DJ Jazzy Jeff was born in West Philadelphia where he developed a love of music at an early age. Jeff was just ten years old when he started spinning records at parties, using his family’s basement as a training ground for his musical craft. Since then, DJ Jazzy Jeff has gone on to become one of the most widely recognised DJ’s and turntablists, having achieved vast international success as a record producer, DJ and actor.
Best known for his international success as a duo with Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Jeff quickly became an iconic figure of the 1980s and 1990s. Having met at a house party in 1985, the two soon decided to join forces as a hip-hop duo. Their first single, Girls Ain’t Nothing but Trouble was released via Word Up Records that same year. Following the song’s success, the duo was soon picked up by Jive Records, releasing their debut album Rock the House through the label. Achieving widespread commercial success, they soon embarked on their first major tour alongside Public Enemy and Run DMC. Jeff also became increasingly known for his appearance on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, where he played the role of Will Smith’s best friend, Jazz.
The group’s follow-up album He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper received a multi-platinum certification. Building upon their success, the duo recorded three further albums, And in This Corner…, Homebase and Code Red. Having decided to pursue other projects, the duo split up in 1994. Over the course of their musical career together, the duo received two Grammy Awards, including the first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance.
Following the break-up of the famous duo, Jeff became an influential soul, neo-soul and R&B producer, eventually establishing his own production company A Touch of Jazz. In this capacity, Jeff was influential in developing a number of well-known artists, including Eminem, Jill Scott, Talib Kweli and The Roots. In the years that followed, Jeff continued to make appearances with his good friend Will Smith, performing on The Graham Norton Show in 2013.
Jeff has chronicled his travels in the popular web-series Vinyl Destination, which documents Jeff’s experiences both on and off the stage. Since then, DJ Jazzy Jeff has continued to produce and perform music all over the world. His vast experience as a celebrity DJ and master turntablist continues to see him entertain crowds wherever he goes. As such, he is the perfect booking for corporate events and a wide variety of other occasions.
