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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.

Contents

History

Partial discography

Solo work as 'DJ Jazzy Jeff'

As 'DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince'

Miscellaneous

See also

External links

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 and 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''.

Partial discography

Solo work as 'DJ Jazzy Jeff'

★ 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''

★ 1995 - "When To Stand Up" featuring Eminem

★ 2004 - ''Mirrorball (DJ Jazzy Jeff Full Sole Remix)'' by Everything But The Girl; from ''

★ 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

★ 2006 - ''Feel It (Jazzy Jeff Soulful Remix)'' by the Black Eyed Peas; from ''

★ 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

★ Will Smith

★ Jill Scott

★ Eric Roberson

★ Kev Brown

★ Raheem DeVaughn

External links

★ DJ Jazzy Jeff (Official site)

★

★ DJ Jazzy Jeff Tribute Fan Website