Music is a subjective entity. But when it comes to Jazzy Jeff, one can but admire the man’s vision and tenacity in wanting to live out the American Dream and in the process educate all who take the time to listen.
After more than a decade away from the spotlight, Jazzy has moved from behind the mixing desk, stepping up to the microphone to deliver The Magnificent, an aptly titled collection of tracks that confirms his place as one of urban music’s more consummate and gifted artists.
“It’s a little different to be back,” he contends in introduction. “It was very liberating to do an album where I was able to be extremely free, creatively speaking. I just wish there were a lot more artists and producers that were given the opportunity to reveal who they are and not just necessarily show something because it sells.”
Best known as one of the pioneering hip-hop pop stars of the early 1980s, Jeff’s relationship with then fledgling actor Will Smith was the catalyst that created a company, a credo and an entire stable of talent that’s elevating the lacklustre state of popular music as we know it.
As one part of Will Smith’s rise to fame and fortune in the world of popular rap in the late 1980s, this man has gone on to not only capitalise on his good fortune and partnership, but also establish one of Philadelphia’s (and America’s) finest contemporary urban music labels.
A Touch Of Jazz is Jazzy’s brand, studio and vision that has collectively spawned many of today’s top names from Jill Scott, Musiq Soul Child, Bilal, Kenny Latimore, Dave Hollister, Lil Kim, Glen Lewis to, of course, Will Smith, who have all been touched, inspired, produced, recorded and released by Jazz at some point.
The realisation that Jazzy Jeff has been behind more hit records over the past decade than he’s ever achieved under the guise of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince is surprising to people who, for the most part, thought that his career was long since over.
“I’ve done so much and I’m happy with everything I’ve done,” he defends. “I don’t do anything for credit. It’s not about the credit, it’s not about the accolades, it’s more about the fact that I get more enjoyment hearing something that I’ve been a part of and that people get a kick out of. Sometimes the best way to get a message out is not to shout,” he says with a knowing grin.
For Jazzy this album marks a point in his career that is just another landmark and a small part of the bigger vision he wishes to share with the world. “There’s a much bigger picture,” he enthuses. “Especially with what I have been able to achieve over the past two years with A Touch Of Jazz and especially the launching of Jill Scott’s career.
“Hers was the first project I worked on where there was no expectation. It wasn’t done for radio; it wasn’t done for video or television. The only premise was to get together and just create some really good music. On the back of her success, the realisation that there are a lot of people in the world that really like good music was a liberating feeling.
“There was nothing typical about putting her album together where she was able to retain her musical integrity and that felt good for all concerned. That then started the whole game plan for the future,” he continues. “The same formula, if you like, was applied to the Musiq Soul Child on the basis that there are people who love all sorts of music. I just believe that people are very narrow-minded about how many ways we can do music, where people will appreciate it.
“It goes a lot deeper than any Top 20 anywhere. My mission, if you will, is to try and get people to open up a little more and know that if music is good, it will be heard with or without a huge marketing campaign. At the end of the day it’s impossible to hold good music back.
“Starting at a young age [in the industry] has given me a lot of musical wisdom,” Jazzy insists when complimented on a career spanning some 15-odd years.
“It’s put me in a position where right now it’s more about my integrity than anything else.
“I’m not on a crusade,” he concludes, “but the direction I’m taking is not contrived. I’m following my instincts and I do it, not because I have to, but because I choose too. I will do this for as long as I feel I can contribute.
“I don’t appreciate it when the [music] industry tells an artist their career is over, because they don’t ever tell artists when they’ve begun.”
With 17 tracks of rap, hip-hop, smooth sophisticated soul and lyrical loaded melody; Jeff is in the house and with a posse of collaborators on each and every track, the Philly native has never been in better company, including yours.
The Magnificent was released in South Africa on September 9 through What’s Phat Records