He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
Studio album by
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
ReleasedMarch 29, 1988[1]
Recorded1987
Studio
  • Battery, London, UK
  • Studio 4, Philadelphia
GenreHip hop
Length72:19 (CD)
85:10 (vinyl and cassette)
Label
Producer
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince chronology
Rock the House
(1987)		 He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
(1988)		 And in This Corner...
(1989)
Singles from He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
  1. "Brand New Funk"
    Released: December 2, 1987
  2. "Parents Just Don't Understand"
    Released: February 17, 1988
  3. "A Nightmare on My Street"
    Released: August 1, 1988
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Christgau's Consumer Guide B−[3]
Pitchfork7.2/10[4]
Sputnikmusic4/5[5]

He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper (also known as I'm the Rapper, He's the DJ due to the way the title is printed) is the second studio album by American hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. It was the first double album in hip hop music, and was the eighth rap album to become a platinum album.[6]

The album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 1, 1995,[7] and is the duo's most successful album. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums.

Singles

The album's first single, "Brand New Funk", was only released promotionally and, thus, failed to achieve any commercial success. However, the album's second single, "Parents Just Don't Understand", won the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance and reached number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[8] Although the album's third single, "Nightmare on My Street", which reached number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100, was considered for inclusion in the movie A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, the producers of the film decided against its inclusion. As a result, later vinyl pressings of the album contain a disclaimer sticker that says, "[This song] is not part of the soundtrack...and is not authorized, licensed, or affiliated with the Nightmare on Elm Street films."

Track listings

Original vinyl and cassette release

While released as a double album, Sides C and D were labeled as "Bonus Scratch Album."

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."A Nightmare on My Street"W. Smith / J. Townes / P. Harris6:08
2."Here We Go Again"W. Smith / J. Townes / P. Harris4:01
3."Brand New Funk"W. Smith / J. Townes / R. Bradley / C. H. Lee / Sigidi4:04
4."Time to Chill"W. Smith / J. Townes4:25
5."Charlie Mack (First Out of the Limo)"W. Smith / J. Townes4:46
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."As We Go"W. Smith / J. Townes6:00
7."Parents Just Don't Understand"W. Smith / J. Townes / P. Harris5:35
8."Pump Up the Bass"W. Smith / J. Townes5:13
9."Let's Get Busy, Baby"W. Smith / J. Townes / P. Harris4:06
10."Another Special Announcement"W. Smith / J. Townes / P. Harris2:12
Side C
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Live at Union Square, November 1986 (Live)"W. Smith / J. Townes4:07
12."D.J. on the Wheels"J. Townes3:36
13."My Buddy"W. Smith / C. Holmes3:40
14."Rhythm Trax-House Party Style"W. Smith / J. Townes4:39
Side D
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."He's the D.J., I'm the Rapper"W. Smith / J. Townes6:10
16."Hip Hop Dancer's Theme"J. Townes3:48
17."Jazzy's in the House"J. Townes4:10
18."Human Video Game"W. Smith / C. Holmes / J. Townes5:40

Original CD release

On the original CD, "Nightmare on My Street", "As We Go", "D.J. on the Wheels," and the final four songs appeared in edited form, and "Another Special Announcement" was omitted. A German edition omitted "Jazzy's in the House" and "Human Video Game" instead. On September 8, 2017, the full vinyl version was finally issued as a double CD set that was released by Real Gone Music under license from Sony Music Entertainment with bonus tracks.[9]

No.TitleLength
1."Nightmare on My Street"4:56
2."Here We Go Again"4:01
3."Brand New Funk"4:04
4."Time to Chill"4:25
5."Charlie Mack (First Out of the Limo)"4:46
6."As We Go"5:35
7."Parents Just Don't Understand"5:15
8."Pump Up the Bass"5:13
9."Let's Get Busy, Baby"4:06
10."Live at Union Square (November 1986)"4:07
11."D.J. on the Wheels"2:44
12."My Buddy"3:40
13."Rhythm Trax (House Party Style)"4:39
14."He's the D.J., I'm the Rapper"4:57
15."Hip Hop Dancer's Theme"2:55
16."Jazzy's in the House"3:01
17."Human Video Game"4:14
Total length:72:19

Samples and interpolations

"A Nightmare on My Street"
"Here We Go Again"
"Brand New Funk"
"As We Go"
"Parents Just Don't Understand"
"Pump Up The Bass"
"Let's Get Busy, Baby"
"Time To Chill"
"He's the D.J., I'm the Rapper"
"Live At Union Square (November 1986)"

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[17] Platinum 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[18] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed March 29, 2015.
  2. ↑ link
  3. ↑ Christgau, Robert (29 March 1988). "DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  4. ↑ Greene, Jayson. "DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  5. ↑ "DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper (album review ) - Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com.
  6. ↑ LLC, SPIN Media (December 1999). SPIN. SPIN Media LLC.
  7. ↑ RIAA Searchable Database - "DJ Jazzy Jeff". Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed November 10, 2008.
  8. ↑ Huff, Quentin B. (June 20, 2006). The Globalization of Beats & Rhymes. PopMatters. Accessed November 9, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Real Gone Music - News - DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince: He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper (Expanded Edition) (2CD-Set)". www.realgonemusic.com.
  10. ↑ "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. 48 (26). October 15, 1988. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Charts.nz – DJ Jazzy Jeff – He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  12. ↑ "DJ Jazzy Jeff | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  13. ↑ "D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  14. ↑ "D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  16. ↑ "1988 The Year in Music & Video" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 100, no. 52. December 24, 1988. p. Y-24. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – D.J. Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince – He's the D.J. I'm the Rapper". Music Canada.
  18. ↑ "American album certifications – DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince – He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper". Recording Industry Association of America.
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