DJ Jazzy Jeff + the Fresh Prince Biography

If you have been a fan of Will Smith for a long time, you may remember him as the star of the television show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. What you may not know is that the Fresh Prince got that gig because of his successful rap albums with friend DJ Jazzy Jeff. Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff (AKA Jeffrey Townes) were both from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The duo hooked up as both were part of the Philly music scene as youngsters and they met at a house party. Unlike other rappers, The Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff drew in mainstream fans with their PG-rated lyrics and fun beats.They released their first album in 1987 with Rock the House. The album hit No. 83 on The Billboard 200 charts. They found even more success with the release of And in This Corner in 1989, which reached No. 39 on The Billboard 200 Charts. 1990 marked a big year for the duo with the release of He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper , which reached No. 4 on The Billboard 200 charts, and also the beginning of the TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Although Smith was the star of the sitcom, DJ Jazzy Jeff frequently made appearances.They also continued to release more albums and Homebase hit stores in the summer of 1991. Code Red followed in 1993. Since releasing those albums, the duo has released greatest hits albums. Will Smith went on to have an incredibly successful music and movie career. He can be seen in hit films like Independence Day, Men in Black and Hancock. Jazzy Jeff has moved on to a solo career as well. Despite their separate directions, the two still sporadically perform together, much to the delight of longtime fans.