DJ Jazzy Jeff

Born Jeffrey Allen Townes in Philadelphia in 1965, DJ Jazzy Jeff emerged in the mid-1980s East Coast hip-hop scene with a DJ style defined by scratching, precise mixing and a deep soul and funk sensibility. His trajectory took shape alongside Will Smith in the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, founded in 1985, whose discography includes Rock the House (1987), He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper (1988) and Homebase (1991). After that period, DJ Jazzy Jeff pursued a solo career as a DJ and producer and developed the Philadelphia-based A Touch of Jazz collective, tied to a scene where rap interacts with contemporary R&B, soul and jazz inflections. That orientation is evident on The Magnificent (2002) and The Return of the Magnificent (2007), two albums that continue a flexible hip-hop writing centered on groove and the art of selection. He has also worked with artists such as Jill Scott, The Roots, Slum Village and Will Smith, while maintaining a steady presence on club and festival stages, between turntablism, open sets and sample culture.