Customer Reviews

He's the DJ I'm the Rapper

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Okay, Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff did not offer the most stunning, revolutionary music in the hiphop world back in its heyday, but you need to realize that they were not sellouts and definitely not the worst of this genre. Yes, their style was almost too kid friendly and kind of hard to listen to repeatedly compared to other gems of the day. However, they did what they know, and created some pretty noteworthy pieces along the way.
Selling out would have been if Will were to incorporate superficious gangsta, thug, or pimp elements into his music. He didn't. His style may have been silly, onery, and kid friendly, but that is who he is, and he never stepped outside of that. The myth is that he never used cuss words, but you go back and listen to "You Saw My Blinker..." and realize that he did every now and then, and find that hard to believe. Plus he always dropped a lot of hell's and damn's- in case that offends anyone. Will kept it true, to what he knows, and yet still has a bad rap for his music.
I won't go as far to say that his work with Jazzy Jeff is something I absolutely cherish and revere, but one should recognize that they made big contributions to hiphop and stood strong as an example of hiphop's diversity. People could get into their stuff if they found the rest of hiphop hard-to-stomach. I love the show "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"(in which they both starred), which not only exceeded and outlasted expectations, but became a classic and brought hiphop and urban culture to the forefront on American television. It's still shown on TV constantly today, eight years after the last episode. The show had something for everyone, like I said, an enduring American classic.
So the rumor is that Jazzy Jeff and Will were sellouts and their music is wack. MYTH! Most people think Eminem represents the best of hiphop music today because he wins a grammy. MYTH! See everyone else just makes their decision based upon someone else's gossip! Go back and take some listens and decide for yourself. Okay, their music was based upon making record sales and getting airplay, but listen to "Pump Up The Bass," and especially the track "He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper," and tell me that Will didn't have some mic skills! Because he does. Not the best, but you can't deny his legitimacy on the mic. Rappers today like Nelly, Ludacris, Lil' Jon, can make catchy, radio-oriented stuff, but listen to them and they really have no skill. So why write off Will when you sit there bumping and gobbling up albums from lame rappers like the ones I just mentioned? Will had great storytelling talent too, most of his most famous songs involved stories that relate to the choruses. They may have been somewhat-childish stories about struggling to make it to work or school, or girl situations, but he never fantasized and deceived us into trying to believe some gangsta drug-selling, shootouts, or orgy tall tales. Really, Slick Rick doesn't have much on Will when it comes to storytelling hiphop. Will, man I respect you and you should be proud of the music, as well as the televison show, that you graced us with back in the day!

This is the first Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince record I ever got, about five years ago. And this is also the one I listen to the most because it's their best. Plain and simple.

From hearing the first track, A Nightmare on My Street, you're immediately taken back to the days when rap was fun to listen to. Now it's all about the hardcore stuff which totally disinterests me. This album is completely 80's.

This disc houses some of their greatest tracks they've ever recorded. Parents Just Don't Understand, Brand New Funk, A Nightmare on My Street, Here We Go Again, and the list goes on and on for all seventeen tracks.

Here are the top five songs on the disc

1.A Nightmare on My Street
2.Here We Go Again
3.Brand New Funk
4.He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
5.Parents Just Don't Understand

This album is completely worth buying no matter what kind of music you listen to. This is the best CD I have in my not so extensive CD collection.

This is the absolute greatest Fresh Prince/Will Smith album ever made! Every track is a classic! Buy it now!

This album is the definition for true hip hop. Every single track on this record off the hook no doubt. I have listened to this album hundreds of times and it always sounds fresh. Many people haven't give JJFP a listen before (besides summertime or Parents Just Don't Understand) because they think they are soft. Those people don't know what they are missing.

Highlight tracks are Brand New Funk and Hes The DJ, I'm The Rapper. Jazzy Jeff produced some of the best beats ever for this album IMO. If you love old school, this album is for you. Don't sleep on this album.

This album starts off well with many of the same aspects of JJFP's first album, Rock the House. It still has alot of comedic elements in it and Jeff is very good on the wheels of steel. It is in some ways better than Rock the House because this album allows Jeff to do his mixing of a few tracks without will giving him commands (not that I mind it at all, but it allows Jeff to be a star in the album as well and give him more credit as a DJ). It contains the duo's biggest hit "Parents Just Don't Understand" which has a comedic approach to what occurs when you get in trouble with your parents.

This album is a must-have for anyone who wants to learn about 80s rap music, rap music in general, or want to hear some early will smith.

PARENTS JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND,was the one of the top hits of 1988,driving The Fresh Prince to superstardom. The music video depicting the lyrics is totally awesome. His mother bought him Zips instead of Adidas,which(the latter) was a hip sneaker brand. "You're ruining my rep!",the Fresh Prince tells his mother. "She said,'You're only 16,you do not have a rep yet!'" is the line that follows. He gets into trouble with the law when his mother and father take a vacation. The unlicensed Fresh Prince takes his mom's new Porsche for a spin and picks up a chick,a 12-year-old runaway! The cops pull him over for going 90 MPH,35 miles over the maximum legal limit. He's arrested for the crime and his parents had to come get him out of the police station where he was taken to. The car was impounded as well. Man,were the FP's parents angry. "Take it from me,PARENTS JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND" ends the hit rap song. Another track contains samples from George Benson's BREEZIN'. The other songs are cool. Later,the Fresh Prince aka Will Smith would have a hit TV sitcom,"The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air",which he was the star and a major movie career and taking Jada Pinkett to be his lawfully wedded wife.

I am taken back everytime I hear this CD. Back to a time when people like Eminem were not spewing curse words like their life depends on it. Back when hip hop was trully a form of music and not an avenue for hatred and homicide. Many rappers have legit messages (Ice T, Ice Cube, Public Enemy) that they get across by swearing, and it is all good. But Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince are the greatest hip hop duo ever, and they do it in a way that you and your kids can enjoy. Great beats and jazzy is one of the baddest and most underrated DJs ever. Just great music performed by great performers.

All JJFP fans always say this is their best album ever. It is good, personally I prefer And In This Corner.... Anyway, this album has great stuff. The first six songs or so are awesome. Then they regress into the normal good flow of the Prince rhyming and Jazzy cuttin up mad records. Here are the good ones in order by my personal favorites, which are weird so I hope you enjoy comparing them with yours.

1. He's the DJ... ~ The title track, I love it because of the insanely long flow from Prince with great rhymes and examples of how great he is.
2. Time To Chill ~ I love the sample, I think the worst thing hip hop faces is drum loops. If you've ever heard hip hop over actual music, being played on instruments at the same time, you'd know why I like the whistling sound in the refrain gap.
3. As We Go
4. Brand New Funk ~ My friend used to rap this in between classes in seventh grade, so I've liked it longer than I knew it.
5. My Buddy ~ You're probably thinking Prince's buddy is going to be Jazzy, but it's not, it's Ready Rock C, the human beat box who was affiliated with FPJJ until he and Prince had a "falling out." I like the story, I've always considered the Prince a semi-griot, not quite a Slick Rick, but he can still hold a plot.
6. Parents Just Don't Understand ~ They don't.

This is the best album from Dj Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. The lyrics by the Fresh Prince are great compared to his solo releases and Dj Jazzy Jeff is always on point with the production. This is a must have old school classic.

I love this album because it has so much of the 1980's rap flavor in it. Human beat box, funny lyrics, techno sounds, they are all part of the 80's hip hop transition to rap. This album took Will and Jeff to the next level and shot them on to big careers. Now, Will has totally outdone his old work, but this album is cool 'cause it's bringing the roots back. Another good album for Will Smith fans, don't expect any Big Willie, but expect some Fresh Prince style.