He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper

He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper is the second studio album by hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. It was the first double album in hip hop music, in its original vinyl incarnation.

He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 29, 1988[1]
Recorded1987
GenreHip hop
Length72:19 (CD)
85:10 (Vinyl and cassette)
Label 1091-J
ProducerPete Harris, The Fresh Prince, DJ Jazzy Jeff
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]
Robert ChristgauB−[3]
Pitchfork7.2/10[4]
Sputnikmusic[5]

The album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 1, 1995,[6] 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.[7] 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 a "Bonus Scratch Album."[8]

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."A Nightmare on My Street"Pete Harris, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Will Smith6:08
2."Here We Go Again" 4:01
3."Brand New Funk"Will Smith4:04
4."Time to Chill" 4:25
5."Charlie Mack (First Out of the Limo)" 4:46
Side B
No.TitleLength
6."As We Go"6:00
7."Parents Just Don't Understand"5:35
8."Pump Up the Bass"5:13
9."Let's Get Busy, Baby"4:06
10."Another Special Announcement"2:12
Side C
No.TitleLength
11."Live at Union Square (November 1986)"4:07
12."D.J. on the Wheels"3:36
13."My Buddy"3:40
14."Rhythm Trax-House Party Style"4:39
Side D
No.TitleLength
15."He's the D.J., I'm the Rapper"6:10
16."Hip Hop Dancer's Theme"3:48
17."Jazzy's in the House"4:10
18."Human Video Game"5:40

Original CD release

For the CD, "Nightmare on My Street", "As We Go", "D.J. on the Wheels" and the final four songs appear 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 on CD, released by Real Gone Music under license from Sony Music Entertainment.[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

"A Nightmare on My Street"
"Here We Go Again"
"Brand New Funk"
"As We Go"
"Pump Up The Bass"
"Time To Chill"
"He's the D.J., I'm the Rapper"
"Live At Union Square (November 1986)"

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[16] 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. RIAA Searchable Database - "DJ Jazzy Jeff". Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed November 10, 2008.
  7. Huff, Quentin B. (June 20, 2006). The Globalization of Beats & Rhymes. PopMatters. Accessed November 9, 2008.
  8. "DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper". Discogs.
  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. "DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper". charts.nz. Hung Medien.
  12. "UK Albums Chart - May 21, 1988". UK Albums Chart. Official Charts Company.
  13. "Billboard 200 - September 24, 1988". Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  14. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - June 4, 1988". Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  15. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  16. "American album certifications – DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince – He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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