Hop! Now, Will Smith is a megastar, and he and Jazzy Jeff were together through the iconic comedy, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – where Will Smith played the titular character, and Jazzy Jeff was his loveable-but-loser friend who would often by tossed out of the Bel-Air mansion by Uncle Phil (Smith was staying with the family after moving from West Philadelphia). I am distressing, but two years before that show started, we had this brilliant duo were taking Rap and Hip-Hop to new places.
If some critics then (and since) feel He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper lacks the heft and political relevance of the best of the late-1980s, then one cannot argue with the sales figures! The album was certified triple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on 1st February, 1995, and it is the duo's most successful album. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source 100 Best Rap Albums. At eighteen tracks-long, He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper is an ambitious and sprawling album but I think it works more often than not! The album's second single, Parents Just Don't Understand, won the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance and it is one of the standouts from the album. The song was inspired by Smith’s experiences with his own parents; feeling that they did not understand him and there was this sense of conflict. What I love about He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper – as I do with so many of the great Hip Hop albums – is the sampling. On Brand New Funk, we hear snatches of Bouncy Lady by Pleasure, Funky President (People It's Bad) by James Brown, I Can't Live Without My Radio by LL Cool J, and (Fallin' Like) Dominoes by Donald Byrd. Sampling is one of my favourite aspects of music, and we hear it far less now than in the 1980s and 1990s – it is harder and more expensive to get clearance and permission from relevant labels and estates.
In terms of reviews, He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper has received a lot of praise. Regarding weaknesses and negatives, some highlight various lyrics from Will Smith as lacking spark and imagination and, as a rapper, he is not as accomplished and slick as many of his peers! I actually think his charm and storytelling is one of the major strengths of the albums and, combines that with Jazzy Jeff’s exceptional D.J. and production talents, and you’re onto a winner. In their review, this is what AllMusic had to say:
“This is the album on which DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince hit commercial pay dirt, the album that introduced the duo's jokey, benign, and somewhat goofball demeanor to a wide audience. Without He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper, in fact, it could be argued that you never would have had Will Smith: Movie Star, as the album afforded him a level and type of exposure he would never thereafter relinquish. Oddly enough, it is DJ Jazzy Jeff who generally was cited as the musical star of the duo, at least in the rap community, on account of his groundbreaking and always wizardly work on the turntables. That skill is evident ("D.J. on the Wheels"), but often takes a back seat here in deference to the Fresh Prince's whimsical story-songs. To be frank, Smith's rhymes and antics can become rather, well, hokey, like Slick Rick with an antiseptic tongue, but they are always good-natured and good fun, admirable qualities in themselves considering rap's growing inclination at the time to drift toward the hardcore and polemical sides of the street.
He's the DJ is almost cartoon-like by comparison. Painfully corny music videos for the hit singles "Parents Just Don't Understand" and "Nightmare on My Street" underscored the impression to an even greater extent. The reality, though, is slightly more interesting than the caricature. There are songs here ("Brand New Funk," "Pump Up the Bass," the title track) that go straight to the heart of hip-hop's traditional role as sweaty house-party soundtrack and which highlight a more "street" facet of the duo. Still, this is not a consequential album. It is an extremely likable one, however, with a youthful vigor, animateness, and a spirited sense of humor undiminished by the ensuing decades. Compared with some of the strains of rap that were to follow, which often mistook sarcasm or irony for drollery, He's the DJ seems a quaint, practically naïve artifact of an era before bling-bling and Benzes became the norm”.
Despite some criticisms, He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper still stands up, and I actually like the music videos! I think today, where things are very serious and humour has slipped out of music, it is great looking back at the videos from He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper – even if, at the time, some would have written off DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince as being Hip Hop-lite. There is plenty to love and recommend on He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper: from the sheer range of songs through to the sampling and connection between the duo, one cannot knock such a successful album.
I will finish by bringing in one more review – this time from Sputnik Music. They concur with my observation regarding the bond between DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince:
“'Here We Go' is pretty typical rap fare, in that it is standard ego-inflated boasting about how good DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince are and that you should buy their previous album. But unlike boasting from later artists, the song is approached playfully and lightly ('Loyal fans and newfound followers ' what's up y'all, hello, how are you doing out there? You're chilling, I'm winning ' Oh, by the way' the album's out, go get it').
Yet even with this frivolity, there is an accomplished layer beneath the Fresh Prince's amusing tales; DJ Jazzy Jeff was a pioneer of disc jockeying, and it shows on this album. While his contributions to every song are crucial, he particularly shines on songs where his turntable skills are emphasised, like the fascinating 'He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper', 'DJ on Wheels' and 'Hip Hop Dancer's Theme'. Jazzy Jeff was a very talented artist and on the songs where his work on the turntable is showcased are highlights of the album. The album also features the talented beatboxing of Ready Rock C (like on 'My Buddy') whose vocals skills still amaze me to this day.
But perhaps the most engaging aspect of the album is the relationship between Will and Jeff. Even without knowing the backstory on their long-term friendship, it is obvious listening to this record that these two heavily admire each other and the respect they show each other only makes the album more enjoyable. Especially on the highlight (and title track) 'He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper', the interplay between DJ and Rapper is fascinating to hear. They clearly feed off each other and it is evident throughout the record”.
If you want an album that will lift the mood, introduce you to an important album from the golden era of Hip Hop, and leave an impression on your brain, then go and investigate He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper. It is an underrated and fascinating album that, despite some weaker moments, provides plenty of joy and memorable moments. If you’re looking for an album that will help to put a smile on your face, then DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince…
HAVE got you covered.