In 1985, Jeff "DJ Jazzy Jeff" Townes met Will "The Fresh Prince" Smith at a house party, and Smith became the new DJ's hype man, as the original hadn't shown up to the party. After becoming friends, the two decided to make music together, and Smith recruited Ready Rock C to be the group's beatboxer. The following year, the boys released their debut single, "Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble", on local label Word Records. Smith was still in school when the song became a hit, making him known for both his light-hearted storytelling and his profanity-free battle lyrics.
The success of the single was quickly capitalized on by the independent label, which became Word-Up Records, which soon requested a full-length LP. The duo released eight more tracks, and the label packaged them up as quickly as possible. There's no time to even think of a decent cover, DJ Jazzy Fresh & The Fresh Prince shamelessly copy their cover of the debut album from Run-DMC's "King of Rock". Dana Goodman produces the entire album, after having also produced for Steady B and Roxanne Shanté, Lawrence Goodman co-writes the beat of "A Touch of Jazz". The female rapper Ice Cream Tee is the only guest of the effort. To promote the album, the new single "Just One of Those Days" is released.
The best moments are represented by the lead single "Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble" and its counterpart "Guys Ain't Nothing but Trouble". The first presents a pretty nice jazzy sample from a classic ("I Dream of Jeannie" theme song) and from "Catch The Beat" by T-Ski Valley, minimal and fast funky rhythm, simple, good energetic and mainstream delivery by Smith who attacks the rhythm well and deliver a good cut. In the other track Will Smith gives way for the female rapper Ice Cream Tee: light production, minimal funky as usual, scratched, The Fresh Prince boasts an easy and smoothness flow, the girl drops bars with a slow rapping, too light despite the much space reserved and in the end this cut isn't up to the opening one. The title track makes its way thanks to a good beatbox and smoothness pop delivery of Smith, hook left to the beatbox, good tune. "The Magnificent Jazzy Jeff" is a tribute to the disc jockey on minimal and fast funky beats, excellent scratches by Jazzy Jeff, also the rapper well. "A Touch of Jazz" is a pearl, excellent choice that restores freshness to the record.
Will Smith offers fun and carefree lyrics composed of simple rhymes and delivered with a good flow, while DJ Jazzy Jeff provides funky and minimal rhythms formed by a normal drum machine, seasoned with excellent scratches and accessible samples that refresh the sound. The two create a good album, cheerful, carefree and fun, energetic and fluent, fresh for the time thanks to a playful, happy and relaxed atmosphere in his wealthy bourgeois pop-rap.
Shortly after the album's release, their debut single attracted the attention of several labels and the group signed with Jive, which decided to place a new cover and reissued the album with an additional skit. With Jive the duo released the singles "The Magnificent Jazzy Jeff", "A Touch of Jazz", "Don't Even Try It" and re-released "Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble", the album distributed by RCA achieved good sales results both in the US (entering the Billboard 200) and in the UK and at the end of 1988 was certified gold by the RIAA.
Rating: 7.7/10.
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