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Biography
BLP sources|date=January 2009Infobox musical artist |name = DJ Jazzy Jeff|image = Jazzyjeff 061111.jpg|caption = DJ Jazzy Jeff performing at the Duke Nukem Forever Launch Party in Dallas on June 11, 2011.|image_size =|background = non_performing_personnel|birth_name = Jeffrey Allen Townes|alias =|birth_date = birth date and age|mf=yes|1965|1|22|origin = Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , United States |instrument =|genre = hip hop music|Hip hop , contemporary R& B|R& B |occupation = Record producer , disc jockey|DJ |years_active = 1985–Present|label =|associated_acts = DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince |website = http://www.djjazzyjeff.com www.djjazzyjeff.com|notable_instruments = Jeffrey Allen Townes cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 159 (born January 22, 1965, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania ),cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|title=DJ Jazzy Jeff|work= Allmusic |url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p431400|pure_url=yes|accessdate=2009-01-13 also known as DJ Jazzy Jeff or simply Jazz, is an United States|American hip hop music|hip hop , R& B record producer , turntablism|turntablist and actor . He is best known for his early career with Will Smith as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince . DJ Jazzy Jeff attended John Bartram High School in Philadelphia, where he is enshrined in the school's "Wall of Fame."citation needed|date=October 2010
Career
Once he grew up, he developed a reputation and a following as a school and block party DJ. Jazzy Jeff was the feature of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. He also won the world DJ championship in the 1986 New Music Seminar DJ Battle.
Acting
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. In the early season the two characters always greeted each other with their signature handshake (swinging High five|mid-five , point-back/snap with both characters saying "Pssh!"). His trademarks included being physically ejected from the house by Uncle Phil ( James L. Avery, Sr.|James Avery ).
Music
As a duo, they had several gold and platinum-selling albums and singles in the late 1980s and early 1990s, earning them the first rap Grammy Award ever presented in 1989 for ''Parents Just Don't Understand. One of the first records Jazzy Jeff ever appeared on was with The Korner Boyz (Street Artz Records) "Bust The Move and The Soga of Roxanne) Which featured legendary Philly Rapper / MC Parry P and Grand Tone. The Instrumental was called "Jazzy Jeff Scratch" (1985)
After DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince broke up, Townes went on to become a prominent R& B , soul music|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 a music partner, they are still friends,Citation needed|date=October 2010 and still occasionally work together. Some songs by Smith were produced by Townes (including "Here He Comes"), and he has performed on some songs by Smith such as "So Fresh" and "Potnas." In addition, he appeared in several of Smith's music video s such as "Will2K," "Freakin' It," and " Party Starter ." On some occasions, he made an appearances with Smith at live concerts, producing DJ scratches.
He, along with DJ Cash Money , is credited with making the Transform (scratch)|transform scratch famous.citation needed|date=October 2010 On July 2, 2005, DJ Jazzy Jeff performed with Smith at the Live 8 concert, Philadelphia|Live 8 concert in Philadelphia . Moreover, Smith acknowledges him in his music such as "Comin' To The Stage" from the album Lost and Found (Will Smith album)|Lost & Found and "Potnas" in his album Willennium .
His 2007 release The Return of the Magnificent featured numerous collaborations with old school and new school artists including CL Smooth , Big Daddy Kane , Kelvin Mercer|Pos from De La Soul , Method Man , Peedi Peedi (a remake of Brand New Funk), Rhymefest , and Raheem DeVaughn .
In 2007, he appeared with Rhymefest in a video http://youtube.com/watch? v=czQFr64ebrE DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Fest directed by Konee Rok , in which he makes music in his home recording studio with Rhymefest.
In 2008, he performed with Smith at the premier of the latter's 2008 film Hancock (film)|Hancock .
In 2009, he made a mixtape titled ''He's the King...I'm the DJ in honor of the late entertainer Michael Jackson .
He was featured in the video game , DJ Hero , as a playable character. He also has some original mixes in the game.
He is currently making a mixtape with young rapper Mac Miller and is hosting it, titled "92 Til Infinity".
Discography
Solo work as DJ Jazzy Jeff
Unreleased album from Sony Records (1998)
One cut in Battle of DJs
The Magnificent (DJ Jazzy Jeff album)|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) #55 US (Gold)
The Return of Hip Hop EP (2007)
''He's the King...I'm the DJ (2009)
As DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
Rock the House (album)|Rock the House (1986) #83 US (Gold); #97 UK Albums Chart|UK
'' He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper (1988) #4 US (3x Platinum); #68 UK
And in This Corner… (1989) #39 US (Gold)
Homebase (album)|Homebase (1991) #12 US (Platinum); #69 UK
Code Red (DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince album)|Code Red (1993) #64 US (Gold); #50 UK
Greatest Hits (DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince album)|Greatest Hits (1998) #144 US, #20 UK
Before The Willennium (1999)
The Very Best of D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (2006)
He is currently working on an EP with new rapper Mac Miller that will be coming out later this summer
Miscellaneous
1991 - Deep, Deep, Trouble with Bart Simpson; and the remixes from The Simpsons Sing the Blues
1997 - ''Jazzy Jeff's Theme ; from the album Nuyorican Soul
1998 - ''I Don't Know by Slum Village (scratches); from the album Fantastic, Vol. 2
1999 - The Next Movement by The Roots (scratches); from the album Things Fall Apart
2004 - Mirrorball (DJ Jazzy Jeff Full Sole Remix) by Everything But The Girl ; from Adapt or Die: 10 Years of Remixes
2005 - ''Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (DJ Jazzy Jeff & Pete Kuzma Solefull Mix) by the Temptations ; from Motown Remixed .
2005 - Lost and Found (Will Smith album)|Lost & Found by Will Smith ; produced intro song Here He Comes and several DJ scratches on several tracks
2005 - Watch Me by Little Brother (band)|Little Brother (scratches); from the album The Minstrel Show
2006 - Feel It (Jazzy Jeff Soulful Remix) by the Black Eyed Peas; from Renegotiations: The Remixes
2006 - Night in Tunisia (DJ Jazzy Jeff Remix) by Duke Jordan
2007 - NY Weather Report by Talib Kweli (scratches); from the album Eardrum (album)|Eardrum
2008 - Get Busy by The Roots (scratches); from the album Rising Down
2008 - Bring It Back by Rhymefest (producer); from the album El Che (album)|El Che
2009 - Prince in Training by MaC Renegade Hosted by DJ Jazzy Jeff
2009 - Stay This Way (Jazzy Jeff Remix) by Peter Bjorn and John featuring Big Pooh , Chaundon , and Phil Nash from the mixtape Re-Living Thing with Mick Boogie
References
Reflist
External links
commons
http://www.djjazzyjeff.com Official website
IMDb name|0870039
http://www.beatbuggy.com/star_producer/DJ_Jazzy_Jeff/75 DJ Jazzy Jeff Beatbuggy Profile
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince Persondata | NAME =Dj Jazzy Jeff | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =January 22, 1965 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Dj Jazzy Jeff Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:African American musicians Category:African hip hop DJs Category:Rappers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Category:American hip hop record producers
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