DJ Jazzy Jeff
The Return of the Magnificent
Aug 13, 2008 Michael Irvin Arrington
Out of the Spotlight, but Still Hard at Work
For all but the most devout hip-hop fans, DJ Jazzy Jeff may be relegated to a mere footnote in the history of the genre. To the majority of music fans, Jeff will be known as the DJ who paired with the Fresh Prince to craft some of the best radio-friendly “happy rap” of the late eighties and nineties. Others will remember his recurring role on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. (Fewer likely will remember him as the person who discovered R&B star Jill Scott).
But alas, Jeff missed his Philadelphia roots, so he remained on the east coast while Will Smith became one of the biggest stars in the movie industry. However, Jeff has not rested on his laurels for the last few years. Instead, he has been honing his craft as an award-winning DJ, and The Return of the Magnificent represents some of his finest work. This disc merits attention for two reasons: Jeff’s considerable skills and his impressive cast of collaborators.
“My DJ on the Wheels Can’t be Matched”
The aforementioned line from an old Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince tune illustrates the importance of Jeff to the duo’s success. While Smith’s lyrics were witty and palatable to mainstream audiences, Jeff’s scratching and cutting was far ahead of its time. (Many DJs acknowledge him as the master of the transform scratch, which closely resembled the sound of the characters from the animated Transformers television series.
Jeff continues to push the creative envelope on the wheels of steel; at some points in “The Definition” and “Hold it Down,“ Jeff’s scratching seems to include elements of avant-garde jazz (which means, of course, that it likely will not generate mainstream radio airplay).
An Ensemble Cast of Lyricists
The disc is also strengthened by the CD’s supporting cast, a mixture of old stars and stars in the making. Pos (from De La Soul) represents admirably on “Let Me Hear U Clap,” while Method Man’s contribution to “Hold it Down” is nearly good enough to make listeners forget his role in one of the worst sitcoms ever. CL Smooth (“All I Know”) and Big Daddy Kane (“The Garden”) also add intelligent, smooth-flowing lyrics to the album.
The most surprising contributions, though, come from a newer generation of rappers. Kel Spencer’s flow makes “The Definition” one of the disc’s strongest tracks, and underground favorite J-Live breathes life into “Practice.” The rising star of the disc is the inexplicably-yet-to-be-famous Jean Grae, whose “Supa Jean” suggests her potential to become one of the best rappers -- male or female -- on the contemporary scene.
The disc does miss the mark on occasion, however. Did we really need updated versions of “Brand New Funk” and “Go See the Doctor,” especially when the rappers cannot hold a candle to the original artists? Nonetheless, Jeff has assembled an impressive team to complement his talents, and the result is an album that old- and new-school hip-hop fans will enjoy.
Professor Arrington's grade: B+
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