We got the Jazz
I just wanted to take a moment on A Story To Tell to give a big shout out to the one and only MrJazzy Jeff for his consistency and stellar output over the years. Not only is Jazzy Jeff of huge importance to the very development and recognition of hip-hop in its fledgling years through his groundbreaking work as the Fresh Prince's other half, setting new standards for hip hop as a commercial venture, winning the first ever rap Grammy, shifting huge units and basically just taking the game to a new level. But throughout that time, and since, he has continually proven himself to be one of the genre's most brilliant beat makers and performance DJs.
As if mastering and popularising DJ Cash Money's transformer scratch was not enough, he also developed the chirp scratch. But more importantly it was the focus that the Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff records gave to the art of the DJ and his turntable skills that opened up DJ wizardry to a massive audience, and helped inspire a generation to take up this key hip-hop discipline.
And then there is his work as producer and head of his own A Touch of Jazz record label and studio. Overseeing Jill Scott's stunning debut is a pretty good calling card for anyone, but the label and Jazz himself have also given their expertise to other brilliant work, from Musiq Soulchild to Floetry and Dave Hollister (just don't mention Tatyana Ali!!). Jazz has also been a guiding light to other emerging producers, including the brilliantly innovative James Poyser and Vikter Duplaix. One other element of Jazz's career of note is his work with small UK independent label Barely Breaking Even. Now BBE is a subject that we could talk about for some time to come, and undoubtedly will, but where they intersected with DJ Jazzy Jeff is key because much of his own solo work has emerged through the label.
In 2002 he was given full creative control of his own solo album for the label, resulting in the quite awesome "The Magnificent" LP. Compilation "Hip Hop Forever II" followed on BBE in 2004, and last year we were treated to "The Return of the Magnificent", a fantastic collection of tunes featuring collaborations from Big Daddy Kane and Posdnous, to Rhymefest, Jean Grae, Method Man and CL Smooth. That's right, basically the best mixtape you could think of. And that is not to mention the shelved 1998 solo album that Sony did not release as it was deemed not commercial enough, but features Masta Ace, Eminem and De La Soul, amongst other luminaries. Heaven and Jazz only know how good that one might be. But for now it really is hats off to DJ Jazzy Jeff.
If you are a hater and dismissive because of the pop route fashioned with Will Smith then you should be ashamed of yourself. If you don't recognise the importance of Jazz as a solo artist and producer in his own right then, again, you are not giving the game due care and attention, and just like Uncle Phil's treatment of Jazz himself you should be flying out that door head first!
As if mastering and popularising DJ Cash Money's transformer scratch was not enough, he also developed the chirp scratch. But more importantly it was the focus that the Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff records gave to the art of the DJ and his turntable skills that opened up DJ wizardry to a massive audience, and helped inspire a generation to take up this key hip-hop discipline.
And then there is his work as producer and head of his own A Touch of Jazz record label and studio. Overseeing Jill Scott's stunning debut is a pretty good calling card for anyone, but the label and Jazz himself have also given their expertise to other brilliant work, from Musiq Soulchild to Floetry and Dave Hollister (just don't mention Tatyana Ali!!). Jazz has also been a guiding light to other emerging producers, including the brilliantly innovative James Poyser and Vikter Duplaix. One other element of Jazz's career of note is his work with small UK independent label Barely Breaking Even. Now BBE is a subject that we could talk about for some time to come, and undoubtedly will, but where they intersected with DJ Jazzy Jeff is key because much of his own solo work has emerged through the label.
In 2002 he was given full creative control of his own solo album for the label, resulting in the quite awesome "The Magnificent" LP. Compilation "Hip Hop Forever II" followed on BBE in 2004, and last year we were treated to "The Return of the Magnificent", a fantastic collection of tunes featuring collaborations from Big Daddy Kane and Posdnous, to Rhymefest, Jean Grae, Method Man and CL Smooth. That's right, basically the best mixtape you could think of. And that is not to mention the shelved 1998 solo album that Sony did not release as it was deemed not commercial enough, but features Masta Ace, Eminem and De La Soul, amongst other luminaries. Heaven and Jazz only know how good that one might be. But for now it really is hats off to DJ Jazzy Jeff.
If you are a hater and dismissive because of the pop route fashioned with Will Smith then you should be ashamed of yourself. If you don't recognise the importance of Jazz as a solo artist and producer in his own right then, again, you are not giving the game due care and attention, and just like Uncle Phil's treatment of Jazz himself you should be flying out that door head first!
posted by Twelve Bar at 10:46 PM
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