DJ Jazzy Jeff

Though every review of this album is supposed to start with a dig about the TV version of Jazzy Jeff on The Fresh Prince, any joke you could think of is eclipsed by the one Jeff makes himself at the end of "Go See The Doctor 2K7” during an almost serious-sounding phone call of him trying to get through to the much-more famous Will Smith of today. While the Grammy-winning, platinum selling (awesome) early pop-hop of theirs is what most people know him for, nearly as many know his serious turntable chops and rap/soul production work highlighted on his 2002 solo debut. He’s got that old school bounce to his beats and it complements last gen legends like Big Daddy Kane, De La’s Pos and, on the album’s best track, CL Smooth on the CL smoothed-out "All I Know.” The reason that this is way better than you think is because Jazz also knows how to feed younger cats like Rhymefest and Kardinal, who judging from their hot verses, are happy to be working with him. Plus, fuck Uncle Phil. (BBE/Rapster)