DJ Jazzy Jeff is Jeffrey A. Townes, a hip hop DJ, turntablist and record producer from Philadelphia, United States. He is best known for his work with Will Smith as DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, and he also works under the name DJ Jazzy Jeff in solo releases and collaborations.

Early life and background

Townes is born in Philadelphia in 1965 and grows up there. He graduates from John Bartram High School, where he is included in the school’s Wall of Fame. As a child, he delivers newspapers from the age of seven to help support his family. He develops a reputation as a school and block party DJ before becoming widely known.

DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

DJ Jazzy Jeff is the featured half of DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, the duo he forms with Will Smith. The pair release several gold and platinum-selling albums and singles in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1989, they receive the first rap Grammy for Parents Just Don't Understand. Their albums include Rock the House, He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper, And in This Corner…, Homebase, Code Red, Greatest Hits, Before The Willennium and The Very Best of D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.

When Smith stars in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Townes appears as Jazz, Smith’s friend on the show. The character is known for the handshake shared with Smith’s character and for being thrown out of the house by Uncle Phil. Townes and Smith remain close friends and continue to work together occasionally.

Production and solo work

After the duo splits, Townes becomes a prominent producer in R&B, soul and neo soul. He establishes A Touch of Jazz in Philadelphia and helps develop artists including Jill Scott and Musiq. He is credited, along with DJ Cash Money, with helping make the transform scratch famous.

His solo releases include The Magnificent, Soulheaven Presents Jazzy Jeff in the House, The Soul Mixtape, Hip-Hop Forever II, Hip-Hop Forever III, The Return of the Magnificent EP, The Return of the Magnificent and The Return of Hip Hop EP. His 2007 release The Return of the Magnificent brings together older and newer hip hop and neo-soul artists, including CL Smooth, Big Daddy Kane, Pos from De La Soul, Method Man, Peedi Crakk, Rhymefest and Raheem DeVaughn.

Collaborations and other credits

Townes contributes scratches, remixes and production work to releases by artists including Bart Simpson, Nuyorican Soul, Eminem, Slum Village, The Roots, Everything But The Girl, the Temptations, Will Smith, Little Brother, the Black Eyed Peas, Duke Jordan, Talib Kweli and others. He appears with Rhymefest in a 2007 video made in his home studio, where they discuss working on an album together called I'm the DJ, I'm the Rapper. He also performs with Will Smith at Live 8 in Philadelphia.