DJ Jazzy Jeff - The Return of the Magnificent

The newest album from legendary hip hop DJ and producer, DJ Jazzy Jeff, The Return of the Magnificent is the eagerly anticipated follow up to his well received solo debut, 2001's The Magnificent. Whilst his iconic first album was an experiment in soul-influenced Hip Hop, The Return Of The Magnificent DJ Jazzy Jeff plows harder (albeit still soulful) ground, this time hooking up with an equally impressive array of artists such as Method Man, Rhymefest (Kanye West's prodigy), Big Daddy Kane, CL Smooth, Raheem DeVaughn, Pos of De La Soul, Kardinal, J Live, Peedi Peedi, Jean Grae and many more. Album Description

Simply, this is some of the best hip hop production ever.

I hadn't heard anything from DJ Jazzy Jeff since "He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper." This is an incredible piece of work from easily the most under-rated artist in the hip hop game.

Nothing tired, cheesy, cliche, or over the top. Just pure music explosion. Jeff puts on a friggin' clinic here.

Get it. Listen. Love it. You can't help it. April 30, 2008

Best Of 2007 Pt.1

i loved almost every song on this album and have picked it as one of the best albums of 2007. i have been playing to album for about 6 months now and it still has rotation and i have purchased over 50 cds sence this one.

being that its one i have picked as best albums of 2007 im going to break it down song for song unlike in other reviews.

1. Hip Hop - 4/5 - i loved this song, i didnt like the intro leading to the track. he talks about some black history on the track and how the money is spent which was something i was not expecting. nice beat, nice scratches, nice lyrics what more can i say.

2. Let Me Hear U Clap - 4/5 - another dope track, was really feelin the beat and lyrical ability that pos is known for.

3. Run Back - 5/5 - i loved this track, i remember countless times when we would stay up just sitting around with this song blasting. this is one of those songs that just makes you think back to the good days of life and hip hop. a true banger. love the laid back feel on this.

4. The Definition - 4/5 - loved the beat and scratches and the talking about real mc's but some people might not like dudes voice, so that could be the only flaw. great song.

5. Touch Me With Ur Hands - 1/5 - little replay value, to slow and boring. i never cared for it. i like female singers and rappers but this does not work.

6. Jeff N Fess - 4/5 - nice beat should remind you of some gangstarr tracks. i like rhymefests style because his delivery is different.

7. Practice - 5/5 - another highlight on this track, just listen to it and you well see why. its all dope start to finish.

8. Supa Jean - 4/5 - i liked this lol from some reason the hook reminds me of Roxanne Shante. i loved having this bumpin in the car.

9. The Garden - 5/5 - never thought i would hear a new big daddy kane track again but here it is. hes still dope. talkin on hip hop and the deaths. none of these rappers working on careers.

10. She Was So Flyy - 3/5 - i dont normally go for these commercial tracks but this song got so much play and i have heard it so many times. its a real summer track, we had this on rotation every time we would have a BBQ or a back yard party.

11. Hold It Down - 4/5 - Love meth but the flaw comes for jazzy jeff, i love the work on the turntable but its a lil much being that i wanted to hear meth rap a lil more on the track.

12. All I Know - 5/5 - true classic everything about this song is dope. the lyrics are tight. the beats a banger. the hook is dope and the piano puts it over the top. cl smooth kills it.

13. Go See The Doctor - 4/5 - who else remembers when kool moe dee came out with a track like this back in the 80's. always makes me laugh and its better then the original.

14. My Soul Ain't For Sale - 3/5 - its ok but the hook doesn't flow and throws off the vibe of the whole song.

15. Come On - 45/5 - Should remind you of some tical, but this is another highlight,once again just listen.

16. Brand New Funk - 4/5 - should take you back to hes the dj im the rapper. the beat is still dope but the rapping falls a lil short, but its a banger.




February 11, 2008

Magnificent, indeed

I'm sure no one has forgotten whom Jeff Townes is, but few people other than those in the underground probably know that he's still been doing his thing, as his partner Will Smith has been getting much more publicity. This, of course, led to many jokes at Jeff's expense (the best one would have to be back in the 2002 Britney Spears episode of Saturday Night Live during Weekend Update when Jimmy Fallon talks about Will purchasing a multi-thousand dollar apartment; then he says, "In a related story, DJ Jazzy Jeff wants to know if you're going to eat the rest of that."). But now Jeff comes back with his official sequel to 2002's The Magnificent, naturally titled The Return of the Magnificent.

Jeff brings a lot of talent to the table on this release, and the guests hold their own over his backdrops. Jean Grae sounds as dope as ever on "Supa Jean", Rhymefest shines on "Jeff N' Fess", and Kel Spencer shows how it's done on "The Definition". And although Method Man doesn't sound THE best on "Hold It Down", it's the best he's sounded in a while. There's also "Run That Back", which will make you do just that.

Singers also shine on here...well, sometimes they do. Raheem DeVaughn's "My Soul Ain't for Sale" is great, but the sensual "Touch Me Wit Ur Handz" (by Chinah Blac) doesn't quite turn you on the way it should (and not to read too much into this, but...what else WOULD we touch her with?). Another thing is that when rapper Twone Gabz comes aboard, he hits ("Hip Hop") and misses ("Go See the Doctor").

Recurring skits on a rap album are usually a waste of time, but the skits on here are actually interesting, as they mostly detail how more people ask about Will than Jeff himself (there's even a skit with Will in it saying that). But one thing I cannot believe is that a person like DJ Jazzy Jeff would stoop to a stupid fake-white-cop-pulling-a-black-guy-over-for-no-reason skit. Oh, well; The Return of the Magnificent proves that Jeff's still got the skills, so cop it.

Anthony Rupert January 12, 2008

DJ Jazzy Jeff solidifies his magnificence in the game

Whether or not you indulge in the amusing DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince catalog back in the late 80s/early 90s, one thing has always been apparent in my eyes - Jeff is virtually untouchable. Comparatively, he has always brought the heat as well as legends such as Pete Rock, DJ Premier & Diamond D. And if you disagree, I suggest going back and listening to those albums again. Moreover, Jeff has built an amazing solo career around pure quality and a wealth of versatility. This may only be his second solo joint full of exclusive material, but he has proven himself to make excellent hip-hop mixtapes (see his "Hip-Hop Forever" series). He also flawlessly mixes an essential set of soul music (see "The Soul Mixtape" or Jill Scott's debut), and also a banging deep house mix (see "DJ Jazzy Jeff In The House"). Jeff has proven himself to be one of the most accomplished producers in any genre.

Where some may have seen his early work with Will Smith to be a bit too much "tongue-in-cheek" will find this set of joints very appealing. Jeff brings out the very best in some of these legends and newcomers. The album is a loosely based concept set in a rental car that Jeff is driving down to ATL to meet his son. The only problem is, all the car has is radio. While trying to find a station, "Hip-Hop" featuring the fresh Twone Gabz storms in with one of many dope beats. This is my first exposure to this cat, and he is tight - nice lyrics. The old school, although somewhat ignored Pos performs nicely over "Let Me Hear U Clap". "Touch Me Wit Ur Handz" is one of my favorite joints here. Jeff mixes a soulful beat to perfection here. ChinahBlac couldn't have been a better pick to match the production - a beautiful tune. "Jeff N Fess" captures underground veteran Rhymefest excellently. "Practice" is yet another dope layered gem featuring a stellar performance from J-Live. One of my favorites. "The Garden" featuring Big Daddy Kane is also one of my favorite tracks. Jeff mixes a beautiful atmospheric beat that Kane holds down with ease. "Hold It Down" featuring Method Man is definitely one of the golden nuggets here - Meth always holds it down on the guest appearances. My favorite joint here is "All I Know" featuring C.L. Smooth. A stellar beat and an addictive chorus keeps this one riding with ease. "My Soul Ain't For Sale" featuring Raheem DeVaughn is another smooth joint that hits perfectly in the mix. "Brand New Funk 2k7" - a remake/sequel to the standout "Brand New Funk" on DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's album "He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper" album turns out pretty nice. You seen the video yet? Overall, I still like Will Smith's version more.

Overall, the mixing on Jeff's newest album is simply phenomenal. The track order and smooth movement throughout makes for an incredibly accessible feat. It never feels overwhelming, and always feels enjoyable. Nothing feels rushed or out of place. There is a vast amount of quality control here. The fact that so many of the veteran emcees come out with their best performances in years show just how versatile Jeff can be behind the boards. Don't sleep what may be the most cohesive and shockingly brilliant hip-hop album of 2007. December 28, 2007

3 1/2 stars - More great stuff from Jeff

DJ Jazzy Jeff - The Return of the Magnificent (Rapster, 2007)

While we all know who Will Smith (The Fresh Prince) is, his old DJ Jazzy Jeff is more known as the butt of many jokes about has-beens. He makes light of his anonymity, though, in an ongoing skit on his sequel to 2002's The Magnificent. Also during the skit, he's forced to listen to the radio, turning the dial ever so often just to run into a good song. Those good songs make up the album playlist.

Now that Jeff makes it clear that today's radio sucks, he digs in the crates and brings some old-school to the new-school of rappers. Jean Grae gets her Ultramagnetic on during "Supa Jean" and Rhymefest interpolates Gang Starr's classic "Manifest" in "Jeff n' Fest". Even some old-school rappers make new songs like CL Smooth in "All I Know", with such smooth production that would make Pete Rock jealous. And Big Daddy Kane hasn't lost a half-step in the "The Garden" as he says, "N***as ain't showing that they skills is there/N***as ain't trying to build careers/When the guns start to bust/You ain't real prepared/Now your rhyme's just a souvenir/From a killed career."

The trip to yesteryear doesn't always prove beneficial as Peedi Peedi's remake of "Brand New Funk" won't have you forgetting The Fresh Prince's version and Twone Gabz' downright terrible reading of "Go See the Doctor" should have had him kicked out of the studio ("Like osteoporosis/I'm trying to bone"?? Come on now!). Also, some of the original songs are subpar like the annoying "Touch Me With Ur Handz" by crooner Chinah Blac (despite a cool Floetry sample) and the otherwise good "She Was So Flyy" by Kardinal Offishall with its off-key sing-along chorus. What helps the album overcome its flaws is the comical phone interlude from Will Smith himself to Jeff, saying that no one ever mentions Jeff to Will. Hopefully, with this album, although it has the same flaws as his last album (great production, inconsistent rapping), Jeff will be well-known again. -EJR November 25, 2007

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